Freelancers
get what you’re owed
Freelancing can be tough and insecure and getting payment out of employers can sometimes be difficult.
For example it is hard to know what to do when you have no idea when you will be paid next, even though there was an agreement you would be paid weekly. It is often the case that freelance workers are not paid in the same way as full-time employees but there is a fine line between demanding payment and annoying the people you are working for – as they may not ask you back. It is a tough decision to decide when an employer is no longer someone you are prepared to work for. When times are good, then you may be able to find alternative work, but if work is not flowing, then the decision is so much harder. The hard line is to ask why payment has not been made as per the original agreement. You will then have to react to the reply. But it is important that you set your stall out early. If that does not generate a payment, then perhaps you should consider a faceto-face discussion making it clear the arrangement must be a formal one. My advice to all freelancers is to set out in writing what was agreed and how payment will be made. Be clear about what was agreed. Although a written record is usually the best way of noting an agreement, if anything is agreed verbally, make a note of it by recording the agreement in a computer generated document. Below is an idea of what you should express to the employer as being the best way for payment to be made: Work a full week and then ask the appropriate person to sign your time sheet. Make sure that the time sheet, of which a copy is given to the employer, clearly states that disputes must be expressed in writing within a set period of days. Generate an invoice based on the signed time sheet and ask that payment be made within the agreed period. Make sure that the invoice makes it clear when payment should be received. If payment is not received the day after it was due, then write to the employer bringing that fact to their attention. If payment is not received a further 7 days after then write again. If payment is still not received then have a face to face meeting and make it clear, if need be, that the time sheets were signed, the date when payment should have been received and that no disputes were expressed, assuming that is true, within the given period. If payment does ??BF?V??FW&??6R?F?V???Rv????fRF?6??6?FW"v?WF?W"??Rv?BF?F?RgW'F?W"7F????BFW&??FR??W"V?????V?BGVRF?F?R?????V?B?b??W"??f??6R?2????R6??V?BF?V?6??6?FW"??7G'V7F??r?W?W'B??F?R&V6?fW'??b??f??6W2???????????F?R??7B???'F?B7V7B?bF?W6R6?'G2?b6?GVF???2?2v?B??RF??bF???w27F'BF?6??B??W"??V?B?2??B&V6V?fVB?F???RF???F???r??F?R??RF?BF?R???W?v???WfV?GV??6??R?B6?&?FV7B??W"v?&???r&V?F???6????"F???R7F?6?F???W"wV?2?BFV??B??V?B2W"v?Bv2w&VVB&Vf?&R??RW&f?&?VB??W"v?&?f?"F?V???b??R?fR?V??B??f??6RF?B?2??fVBF?F?7WFR?B?b??RfVV?V?&?RF?FV?v?F??B?F?V?F??( ?Bv?''?2F?W&R?2?V?f??&?R?2FV'B&V6?fW'?7V6??7G2vR?W&FRf??VBfVR?V?RF??V?'W6??W76W2?Bg&VV??6W'2v??f??BF?V?6V?fW2??F??26?GVF????v?F??rf?&?????W"6?FRF?R6??6W2?b&V6?fW&??rF?R???W??vVBF???R&R?V6?&WGFW"?'??V??6?'&V????@???