
The Freelance Social Contract Tried and Trusted Advice for Employers
Previously, I explored how freelancers can thrive through collaboration, professionalism, and strong networks—key practices for building trust and mutual success. Now, let’s focus on employers: What can you do to create a thriving freelance ecosystem and build lasting partnerships with top talent?
Advice to Employers
In today’s business landscape, freelance talent has become indispensable, offering flexibility and expertise that full-time hires can’t always provide. However, building and maintaining a high-performing freelance team requires treating freelancers as valued partners, not just temporary help.
Here are some key principles for fostering a thriving freelance ecosystem from the employer’s perspective.
Treat Freelancers with Respect
The most important rule for employers is simple: treat freelancers with the same professional courtesy you’d extend to any full-time employee. Respect is not only the right thing to do—it’s the most effective way to attract and retain top freelance talent.
All too often, freelancers are seen as second-class citizens or afterthoughts.
Here’s how to ensure you’re giving contractors the respect they deserve:
- Be open and honest: Transparent communication builds trust.
- Communicate early and often: Keeping freelancers in the loop ensures smoother project execution.
Respect isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of a successful freelancer-employer relationship.
Be Sensitive to the Realities of Freelancing
Freelancers are entrepreneurs and business owners, much like the leaders who hire them. Their responsibilities extend beyond your project, including managing other clients and running daily operations. Employers must understand and respect these realities to build strong partnerships.
- Acknowledge their business responsibilities: Freelancers may need to take calls or schedule meetings for future projects, but that doesn’t mean they’re neglecting your work.
- Be flexible: Allow freelancers to balance their responsibilities without compromising the success of your project.
Freelancers are more than just a temporary resource—they are professionals skillfully balancing multiple roles.
Pay Promptly
Nothing undermines a strong freelance relationship faster than slow or inconsistent payments. Freelancers rely on timely payments to sustain their businesses, and paying promptly is one of the simplest ways to build loyalty and trust.
- Timely payments are non-negotiable: To attract and retain top talent, respect their expertise by paying on time.
- No delays, no excuses: Consistent payments reinforce your reputation as a reliable client.
Late payments harm both freelancers and employers: they place a financial strain on freelancers and can tarnish an employer’s reputation, limiting access to top talent.
Integrate Freelancers into Your Team
Involving freelancers as integral members of your team builds loyalty and ensures high-quality results. Even for short-term projects, inclusion fosters a sense of connection and commitment.
- Keep them informed: Include freelancers in relevant updates and conversations to align their work with team goals.
- Invite participation: Encourage freelancers to contribute ideas and solutions, demonstrating their input is valued.
- Avoid exclusionary practices: If perks, such as company swag, are distributed, include your freelancers. Exclusion undermines team unity and cohesion.
- Celebrate achievements: Recognize and celebrate freelancers’ contributions in team meetings, newsletters, or other public forums to reinforce their role as valued team members.
Freelancers who feel valued are more likely to go above and beyond for your company.
Share Freelance Talent with Competitors
Freelancers thrive on community, and companies can benefit from a similar approach. Just as freelancers rely on peer referrals, businesses can gain by sharing freelance talent with friendly competitors. Sharing your freelance pool fosters goodwill and creates a reciprocal community among businesses.
- Reciprocity benefits businesses, too: Share your top freelancers, and your competitors may return the favor when you’re in need.
- Freelancers will appreciate you: Sharing talent helps create a community of trust and collaboration that can yield long-term benefits.
The Roster: A Solution Tailored for Employers
The Roster’s bench model offers a straightforward solution that makes managing freelance talent easier and more effective for employers:
- No-cost, no-risk access: Build a ready-to-deploy pool of freelance talent without any upfront costs or risks.
- Top-tier talent: The Roster’s bench features highly skilled, vetted professionals—often more experienced than full-time employees.
- Unified invoicing and communication: Simplify freelance management with a single platform for invoicing, communication, and project oversight.
- Project governance support: Bench captains and coordinators offer essential support for seamless project execution and oversight.
By leveraging The Roster’s bench model, employers can access top talent, streamline freelance management, and create a more successful project environment.
Stronger Together
Employers play a crucial role in fostering successful freelance relationships. By respecting freelancers, understanding their realities, and integrating them into your team, you can build a loyal, high-performing talent pool. The Roster supports these efforts with pre-vetted talent, personalized curation, a deep bench, centralized timekeeping, invoicing, and project governance—helping employers streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and ensure seamless access to top-tier talent. Ready to build your freelance bench? Book a Call with me today to get started.
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