Work as a contractor: earn more, feel better

Money: it makes the world go round, right? Not so much anymore. 

While salary remains key when we search for a new job, it’s no longer the deciding factor in the long term. 35% of workers polled in a recent report by LHH considered a good work-life balance integral to their job satisfaction – 10 percentage points higher than salary. In a similar report by CIPHR, 67% of respondents highlighted work-life balance as a top priority. 

If you’re after a job where you can put your wellbeing first, look no further. Contract roles could provide the flexibility to explore the world of work on your own terms. Although an inevitable trade-off is security and benefits like paid sick leave, contractor often always earn a higher hourly rate than salaried staff in return.  

All the while, contract work can offer spontaneity and balance.  

The pandemic helped many of us realise how much we enjoy having more time to ourselves: spending time with our families, making sourdough bread, keeping up with hobbies.  

Cue: The Great Resignation. Millions challenged the ‘salary-above-all' attitude that had motivated our careers before. Nearly one-third of workers hoped to quit their job in the next year. 

Contracting gives you the power to choose jobs with hours that suit you. That way, you can balance your job with the things you enjoy. If you need to work mornings whilst training for your black belt in taekwondo or handling school pick-ups, the right contract could be out there waiting for you. 

Or, if your relaxation is more of the palm trees and piña coladas variety, you can knuckle down for six months at a cutting-edge video game studio before heading off on your next travel adventure.  

Maybe you want to protect your mental health. 

Many employers are putting better measures in place to protect their staff. But there is still some way to go. Only 58% of workers report being able to satisfy their mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. And more than one in three experienced burnout in the last year, including 45% of managers. 

Contract workers can take matters into their own hands. Only 54% of workers said they were satisfied with their career prospects and development opportunities available to them. So if it’s financially feasible, contracting gives you the option to take a break between jobs or dip your toes back into the market after some time off. This empowers you to work within your limits and protect your mental well-being. 

There’s no one way of being that works for every unique individual. The concept of working 9-5, 365 days a year with a few weeks off, doesn't have to be okay with you just because that's how it has been. 

Contract work isn't about taking on less. It's about making space for more.