Today, Tuesday, May 16, marks Freelance Heroes Day – a chance to celebrate the work of freelance staff across the UK.
In recent years, the number of freelance workers has increased – by more than 43% between 2008 and 2016 – offering a versatile, dynamic solution to businesses looking to employ specialists to drive their work forward.
In this blog we explore the benefits of working with freelance staff and the steps you should consider when employing someone new.
Freelancers offer freedom and versatility when you need it most
The joy of working with freelancers lies in the freedom and versatility they offer to you and your team.
If you’ve found that your business is expanding quickly but you’re not quite ready to employ someone permanently, calling on the services of a freelancer could offer a neat solution.
Similarly, if you’re working on a project but you don’t have the skills required in-house, employing a freelancer could give you the short-term boost in talent you need.
In the right circumstances, employing a freelancer could also be a cheaper alternative to a permanent member of staff, a particularly important factor to consider in the current economic climate. Paying for a freelancer means you only need to pay on an ad-hoc basis for the work they do, removing the need to pay for costly equipment and office space.
Important things to consider
While employing a freelancer means you can be agile and respond to a need much more efficiently, there are some important aspects to consider.
Freelancers tend to book up quickly so you’ll need to plan ahead. Making some good solid connections and building relationships is important here, particularly if you’re looking to employ someone regularly or for a long period of time.
It’s also important to set the boundaries and get an agreement in place early before you engage in any new relationship.
The agreement should include hourly rates, days of work and what the role will entail to ensure there is complete transparency on both sides.
You’ll need to agree how the role will work and include clauses on confidentiality to deter freelance staff from disclosing important information about your business and the work you do to a third party.
Be clear on your conditions and payment methods and the latest tax regulations to ensure you fully comply.
Beyond that, taking the time to ensure any freelance worker or contractor is fully on-board with your mission, your vision and the culture in your workplace will pay dividends in the long run, leading to a happy, productive working relationship for all.
For tailored advice for your business get in touch for a chat today. You can email me at hello@ena-hr.co.uk or call me on 07779 788957.