Are full-time Medical Devices contracts a thing of the past?

Are full-time contracts becoming a thing of the past? Matthew Moulton of Real Staffing’s Medical Device contract team, has seen a growing trend of QA and RA contractors taking on multiple shorter-hours contracts, instead of the typical full-time hour contracts. With this growing trend, we look at what could be driving this change.

How have Medical Device contractors operated before?

Typically most contractors still work similar hours to full-time employees by taking on five days per week, eight hours per day work. However, Matthew has seen a rise in contractors taking on less lengthy contracts, to work with multiple clients. As we enter an age where candidates are taking more consideration of their roles than just salary, companies in the Medical Device industry are having to become more flexible in their job offerings to attract the best talent.

What are the benefits of having multiple contracts?

It’s widely reported that work/life flexibility is an important factor in new roles, which is why the approach to taking on multiple contracts is so attractive. With some roles offering only a few hours per week to work on internal processes and compliances, this has allowed contractors in the Medical Device Regulatory and Quality industry to create their own varied working week. This flexibility can also help increase income for these contractors. With companies competing for talent within this space, this gives candidates the advantage to have a lot more control over their hourly rates.
The introduction of MDR has only helped increase the demand for additional contractors to work on contingency plans, which usually is best suited to contract positions. It’s evident that some of these roles are being filled with contractors who also work elsewhere throughout the week. Some of these roles can be done remotely which is also an attractive benefit to contractors who seek a better work/life balance. Matthew has noticed a recent rise in the popularity of these types of roles, explaining; ‘since the introduction of MDR within Medical Device companies, over 20% of my placements in the last 12 months have been with contractors who are also undertaking additional contract work, on top of their current roles’. As well as the additional salary and flexibility benefits, by adopting this way of working contractors will also fall outside of IR35, as they would no longer equate to the same working patterns as a full-time employee.

How can Real Staffing help support working with multiple contracts?

After years of experience recruiting into the Medical Device industry, Matthew has been actively seeking candidates who are open to the opportunity of a short-term contract alongside their current role.
In the last 12 months he’s seen a rise in job vacancies for shorter-term hours and is seeking new people to fill these new contracts. His experience in recruiting for these roles has also given him a deeper insight into the new IR35 regulations coming into effect within the private sector, which has been invaluable information for the contractors who work with him.

Get in touch with Matthew Moulton if you have a spare 6-16 hours per week and are open to new opportunities around your current role.