Work from HOME and freelancers
You either get it or you don’t – but if you don’t get Professionalism – then get out of business. It’s not a humility game, it’s a Game of performance. Freelancers are not your scapegoat – they can be your FAST TRACK ticket.
Freelancing: Before You Moan Too Much About Your 9-5 Corporate Role
Ah, the 9-5 grind. Office politics, the endless meetings, the team that only seems to function when coffee is in hand. You’ve got it tough, right? Well, let me introduce you to the misunderstood world of freelancing, where professionals step in to clean up the mess left behind by internal teams who’ve either ignored instructions or forgotten what a deadline looks like or realised they don’t have the technical skills to perform within the digital/technical space.
The next time your team thinks they can get away with another great steal or believe their job is about tripping someone up – it might be wise to remind them that the freelancer they are ‘getting one over on’ is being brought in to improve the performance, bottom line and budget allocations and that perhaps their motivations should also align more closely with the definition of ‘business’ and their responsibilities within their contract of employment.
The freelancer not only manages multiple projects, provides momentum to keep a project running and conducts and submits the work someone else forgot/was not skilled to do but also often, has to step in to temporarily lead, frequently when a project has gone slightly off track. In addition, they are used to dealing with multiple sets of ‘office politics’. This most likely done with the patience of a saint.
THE 'ETIQUETTE'
“Blame it on the Freelancer” – The Convenient Scapegoat
Picture this: you hand in work, ahead or on schedule, ticking all the right boxes. Then the project tanks, not because of anything you’ve done (oh no), but because internal staff ignored key details, failed to follow instructions, or just didn’t do their part. So, who gets the blame? The freelancer. Convenient, right? Because after all, you weren’t in that internal meeting where everyone silently nodded and agreed to do absolutely nothing.
“We Can Skill-Up Our Team (For Free, of Course!)”
You’re hired for your expertise, but suddenly you’re expected to train the entire team—without so much as a mention of compensation for your time. You’re brought in as the expert and yet somehow, part of your job description becomes “upskilling” the very team that couldn’t deliver in the first place. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
“Payment? Oh, That’s Optional, Right?”
You’ve delivered your flawless work, sent your impeccably detailed invoice (on time, every time), and… nothing. Silence. Weeks pass, and when you finally hear back, it’s not to say thanks but to complain that your invoice “didn’t reach us in time,” or, better yet, to suggest “we’ll process it next quarter.” Meanwhile, the corporate payroll chugs along like clockwork, because heaven forbid their employees go unpaid.
“We Expect You to Work Anytime, All the Time”
You’ve agreed on a limited set of deliverables. The hours are clear. The expectations are nailed down. Yet somehow, you find yourself fielding late-night emails and weekend calls because the internal team—once again—didn’t manage to pull their weight. But don’t worry, they won’t be working on the weekend. That’s for you—the highly efficient, always-on freelancer, who clearly must have nothing better to do than save the day.
“We Pay Them, So We Can Treat Them However We Like”
Apparently, writing the cheque (when it eventually arrives) entitles some companies to forget basic professionalism. Last-minute meeting cancellations, failure to inform you about strategic decisions that affect your work, radio silence on project updates—it’s all part of the freelance “experience.” And when you do follow up? You’re just supposed to smile and nod, grateful for the crumbs of communication you’ve been offered.
“We Can benefit from their digital tools for free”
All too often, mostly after trying to screw someone down on their rate you will find that it is commonplace for a company to believe it is their right to have limitless use of professional digital tools – saving (often many £1000s) and with the expectation that this is a free entitlement and can be unrestricted.
The “Rishi Sunak Special”: More Tax, Less Security
Then there’s the joy of being a freelancer in the current tax system. While others benefit from furlough schemes, job security, and predictable paydays, freelancers are handed higher taxes (nearly 5% higher) to “support the economy” and told to be grateful. It’s like being asked to run the marathon while carrying everyone else’s water bottles. But, hey, that’s fair because you went to a gym class at lunch time. Even though you haven’t had a days paid holiday since the day you went independent #WTF #WFH
Legal Summary: Protecting Yourself as a Freelancer in the UK
Freelancers may be expected to shoulder a lot of responsibility, but UK law provides some protection to ensure you’re not taken advantage of.
- Late Payment Protection: The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013 entitle you to charge interest on overdue invoices at 8% above the Bank of England base rate. You can also claim compensation for debt recovery if clients fail to pay on time.
- Clear Contractual Terms: Make sure your contract clearly outlines your payment terms, deliverables, and working conditions. This ensures that when companies expect you to work beyond the agreed scope, or pay you late, you can refer back to these terms and hold them accountable.
- IR35 Legislation: IR35 rules determine whether you are genuinely self-employed or acting as a “disguised employee” for tax purposes. Always ensure your contracts reflect your true freelance status, so you avoid being unfairly taxed under employment rules.
- Right to Be Informed: As part of the working relationship, freelancers have a right to be kept in the loop about key decisions that affect their work. This means that clients cannot withhold important information without breaching the terms of engagement or professional standards.
THE CORRECT STEPS TO TAKE
Freelancers aren’t there to cover for internal failings or to be blamed when the agency or corporate systems break down. By knowing your rights, setting clear terms, and holding clients accountable, you can ensure freelancing remains as professional and rewarding as it should be.
Protect your portfolio – sometimes, often it can be a challenge maintaining your style – you will be well versed as a seasoned Freelancer on the softly softly approach to helping clients see the light – but make sure you do put these things in writing – as demoralising as it can be – you need the protection.
Protect your obligations, similar point to the above – particularly prevalent in the world of digital marketing – record the advice you provide and make sure it is delivered clearly and repeatedly – just because a client doesn’t want to do something – doesn’t mean its your fault or failing!
Record your meetings – with permission of course.
Limit contact – its all too easy for the WhatsApp direct access to get out of hand – some people get it – others don’t. If they show no sign of being able to conduct themselves with a degree of ‘reasonable’ then restrict their contact to ‘working hours only’ – if that doesn’t work – drop the client and file a suit for damages on any of the above legalities.
So in answer to your question
Yeah, I sometimes wear pants.
But more importantly – it’s none of your business – what you should be asking yourself is –
Can I employ someone to work for me who may have a greater degree of skill in identifying areas of my business or operations that are not running as I expected. Can I employ a woman who has advanced technical and data skills and understand that the reason I am paying the invoice is that she has an extensive amount of experience, conducted herself in a manner that commands respect and proven professional and trustworthy – if you have an issue with any of those questions – then, Perhaps it is time you got an introduction to 2024!