It’s time for the summer job search to begin! A pandemic as the whole world has recently experienced can put a lot of things in perspective. We suddenly realize vulnerability. We wake up to see blessings we’ve too often taken for granted. We hold a little tighter to our loved ones after realizing that loss can come out of the most unexpected places. Many take a deeper look at life in general and rearrange priorities. Job focus has made a huge shift towards asking deeper questions of benefits, flexibility, pay, and options for the future.

Today, those benefits focus heavily on healthcare since we have become extremely aware that illness can strike at any age. Flexibility and hours may come from realizing the importance of spending more time with friends, family, and loved ones. Pay is more than just money, it’s also the need to save for not just rainy, but stormy days ahead. The veil over the present was suddenly ripped away making everyone look towards their future and preparing for it.

All that said, job choices, even part-time ones, are no longer simply about making a few extra bucks. As many of us, along with businesses, return to pre-pandemic life, the search for jobs with exceptional benefits is in full swing! Here are some great opportunities to get you back on the road to normalcy; part-time or full-time!

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Amazon

Amazon is one of the largest companies in the world offering part-time jobs with benefits. Many of those opportunities are remote, or from home, which saves time, money on fuel, wear and tear on vehicles, expensive lunches out, and in many cases, clothing. (When on a Zoom call, who will know if you are in your pajama pants?) Employees working more than 20 hours per week at Amazon are eligible for benefits which include fully paid vision, dental, life, and disability insurance. Hourly employees also accumulate sick, personal, and vacation time off. Part-time employees are eligible for Amazon’s innovative Career Choice program that pre-pays 95% of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, even if the skills aren’t relevant to a future with Amazon.

Barnes and Noble

When the pandemic hit, Barnes and Noble temporarily closed over 400 stores across the country. They used this time to restructure and fully intend to come back stronger! Offering some handsome perks, job searchers should check into the generous benefits package for part time employees. Paid vacation time, personal time, sick days and holidays with flexible schedules are among those benefits. Add to that, dental and health plans, a 401(k) plan with employers matching up to 4%. After six months of employment, discounts on all products apply. 

Chick-fil-A

With closed dining rooms, Covid affected Chick-fil-A’s way of serving, but the sales and profits leaped upwards 13%! The chain will continue with continuing education programs and scholarships by investing $19,000,000 in 2021 toward employees’ academic goals! Along with this huge perk, Chick-fil-A also provides dental, health and vision plans as well as life and disability insurance. Retirement and pension plans are also offered for keeping the future of employees in mind. Other benefits include paid time off for sick leave and vacations. Free drinks, discounts, and flexible schedules help make the whole package very attractive! 

IKEA

Tack means “thank you” in Swedish. At IKEA it also means all co-workers are treated equally, giving each the same contribution to their pension fund regardless of position or salary. When IKEA does well in a fiscal year, employees receive a bonus as well! Employees working 20 hours or more are considered full-time and receive those full-time benefits including medical and prescription plans, dental, vision, and a handsome 401k plan. Tuition assistance, employee discounts, meal deals, and pet insurance are additional perks of working at IKEA!

Lowe’s

Lowe’s knows the needs of employees and offers part-time workers the chance to immediately enroll in benefit packages by applying within 31 days of joining the team. Benefits included are medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and 401K. Lowe’s also offers an employee purchase plan of in-stock merchandise, even for part-time team members. Other often rare benefits include aid for critical illnesses and fixed indemnity.

Starbucks

Starbucks has been recognized for a long time as an incredible employer providing health benefits to part-time employees. The benefits package is awesomely named  “Your Special Blend”, and is served to full and part-time employees. The eligibility requirement is working 240 hours over three consecutive months or a minimum of 20 hours per week. Starbucks provides benefits to all eligible partners working full or part-time that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, disability, vacation, tuition reimbursement, employee assistance, commuter benefits, adoption assistance, and more! 

Chipotle

Chipotle may be one of the best bets in benefits! Providing even part-time workers with health, vision, dental, and wellness coverage, they also match their 401(k) contributions after one year of employment! Discounts and eligibility for educational assistance are offered to all employees! Workers can save up to 99% on college costs and earn up to 44 credit hours through this assistance program! 

Costco

As a Costco employee, part-timers must wait 180 days for benefits where full-time employees are eligible after 90 days. Even still, the part-time benefits are some of the best out there with a very competitive package of health insurance, dental, and vision care, a 401(k) plan with matching employer contributions, discounts on prescriptions, life insurance, and child care assistance. 

Trader Joe’s

Part-time workers are immediately considered a part of the Crew and are eligible for a 10% discount on in-store items! A retirement plan is also available in which 10% of an employee’s annual salary is contributed. After three months of being a crew member, insurance plans are offered for medical, dental, and vision coverage. Employees receive paid time off, performance-based promotions, and career development assistance. Every six months employees who stand out in teamwork, customer service, and productivity receive a raise! When a job opens up, it is filled from within, making the already great pay climb faster! An added benefit is it’s a fun place to work, it’s sort of like working on a ship! 

United Parcel Service (UPS)

UPS provides part-time with the same benefits as full-time workers! Included is medical, dental, vision, hearing care, prescription drug coverage, health savings account, life insurance, and stock purchase incentives. Access to their Employee Assistance Program is also included. The “Earn and learn” is a tuition assistance program, which offers a $25,000-lifetime benefit to employees taking courses toward a degree at an accredited college or university, either on-site or online! All benefits are accessed after three months of employment or 225 hours.

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