Standard skilled employees' and job applicants' behaviors in the presence of independent contractors and outsourcing arrangements

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify whether, through the eyes of standard skilled employees and job applicants, differences exist between different types of non‐standard skilled workers. Design/methodology/approach – Data were taken from a large survey of US‐based companies measuring the amount of work being completed by skilled independent contractors and outsourcing agencies. These data were then used in regression models predicting employee turnover and the time needed to fill vacancies in these positions. Findings – The results suggest that different types of non‐standard workers will have differing effects on skilled standard employees' and job applicants' behaviors. Organisations using independent contractors appear to achieve short‐term staffing flexibility, but these organisations may have more difficulty filling job vacancies. Organisations using outsourcing arrangements may not see any changes in their skilled standard employees' or job applicants' behaviors. Originality/value – The study specifically measures the differences between diverse non‐standard work arrangements. It adds to the literature on the effects these work arrangements have on standard employees. It is the first to consider the job applicants' interpretations of potential employers using non‐standard workers in their field of work.