Changing and challenging aspects of commitment in the contract workforce

This paper examines the notion of work commitment within the professional contractor workforce - a working relationship that typifies the growing number falling outside that of the traditional and ongoing employer/employee relationship. In particular, attention is given to the commitment-related implications associated with the contracting relationship where both an employing organization and a Contracting Agency (CA) are involved as both have a vested interest in managing the contractor within this construct. A specific focus of this research is the ability of a contractor to hold dual commitment and to investigate the factors that influence commitment to each party. The limited nature of data available within Australian means this study is supplemented with the much larger body of data and research from the United States. Implications from the findings of this study for human resource management practices in both Contracting Agencies and host organisations as well as future research needs are discussed.