Temping on the increase as employees strive for better work-life balance

More and more of the UKís workforce are embracing temporary employment as a means to achieving a good work-life balance, according to The Principle Partnership, a specialist recruitment consultancy.

There are currently around 1.7 million people in the UK on temporary contracts. The trend towards temping for a better work-life balance is likely to see this figure increase by as much as 15% over the next five years.

Traditionally temping has received bad press owing to the fact that some employers have used temporary, agency and casual staff to get around decent employment standards and exploit vulnerable workers. In reality the view that temporary work is second rate, and that temporary workers are disadvantaged and exploited is being turned on its head.

Temporary workers are a fundamental component of the workforce. Short-term staff can help organisations to increase efficiency, cope with new technologies and deal with customer demand, seasonal fluctuations and economic uncertainty. The benefits of temporary working for employers are clear however the power balance is shifting.

As temporary benefits get better and companies offer regular work, many people are switching to this style of working.

A study of employee attitudes by the Chartered Institute of Personnel showed that employees on fixed term or temporary contracts were actually more highly motivated, and more satisfied with their jobs, than employees on permanent contracts. It seems as more and more people strive to achieve the right balance between work and life outside of work, temping is being seen as a preferred route forward ñ and not only for administrative or non-professional staff. More and more, professionals are exploiting temporary work as a means to ëhaving it allí, whether balancing studying, family commitments, travel or pursuing other hobbies and interests.

Temporary work no longer simply provides short-term and intermediary solutions. The trend is towards longer temporary assignments which provide greater value for both the company and the temporary worker. In the UK, for example, a majority of temporary work assignments last over six weeks, according to the CBI.

Chris Smith, CEO of The Principle Partnership, comments:

ìItís clear that temporary working can offer a better work-life balance but it is important to play by the rules which inevitably are different to those that apply in a permanent role. Being a good temporary worker means honing excellent communication skills so you can make yourself heard in a new environment, in a non-aggressive way, and using a combination of intuition and initiative.î

For many temping is a great route to the work-life balance, but itís important to remember that thereís no such thing as a free lunch. Professionals in temporary posts are unlikely to move up the career ladder as quickly or as far as their permanently positioned counterparts, however temping can be rewarding and varied, and provide employees with an opportunity to have a career and acquire skills while maintaining other interests, family commitments, studying or travelling.