Nonstandard, Not Substandard

Abstract

The authors investigate how nonstandard work arrangements shape work attitudes and behaviors. They find that attitudes and behaviors vary across different types of nonstandard work arrangements. As expected, retention part-time workers have more positive and agency temporary workers more negative attitudes toward their work arrangements than do standard workers. But contrary to conventional wisdom about temporary work arrangements, agency temporary workers who have opportunities to transition to standard employment arrangements have more positive attitudes toward supervisors and coworkers and are better performers than their peers in standard work arrangements. Part-time arrangements designed to retain valued workers do not produce increased commitment or other attitudinal benefits consistent with retention. The authors discuss the implications of the findings for the study of nonstandard work and the management of nonstandard workers.