Assessing the merits of a salaried job

Being a locum can pay higher rates and allow practitioners to work their own hours.

Indeed, such factors motivated 7.5% more optometrists to take up locum work between 2010 and 2015.

There are drawbacks though, especially for newly qualified optometrists, which include the uncertainty of shifts and missing out on staff benefits and training.

Optician Workplace interviewed optometrists from inside and outside organisations to assess the main differences.

Earning a holiday

Surbhi Joshi, who has been a locum optometrist for more than four years, can see both sides of the coin as she worked as a company employed optometrist for two-and-a-half years at the start of her career.