Signaling, selection and transition: empirical evidence on stepping-stones and vicious cycles in temporary agency work

A multichannel typology of temporary employment careers in the Netherlands: Identifying traps and stepping stones in terms of employment and income security

“…As employers hire workers for a short period of time, they have fewer incentives to invest in workers' human capital. Therefore, an employment history that includes several spells of temporary employment can function as a signal of lower productivity for future employers, making them less likely to offer the worker a permanent contract (Berton et al, 2011;Esteban-Pretel et al, 2011;Hopp et al, 2016;Hudson, 2007).…”

“…Many lump all different types of temporary employment together (D'Addio and Rosholm, 2005;de Graaf-Zijl et al, 2011;Esteban-Pretel et al, 2011;McGinnity et al, 2005;Remery et al, 2002;Steijn et al, 2006). Others focus only on one specific type of temporary employment, typically fixed-term contracts (Autor and Houseman, 2010;Hopp et al, 2016;Ichino et al, 2008;Pavlopoulos, 2013), while in some cases the type of temporary employment that is studied is not clearly defined (Faccini, 2014;Giesecke and Groβ, 2003;Picchio, 2008;Wolbers, 2010). If any variation in the types of temporary employment is allowed, this is mostly limited to the distinction between fixed-term contracts and seasonal/casual work, which are then studied separately (Addison et al, 2015;Booth et al, 2002;de Lange et al, 2013;Leschke, 2009).…”

“…This introduces a twofold problem. First, as temporary employment may have a scarring effect, the career path of a worker is likely to influence a worker's probability to make the transition to a good labour market outcome as well as the duration until that transition takes place (Hopp et al, 2016;Mooi-Reci and Dekker, 2015;Pavlopoulos, 2013;Scherer, 2004). Second, a transition to permanent employment does not have to be a final outcome in the worker's career.…”

The impact of temporary staff on permanent staff in accident and emergency departments

“…Most studies reveal that about a third of people prefer to have temporary work primarily because it suits their domestic or educational needs, and the ability to combine work and non-work roles. Others use temporary work as a stepping stone to permanent employment (Hopp, Minten and Toporova, 2016), perhaps by demonstrating their value to a potential employer and still others, for example actors, may engage in temporary work between their main employment. Alternatively, temporary work can provide individuals with the opportunity to gain experience with different tasks and jobs (De Cuyper et al, 2010).…”

“…There is an extensive body of research on the employment of temporary staff. This has explored a range of issues including why organizations hire temporary staff, why people choose to become temporary staff (Hopp, Minten and Toporova, 2016), and how the experience of temporary employment affects individual wellbeing, particularly where the associated job insecurity is a potential source of stress (De Cuyper, Piccoli and Fontinha, 2018). There is also a body of work addressing the role of temporary agencies and how working with an agency can lead to multiple and potentially competing commitments (Chambel, Sobral, Espada and Curral, 2015).…”