Discover the flexible benefits of contracting work

It would appear many workers are looking to ensure a good work-life balance, and making the choice to go contracting could be a great way to achieve this.

According to a new report, two in five young people are keen to ensure they have a job that allows them to have a professional career, but still have some “me time”, because it makes them better at their jobs.

It was also found that 25 per cent of those currently in junior positions did not want to mix their work and personal lives at all – something that contracting could help with, as people are free to set their own hours and opt for clients they enjoy working with.

For those in more senior positions, there was less of a need to maintain a work-life balance, with just 14 per cent believing it necessary.

However, it is clear that having time away from work can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. A total of 45 per cent of younger staff believed it was key for emotional and physical health to ensure a work-life balance, compared to 34 per cent of those employed in senior management positions.

Vice-president of HR Benefits at Unum, Linda Levesque, commented: “Business leaders need to be conscious of the diverse needs of employees at all levels when considering how best to support staff.

“Employers are often very good at looking after senior staff who are perceived as having higher levels of stress, but they are in danger of overlooking the needs of junior and non-managerial workers.”

Therefore, it may worth looking at your current work-life balance and consider whether now is the right time to make the leap into the world of contracting.