In the post-recession economy, many companies are using a mixture of permanent and contingent workers, trying to develop long-term business strategies that emphasize flexibility.
A study found that many of these contingent workers are pleased to work in that capacity and reported improved job satisfaction, BLR notes. About two-thirds of companies surveyed currently use contingent workers in some capacity, in most cases as a stable or growing percentage of their total workforce. Most say that they have benefited from improved flexibility in the recent economy, which has been less stable and predictable.
More than 20 percent reported an intention to increase their temporary or contract worker population in the next 12 months, while almost twice as many indicated they would move to a larger percentage of permanent workers. Some researchers suggested that the operational and financial strains of the recession and recovery have had such a strong effect businesses will be using more flexible models in the years ahead.
This could become complicated, with health reform including provisions designed to ensure that full-time workers receive their employee benefits and some outstanding uncertainty regarding the distinction between part-time and full-time employees.
