Dear Pat: I'm an editorial assistant for a publishing company interested in job sharing with a long-term temp worker here. Our company has never tried this so I'm researching the possibilities.

My main concern is losing my benefits (health, dental, life insurance, 401(k), etc.). It seems if another person shares my job, they will get half the benefits as well as half the work! How are benefits usually handled in job sharing? Thanks, Katie B.

Dear Katie: A true job sharing set-up indeed suggests a pro-ration of benefits, 50/50, or whatever hours split is proposed (some partners do 60/40 or other combinations).

But it really depends on the employer's policy—if there is one. Since your employer doesn't have a job sharing policy, you are in position to propose it the way you want it (to a degree).

In my opinion, employer-sponsored medical insurance and retirement contributions are where the real money value is, so concentrate your negotiations there.

Some employers retain full-time employee benefits at a certain minimum hour level, for example, 32 or (more generous and unusual) 24 hours a week. Research internal policies before outlining your proposal so you have the best personal plan. These planning steps are included in Job Sharing Flex Success along with the job sharing proposal template and proposal sample.

If your prospective job sharing partner agrees to waive the health insurance benefits because of other coverage, e.g., under her husband's policy, then you can negotiate to retain the employer's medical coverage.

Otherwise, for that, and for retirement benefits, vacations, sick days, etc., pro-rating is only fair to both individuals.

I've heard of one job sharing pair who handled the fairness issue this way: only one was allowed the employer-paid medical insurance, so that person paid for half the out-of-pocket insurance premium for the other person.

Work with your prospective job partner to prioritize the benefits, figure possible negotiating scenarios and outcomes with your employer, and devise some fair, mutually-agreeable solutions for each outcome.

Emphasize that any incremental costs are generally outweighed by the benefits of employee productivity, loyalty and retention.

Job sharing is an excellent way to get the work done while allowing more personal time for the two individual job partners. Do your homework, and when you're ready, plug the pieces into your Job Sharing Flex Success proposal template.

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