3 doctors agreed: Muscle spasm: This could be a muscle spasm. I have heard this description many times before. Hernias do not occur in the upper abdomen by the rib cage. They do occur in the middle. The muscle spasm can cause severe pain, and ball up, mimicking a hernia.
Generally, working part time is considered working anything less than what your employer considers full time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines part-time status as working on average between one and 34 hours per week. In the end, it is up to the employer to decide how many hours is part time and how many would make the job a full-time position. The Department of Labor does not differentiate between the two statuses.
How Many Hours a Week is Full-Time Employment? How many hours a week are you expected to work if you are a full-time employee? Even though many people consider 35 or 40 hours a week full time, the number of hours you are expected to work can vary depending on your employer. In some cases, it's less, for other employers, it can be more. Traditional Standard for Full-Time Employment. The standard for full-time employment was typically 40 hours a week in the past. However, many employers now consider employees as full-time when they work fewer hours i.e. over 30 hours, 35 hours, or 37.5 hours. Because there are no laws regulating full-time employment for compensation and benefits purposes, the organization determines how many hours per week are considered full-time.