How many hours is considered full-time (i.e., making a worker eligible for benefits, etc.)?

[reformist2]

I'm trying to do a little research into the state of the American labor market, and I'm finding it a little difficult figuring out when a job is considered part-time and when it is considered full-time. The government seems to think the cutoff is 35 hours per week, but is that really what employers consider full time?

Any input, either anecdotal or authoritative, would be greatly appreciated.

[William769]

1. it's 32 hours. nt

[GreenEyedLefty]

2. At my employer, it's 80% of full time, so 30-32 hours.

Depending on whether workers have 8 hour or 7.5 hour work days.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not define either part time or full time.

The ACA on the other hand calls 30 hours full time. So there you go.

[pipoman]

4. Yep, it was (or will be..don't know which) reduced from 32 to 30 by the ACA..

[ananda]

5. That's why the companies were lowering work hours for wage slaves to 29.

.

[Freddie]

6. There is no law mandating any benefits for any hours

A lot of people are confused about this. Under the FLSA your employer must pay you 1. Minimum wage 2. Time and a half over 40 hours in a week unless you're "exempt" (salaried). That's it. Anything else--vacation and sick time, paid holidays, health insurance--is totally optional and up to the goodness (or not) of your employer.
This will change under the ACA for better or worse, and of course employers are using it as a great excuse to cut or limit hours. Personally I think insurance and employment should be totally separated which I think will happen eventually.