Could freelancing be good for the world?
Paula Kokare
A boutique freelance platform that connects organizations with hand-picked freelancers, ready to make an immediate impact (Let's talk!) | Co-founder @ Houston & Ko
What is the Freelance Economy?
The Gig-economy has been around for decades, however its initial popularity following the 2009 financial crisis was born as a result of high unemployment rates and categorised by a lack of legislation, race to the bottom pricing and exploitation of some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Today the freelance economy is a very different place. In fact it now makes up around one third of the global workforce with more than 1.1 billion registered freelancers. This economy is nothing like the one that came before, it is composed of skilled professionals, where competition for high quality talent is on the rise, rates are in a win-win place for both companies and freelancers and more sophisticated policies make it a safe and sustainable model of labour for everyone.
Why is it good for business?
Is freelancing good for business? Where to start?
We should admit to being a little biassed here, but, in short, we think, yes. That doesn’t mean yes to freelancers and no to employees - but why not both? We believe that some of today’s thorniest challenges could be solved by the creation of hybrid teams where freelancers and employees work together.
Many of our customers are struggling with the same key challenges when it comes to resourcing their teams and departments:
We believe these come from a lack of flexibility as a result of teams staffed solely by FTEs.?
On the other hand - a team that is made of both freelancers and employees allows you:
We aren’t naive to the challenges of creating a hybrid team or utilising the services of freelance professionals - trust us on this one. The reality is that we know the challenges very well, but we simply place higher value on the combined pro’s than the con’s.?
Why is it good for society?
Freelancing is good for business, but is it good for society??
The answer to that, very much depends on the local rules and regulations that govern the model in that particular country. When done correctly, with reasonable policies and practices it can safely provide numerous benefits to individuals, organisations and communities.?
Insider tip: At Houston & Ko we only work with legally registered freelancers according to the rules and regulations existing in their countries of residence. This ensures that the freelance model makes a positive contribution to the countries and communities in which our team chooses to live.?
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015 the United Nations set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that, if met by 2030, will provide “end poverty, protect the planet and provide better and more sustainable future for all"
领英推荐
Reading through the goals, the scale of the work to be done can become a little daunting. Yet, big changes are, more often than not, the accumulation of many small efforts.?
We believe that freelancers and those that use their services are making those small efforts in these three ways:
SDG 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
Although the economic impact of freelancing to an individual varies between platforms, type of work and level of skills - there are more opportunities to find employment, increase earnings or simply find jobs that are a better fit.
A recent report by the World Bank details that in developing countries like Kenya, Nigeria and India, full-time online workers made more than their traditionally employed counterparts with some rates being up to 14 times higher than minimum wages in developing countries.
SDG 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
Nearly each one of us, with our ingrained and often unconscious bias, has played some part in the design or execution of traditional hiring models and ways-of-working that exclude some of the most talented individuals from our organisations.
The flexibility and remote nature of the freelance economy gives all of us a second chance to remove the redundant processes that put value on the elements of presenteeism, and welcome skilled individuals, regardless of their situation into our teams, on their own terms, rather than ours.
SDG 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
The remote nature of the freelance economy has allowed it to (albeit slowly) become a force for rural economic development.?
Incentives such as increased proximity to nature and reduced cost of living are encouraging many more freelancers to move to more rural locations. As this happens, incomes move away from bigger cities to smaller towns and villages, distributing wealth more efficiently and driving investments in the local communities.?
Ukraine
If there is an opportunity to look at how freelancing can bring a little good to the world, it is now. Following the war, over six million individuals have been displaced and their livelihoods fallen into uncertainty.
At Houston & Ko we work with individuals from more than 12 different countries and some of our most skilled, professional and kind team members from the Ukraine. Remote Ukraine is a charity that is connecting amazing Ukrainian talent with job opportunities around the world.
How to get involved
We know that both the war in Ukraine and the challenges addressed by the UN SDGs are complex problems that require more than one solution on many different fronts.?
We recognise that the freelance economy alone will not and cannot move the needle, but we are hopeful that when used correctly it can contribute positively.
If you would like to find out more about how to staff your team using our team of skilled and professional freelancers, please reach out to us at [email protected].
If you would like to post a position exclusively for Ukrainian talent please visit Remote Ukraine to find out more.