Stop Taking Advantage of
Freelancers
Just because you’re a non-profit, doesn’t mean that
you should take advantage of freelancers who might work for less than a large
company charges, but in the end, if you’re about fairness and justice, it
behooves you to pay people what they are worth.
When I look at my days, I find that I work 8-12 hours days excepting Sunday (I try not to work on Sunday anymore). I also try to take off one
day a week once or twice a month where I turn off my computer and take time for myself. But the last
3 years I’ve felt like I'm hustling rather working--that to sustain myself, I was
accepting less than what I'm worth to keep the proverbial balls of survival in
the air. Enough!
The idea of hustling is not exactly foreign to me.
I have, in the past, never lacked for work because I have a wide range of
skills that I continue to polish. I remember starting as a typist and telephone
operator (always, always, have worked
more than one job). I type more than 100 words per minute and I had (still do)
a good voice. I went from a Remington to the IBM Selectric, to memory
typewriters, to computers. Never have I shied away from learning. My first real
job was at the telephone company while I was in college. All that means is that
I paid taxes for the first time. While living on a college campus (my father
was a professor), I typed papers for Ph.D. candidates. I was 11 years old. Great
money. I charged 50 cents a page, but I gained so much more than money. Boy,
did I ever learn. My mother use to tease me after working with a candidate for
2-3 months, “Well, I see you just got another Ph.D.”
Freelancing has afforded me much in life. I have
gotten to travel and pursue my love of peacemaking because I freelance. The
Internet gave most freelancers real freedom because we can send our work
instantly for review and acceptance. As I said, I’ve never lacked for work, but
what I have lacked in these last few years is fair payment. In the ‘80s, I made
about $10-20 an hour. Like I said earlier, I have honed my skills, going from a
simple typist to editor, designer, and consultant. I’m college educated and
experienced.
In the ‘90s, I made more, but I admit that money
never has driven me. Perhaps that is part of my current problem, but I don’t
think so. If I made an agreement with someone, expectations were that delivered
work would be paid for. Period. The last few years, however, I have dealt with
more individuals and non-profits that expect me to work for less than my education
and experience require.
I have worked for less and less because the economy
sucked. A job that I once received $4-500 for, I’m doing for $150. Truly. Then
I have to chase down money or waste my time negotiating an agreement that the
bottom-line for the potential client is that they want it cheap. Cheap? I needed the money, so I have accepted
less than what I was worth to get the
job. Then I have to ask myself, “Why should I?” In fact, why should any of us
give away our gifts and talents for cheap?
The last straw last year provoked me to change the way I do business as a
freelancer. I had worked for an older, established non-profit as a favor to
someone I’d known since I was 16 years old. The weeks of working for this individual and his
organization made me realize that what I had agreed to, and what I ended up
doing (not agreed to), was no one’s fault but my own. My camera was stolen at
an event ($300 down the drain), I dropped my IPhone in the commode ($175 to
replace), and I worked longer hours (because, personally, my name was on the
material and I wanted to make sure it was exemplary). In the end, when I added
up what I made with what I lost, I made $100! That ended up being roughly five cents an hour.
It took me a couple of months of trying to
negotiate a better deal with my former mentor who kept reminding me: Remember, I’m a non-profit. In other
words, as a non-profit, you expect a discount? You expect to have people GIVE
away their work for free? Well, I guess some do. But, as I looked at it,
especially knowing that I believed in the cause of my non-profits that I have
worked for, I knew I had to change tack. This isn’t working and in the end, I
start resenting the organization and that sucks big time.
By the way, this organization ended up owing me a
lot of money because I’d yet to change tack, but the lesson can be yours. I was
hurt more than anything because I trusted where trust had not been earned. I
was thinking with a 16-year old mind of awe. I gave more credit to the
individual than he deserved, and fell prey to a kind of worship that wasn’t
smart. In the end, I walked away feeling betrayed and angry. As freelancers, it
is our job to educate our clients on the worth of the product or service they
are receiving. Secondly, having someone tell you that they can’t afford you is
your first clue that this should NOT be your client. You can sympathize with
their plight and commiserate with them, but you cannot work for them. Sorry. Sorry?
Don’t be.
Seriously, I prefer to do work for projects and
causes that mean something to me. That won’t change. But, I have to be aware of
what I can or cannot volunteer for. My job, my little company, sustains me so
that I can volunteer every once in a while. I will sweep floors, wash dishes,
(wo)man a booth, but I will not give away my services for free. Discounts?
Maybe, but that comes from building a relationship with the company along with
a signed agreement.
Yes, if it’s my products or services you want, you
must sign an agreement. Agreements protect us both, but it also makes it easier
to know whether or not you should be working together in the first place.
Whomever you work for, if they seek you out, you
must take your business serious. Find out what they want. I do a 15-minute free
telephone consultation. I can offer them options of setting up a longer
consultation in person (at an hourly rate), which I can apply to the job we
agree to (sign the agreement). Be clear and if they don’t want to sign an
agreement (I’ve had that happen), walk away.
As I started this out blog as a statement to those
who take advantage of freelancers (or more aptly, who freelancers let take
advantage of them), please don’t start with wanting a discount unless you’ve
built a relationship prior. Instead, find out what it will cost and then go to
your funders and get it paid for. That’s not only respect, but it is economic
justice. As a freelancer with premium skills, I use other freelancers. I’m not
going to them and asking them to work for less than they are worth because I
know value. I’m certainly not going to do it knowing what the ultimate cost is
for accepting less than you’re worth. The economy will grow when we pay each
other fairly. 2013 has got to be different.
Lastly, think about this as well. Think about what
you do pay for. The light company, the phone bill; companies that will turn you
off before they negotiate the price. The truth is that you don’t even ask. But,
you will ask us—the freelancers—the fill
in the blanks people who make you look or sound good. Well, times are
changing. Want the best? Take out your checkbook and then make sure the check
is good.
