job-share
Low-to-mediumFormal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A work arrangement where one full-time position is divided between two or more people who share the responsibilities, hours, and salary.
The practice or system of sharing a job, or an individual instance of such an arrangement (e.g., 'they have a job-share'). Also used as a verb ('to job-share') meaning to participate in such an arrangement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies a formal, agreed arrangement with an employer, not an informal splitting of tasks. Often associated with policies supporting work-life balance, parental leave return, or phased retirement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common and formally established in UK workplace terminology and HR policy. In the US, the concept exists but the term is less consistently used, sometimes replaced by 'job sharing' (open compound) or described functionally.
Connotations
In the UK, it often carries positive connotations of progressive, flexible working. In the US, it may be perceived as a specific HR policy term rather than everyday vocabulary.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK professional contexts (HR, management, union discussions). Lower general frequency in US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Person/They] job-share [a role/position][A role] is available as a job-shareto be in a job-shareto work a job-shareVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have the best of both worlds (contextual fit for job-share benefits)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in HR documents, policy manuals, and discussions about flexible working, talent retention, and workload distribution.
Academic
Used in studies of labor economics, organizational behavior, gender studies, and work-life balance.
Everyday
Used by employees discussing work arrangements, especially those returning from leave or seeking reduced hours.
Technical
A specific term in human resource management (HRM) under 'flexible working arrangements'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She plans to job-share the marketing manager role after her maternity leave.
- We are currently job-sharing to cover the project lead position.
American English
- They agreed to job-share the directorship, each working three days a week.
- The company policy allows employees to job-share in certain departments.
adjective
British English
- The job-share arrangement has improved team morale.
- She applied for a job-share position in finance.
American English
- A job-share opportunity was posted on the internal board.
- They have a unique job-share setup that splits the week.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mum works in a job-share, so she is at home on Wednesdays.
- The company offers job-shares for some roles.
- After returning from parental leave, she proposed a job-share arrangement with a colleague.
- Job-share posts require excellent communication between the partners.
- Implementing a successful job-share requires clear delineation of responsibilities and seamless handover protocols.
- The study concluded that job-share schemes can significantly reduce employee turnover in knowledge-based industries.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a JOB being cut in half like a pie, and you SHARE it with a colleague. Job + Share = Job-Share.
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOB IS A PIE (that can be divided and shared).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque like 'делить работу', which implies dividing tasks informally. The Russian equivalent is often described functionally: 'работа на условиях разделения ставки' or 'совместная занятость на одной должности'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'job-share' to mean simply 'dividing tasks' rather than a formal post-sharing arrangement. Confusing it with 'shift work' or 'job rotation'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY characteristic of a 'job-share'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is most commonly found hyphenated (job-share), especially as a noun or adjective. The verb form can sometimes be seen as 'job share' (open), but the hyphenated version is standard.
Job-share specifically refers to two or more people sharing one full-time post. Part-time work is simply a role with fewer than standard full-time hours, held by one person.
This depends on employer policy and local law. Often, benefits are pro-rated based on the hours each partner works, but some companies may offer full benefits to each job-share partner.
Not all roles are suitable. Jobs requiring continuous presence, singular decision-making authority, or very specialized, non-divisible skills may be challenging to split effectively. Roles with clear projects or tasks are often better suited.