Whether you’re starting out in the workforce, in the middle of life, on the move, or looking to wind down your career, different ways of working can benefit you depending on your goals and lifestyle.
Casual work
Many people typically start out doing casual work, as it is often easier to get into, and employers have more flexibility in what they pay and how many hours you work. This is the same across the world, however some countries still place certain obligations on employers hiring casuals. For example, in Australia, even casual employees can be entitled to private pension, paid by their employers.
One of the great benefits for casual workers is their own flexibility, especially in regards to time commitments. The casual nature means they can often fit their work hours around study, family obligations, travel or even other jobs.
The equivalent hourly rate should also be a bit higher than that of a permanent employee, because the casual doesn’t enjoy the security of tenure, salary or holiday leave. The downside is that casuals have very little job security, or even workhour regularity, however casual workers in the Philippines have one advantage that most casuals around the world do not… namely, the twelve-month rule.
Under this, any casual employee who has worked for the same company for more than twelve months, achieves the status of regular employee, with all the rights and entitlements that comes with that.
Seasonal work
This type of work is also very common around the world – especially in the tourism and agricultural sectors where demand for staff increases dramatically due to seasonal factors such as holiday periods or harvest times.
In the tourism industry, high-season often coincides with school and university holidays, which makes it a great time for students and casuals employed in education, to take up a holiday job as a seasonal worker, equipping them with many hospitality skills that are transportable across the globe.
Seasonal work in the agricultural sector is generally based around harvest time and, in some areas also pruning time. Payment can be based on a set hourly rate or, more commonly, a volume-based rate.
As workers here are generally exposed to the weather, and often in awkward positions, it can be physically demanding work, but is usually fairly easy to get into and as one becomes more skilled, decent money can be made. More technical tasks, such as pruning, will usually equip workers with skills they can take to other countries – especially when it is quiet season at home.
Seasonal workers are hired for the length of the season, and if they work for the same business across a number of seasons, they may be regarded as regular employees.
Contract work
This type of employment can cover anything from entry-level work to high-end consulting, and is focused on providing skills to one particular project for which the contractor is hired. Like casual work, the equivalent hourly rate is usually higher, to make up for the lack of regular work entitlements.
This category is the usual type of work for self-employed specialists and operates on a supplier-client basis. Contract terms are agreed between the parties, and these include fees and charges, the scope of work to be completed, and timeframes for work and for payment.
Smaller or lower-end projects can be an ideal option for people just starting out in their profession as it gives them exposure to the industry and experience in their field, which can potentially be added to work portfolios. As these build up, so too can the level of responsibility and pay.
This type of employment is often also highly transportable and allows a lot more flexibility than permanent employment as you are, in effect your own boss, but unfortunately is not as secure, since you need to keep getting new contracts which requires greater levels of networking and self-marketing.
Project work
This is quite a broad term as it can cover a vast array of jobs and industries, but basically it involves hiring someone for the term of a particular project or specific phase of a project. For example, a laborer may be hired to work on a building site for as long as it takes to construct the building to lock-up stage.
Unlike a casual employee, the laborer generally knows what hours he or she will be required and for how many weeks or months. In most cases, project workers won’t be paid on days they don’t work (including special and public holidays) however, if they are required to work on such days, they are entitled to an additional 30% of their normal pay.
Project work combines the flexibility of seasonal employment, with the relative security of contract work.
Regular work
Also known as permanent work, this can be full-time or part-time, and almost always begins with a six-month probationary period. For many people, regular employment is the most desirable type of work as it is more dependable in terms of job security, wage, tenure, career progression and leave entitlements. You can expect to be paid, even over special holidays when you don’t work, and you are entitled to five days of service incentive leave per year.
While regular work offers a higher level of reassurance and salary expectation, it is also less flexible, which means finding work-life balance can be harder. That said, it may be possible to achieve the best of both worlds through regular part-time employment, which, in 2019 was the option chosen by almost a third of all employed people in the Philippines.
Conclusion
Whatever your stage in life, your career- and life-goals, and your skills and capabilities, it’s important, if you can, to choose the type of work style that best suits your plans and not someone else’s expectations. It’s also important to know your rights, entitlements and obligations, and those of your employer, under each category.
And most of all, always try to pursue a career in something you enjoy doing, because a job which brings great money, does not always bring great happiness.
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