A locum tenens, also referred to as a locum or temp, is a person who takes over the job of another while he or she is unable to work. Often, they regularly work with the person whose job they would substitute for if the need arose. For instance, there are many temporary doctors in any given hospital, available to take over for a doctor when the doctor is unable to perform. In less advanced areas of the world, midwifes will act as temporary workers when a doctor or nurse is unavailable.

Overall, they are a very advantageous asset to many major companies. It allows an organization to fill a spot that will only be temporarily empty, such as when someone is sick or on maternity leave. They are also used when a job does not have long-term funding as an option.

However, there are some disadvantages as well. Due to the frequent job change, they often deal with the stress of constantly adjusting to a new job. This usually means that employers will compensate by providing a large salary.

In the long run, a they may end up costing a company more than helping it. The high salary has to be offset by a small number of hired temporary workers and full time professionals. Otherwise, this use of temporary labor has the possibility to undercut the salaries of other workers and reduce the overall cost of the staff.

Resentment often accumulates towards these temporary workers. This is because they are seen as someone who is paid more for less work. And in many jobs, temps do shoulder less responsibility than their permanent equivalents, creating a wider disruption in the workplace.

Some temps are more commonly known by other names. A temporary teacher, for instance, is not called a temporary teacher. They are referred to as a substitute. A paralegal is another example of a type of temporary worker for lawyers.

The vast amount of experience and types of environments that a temp is subject to can have a positive outcome for the individual. It allows them to get a feel for many different types of work places and styles. This way, should the individual desire to settle down into a solid career, they will be able to make a very informed decision.

Many of the temps work from a type of agency specifically designed to find work for them. These types of workers are called GP locums, which stands for general practitioner. They may also be self-employed if they chose.

Becoming a temporary worker before obtaining a steadier job can have many positive outcomes for the worker, if a constantly changing workplace does not cause more stress than he or she is able to handle. There is a profitable market in this line of work, which continues to be one of the driving factors keeping it in existence. Another would be the fact that this job fills an important role in society, which would surely not function as well without it.

Author Bio: Our team of representatives focuses on locating temporary Locum Tenens for you, whether you are a new resident moving into practice or a seasoned physician looking for a practice change in Locum jobs.

Category: Career
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