Temporary agency workers stepping into a permanent position: social skills matter

Abstract

Purpose Temporary agency work (TAW) has increased enormously in recent decades. Most temporary agency workers are pushed involuntarily into this work arrangement and prefer permanent work arrangements. Therefore, the motive to find a permanent job through TAW is predominant for the majority of temporary agency workers. However, little is known about what helps in obtaining a permanent job in a client organization. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of social skills by simultaneously considering the human capital aspects and motivational background of the individuals for transition success. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a questionnaire study of 151 temporary agency workers with two measurement points. The questionnaires were first administered at the very beginning of their work as a temp and again five months later. Findings The findings show that the social skills of temporary agency workers in contrast to various aspects of human capital and motives for temping had a significant impact on becoming a permanent worker in a client organization. Research limitations/implications The generalizability of the finding that social skills help temporary agency workers to find a permanent job in a client organization may be restricted due to the particularities of the work setting in the clerical sector. The incidences as well as the determinants of transition success may depend on the industry sector because of the respective assignment characteristics as well as the clients’ reasons of using temporary agency workers. Future research should investigate more thoroughly the role of assignment characteristics for the experiences of the workers. Practical implications Social skills seem to play a crucial role for transition success in TAW. Qualification measures should therefore include the training of interpersonal behavior. It would be desirable when the involved organizations would assume responsibility in this respect. Furthermore, policy makers should provide adequate training formats since they promote TAW as a stepping stone opportunity for unemployed people. Originality/value This paper suggests that career mobility in the context of flexible work arrangements may be driven by more informal processes of social integration into the existing permanent team. While TAW is seen as a temporary solution in Germany, this study focuses on the individual determinants of transition success of temporary agency workers that is still rare in studies on the topic.

Temporary employment and voice behavior: the role of self‐efficacy and political savvy

“…We argue that, compared with regular employees, temporary employees have lower expectations of the effectiveness of voice behaviors. Due to the disparity in treatment by their employers, temporary workers are more likely to identify themselves as outsiders to the group (Broschak and Davis‐Blake ), and usually receive less acknowledgment from supervisors than their permanent counterparts (Chambel and Sobral ; Galais and Moser ). Hence, they are prone to thinking that their voice is less useful or welcomed and doubting that their voice will be taken seriously and acted upon (Detert and Treviño ).…”

Alternative work arrangements: Reshaping the future of nurses’ workplace communication and relationships

“…AWAs represent a distinct form of labor that can give rise to different communication patterns; however, it is unclear to what extent AWAs influence communication among nurses and with others whom they interact at work. This concern is unique to the scholarship on employees in AWAs because nurses are highly educated professionals with many potential career paths and employment opportunities, while much of contemporary AWAs research typically studies low‐skilled employees who may also have difficulty securing employment (see Galais and Moser). Put differently, the stigma associated with AWAs generally does not plague nurses in AWAs (see Volpato et al).…”

The transition from outside to in

“…The review is based on: “Temporary agency workers stepping into a permanent position: social skills matter” by Nathalie Galais and Moser (2018), published in Employee Relations . Many people involved in temporary agency work find it difficult to make the transition into permanent employment.…”