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The effects of temporary agency work contract transitions on well-being

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Abstract

Purpose

Theoretical and empirical research has provided mixed arguments and evidence for the effects of temporary agency work on workers’ well-being. This study aims to go one critical step further by comparing the workplace and general well-being of workers who continue to have this employment status with others who obtain a direct contract and others who remain unemployed.

Methods

Temporary agency workers longitudinal data (n = 289) was used, and three groups were compared: (1) maintaining a temporary agency contract (n = 187), (2) obtaining a direct contract (n = 57), and (3) remaining unemployed (n = 45).

Results

Covariance analyses adjusted for background variables showed that those who obtained a direct contract experienced a decrease in job insecurity but experienced an increase in job demands, while those who continued to have a temporary agency contract maintained these job conditions. However, in terms of workplace well-being, the temporary agency contract was not found to be more detrimental than a direct contract, but in terms of life satisfaction, unemployment was found to be more detrimental than other transitions.

Conclusions

A temporary agency contract does not have an inevitable negative effect on workers’ well-being.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Maria José Chambel, Silvia Lopes & Josilene Batista

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  1. Maria José Chambel
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  2. Silvia Lopes
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  3. Josilene Batista
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Correspondence to Maria José Chambel.

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Chambel, M.J., Lopes, S. & Batista, J. The effects of temporary agency work contract transitions on well-being. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 89, 1215–1228 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-016-1158-y

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