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Managing temporary workers in higher education: still at the margin?

Colin Bryson (Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK)
Richard Blackwell (Formerly at Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN) Generic Centre UK)

Personnel Review

ISSN: 0048-3486

Article publication date: 1 March 2006

2459

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate whether “numerical flexibility” – specifically a form of temporary and precarious employment – hourly‐paid part‐time teaching in the UK higher education sector – adds strategic value and demonstrates good practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on new evidence drawn from five case study organisations in which a range of managers was interviewed in depth.

Findings

Analysis identifies a continuum of strategies from integration into the main workforce through to “deepened differentiation”. Although integration is somewhat problematic when applied to a diverse group, differentiation seems predicated on a defensive, risk management approach designed to further marginalise this activity. Also, differentiation fails to address the aspirations of many employees, creating tensions between institutional strategy and the needs of academic heads.

Research limitations/implications

The number of case studies is limited. These case studies were selected because they had the most proactive strategies on this issue, which infers that the majority of employers in HE have not been rather less strategic or proactive.

Practical implications

The paper is of particular value to HR professionals considering the use of numerical flexibility approaches. It also contributes to the academic debate on the strategic value of such approaches.

Originality/value

The paper explores a neglected but important area of the workforce. The paper notes that some supposed benefits of numerical flexibility might be illusory, such as the deployment of allegedly “cheap and disposable” substitute workers which may be offset by unintentional consequences including rigidities in an organisation's human resource systems.

Keywords

Citation

Bryson, C. and Blackwell, R. (2006), "Managing temporary workers in higher education: still at the margin?", Personnel Review, Vol. 35 No. 2, pp. 207-224. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480610645830

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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