Managers may be taking on temporary workersHow employers go about organising jobs can affect a variety of issues in the workplace, including pay, career progression and security, according to a recent study.

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the report from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research outlines what managers and HR professionals could do to offer greater security and progression in a range of low-paid jobs.

It notes that while competitive pressures, demand fluctuations, low skill requirements and a ready labour supply may encourage employers to employ temporary staff, this thinking is not determined by economic conditions alone.

Indeed, while some workplaces may prefer to use a temporary workforce during difficult financial times, others may continue to look for permanent staff.

The study’s authors Hilary Metcalf and Amar Dhudwar, of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, conclude it is possible for some employers to offer greater job security without putting the health of their business at risk.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development recently claimed building up a close working relationship with staff is one effective yet economical method of improving employee retention.