The pros and cons of part-time, temporary and permanent work

Below are the pros and cons of part-time, temporary and permanent employment to help you decide which might be the best option for you.

Part-time employment

The pros:

• Spending less time at work will allow you to devote more time to your friends, family and social activities. This is especially useful if you are a carer or have young children.
• If you’re thinking about changing roles, working part-time allows you to explore other avenues, gain valuable work experience and complete any study or training needed while still earning some money.

The cons:

• In most cases your wages will be lower. You will need to work out whether you can afford to cover all your costs on a part-time salary.
• You may find that you have less influence and responsibility than full-time staff.
• Sometimes part-time workers are under more pressure to get a heavy workload completed in a more limited time frame.

Temporary employment

The pros:

• As you won’t be employed for as long as other members of staff you may be able to avoid some of the tricky office politics.
• You could earn extra cash in a short period of need, for example in the lead-up to Christmas, without having to commit long-term.
• It can be a great option if you recently graduated and haven’t yet landed the perfect job, or as a stepping stone back into employment if you’ve had a break to bring up children or care for a relative.
• It gives you the opportunity to try out various types of work to see which suits you best.

The cons:

• You may find that the work is irregular, making it difficult to budget and to cover all your expenses.
• As a temporary worker you will have fewer rights than permanent employees, for example you may not receive holiday pay or paid sick leave.

Permanent employment

The pros:

• You know that a set amount will be paid each month, giving you greater financial stability and allowing you to budget more effectively.
• You will have set goals within your role and may experience higher job satisfaction levels as a result.
• More permanent opportunities are available and permanent jobs tend to be more secure.
• You can make lasting relationships with your colleagues and may feel more like a valued member of your team.

The cons:

• Your work-life balance may suffer if you work long hours.
• You may get fed up doing the same tasks, following the same route to work and working alongside the same people in the long long term.
• There may be a set notice period, which can make it more difficult to find a job in the future, particularly it is more than a month.