I'm wondering if anyone is on here who is totally freelance? As in, not running their own business as such but hire themselves out to companies as a freelancer?
I'm having a terrible time with the company who I've worked for regularly for YEARS who are behaving very oddly indeed and I think I am being discriminated against because of my diagnosis. My industry is very unregulated so I feel I have no rights. I am at a loss as to how to navigate this. I did talk to an amazing woman from the charity Working With Cancer but she doesn't really have a lot of knowledge about the freelance world.
Hugs
Emily x
Written by
Emcee71
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Hi Emily, I'm not a freelancer I'm afraid but I did have a terrible time with my previous employer when I was first diagnosed at the end of 2021. They pretended to be supportive for a while but never understood how poorly I was, and when I wasn't well enough to carry on working or come back as quickly as they wanted me to, I ended up being paid off. (I could have fought for my employment rights but I didn't want to go back to what was a very small company and work with people with that attitude!)
Anyway, I seem to remember speaking to Macmillan about it all - they were very helpful and spoke to me at length on the phone and emailed me lots of helpful literature, so maybe you could give them a call? (Might the Citizens Advice Bureau also be able to help with freelancing advice?) Failing that, I would try having an initial consultation with a solicitor (I think it's often free for a first chat) to see what your options might be if things are looking bleak with your company.
I'm currently back on chemo for a recurrence and my new employer couldn't be more different than the last one, they're happy for me to do as much or as little as I feel up to, which is so nice after last time.
I hope you can sort your freelance troubles out, you don't need any extra stress. And I hope you can find a much nicer company to work for in the future! Good luck 🤞
Thank you, Kjpip, I'm so sorry you had that experience and also how crap to have had a recurrence. I am so glad you found another employer. When did you tell them about your diagnosis?
Sadly I don't have a leg to stand on because no contracts have been signed yet. In my line of work people can get badly messed around even when they don't have cancer. I had hoped for some loyalty given I have worked for them so many times for many months at a time but my industry is in tatters with over 70% of freelancers out of work this year. So given I am lucky to have any work at all I don't feel I can complain and I could never prove they are discriminating.
I desperately want to leave the industry altogether but I am trapped as I owe so much tax and money to the bank and credit cards having been off work for over 7 months. I have to pay it all back so can't take a big drop in income! I guess I just felt alone and wondered how others coped.
Not sure about this, but I think there are debt consolidation, companies / people , who could help you get your debts to a manageable amount,I think you negotiate with your debtors and this might give you more leeway to move jobs , or help with worry . Best of luck with everything
Thanks Jennifer, yes I have been in touch with the Business Debt Line (who also advise individuals) and will be speaking to them again. But I hadn't thought about that side of it ie working out the minimum possible to pay back to allow me to take a lower salary, so thank you. So if anybody else is reading this and worried about money please do call them, they are amazing.
I am currently painting the bathroom so I can advertise for a lodger. I felt like I had to hold off while on chemo. So let's hope my first scan is clear!x
Goodness, that sounds so stressful 😔 I really hope things improve for you. I would still speak to as many advice agencies as you can, they might know something you don't that can help with your working rights, even though you're freelance. Macmillan can also advise about benefits, debt etc and sometimes it just helps to talk things through with someone who might have a bright idea that you haven't thought of 🤞
My new employer knew I had OC a couple of years ago, and that it might come back any time, so they've been brilliant thank goodness. I only work part time and from home so I'm finding it manageable to fit work in around treatment and all the other various appointments we have to juggle!
Glad to hear it. Yes you're right about talking it through. I need certainty and security now. Even talking to you has solidified this. Thank you so much x
Thank you for your post. I'm sorry to hear about the stressful time you're having with work.
You've received lots of useful advice from our members and I just wanted to add a link for Macmillan, as Kjpip mentioned, they have a lot of useful information and advice available on work and finances.
They also have their Work Support Team available through their support line which is 0808 808 00 00 every day 8am-8pm. I hope they are able to help and also reassure you.
Thanks Anna, I have this booklet and spoke to them and they recommended me the Business Debt Line who have been very helpful. We filled out a spreadsheet etc. I will call them again before I speak to the Tax Office again about my changed situation, I know you don't need to know this just thought I would share in case anybody comes looking at this post when needing this kind of help in the future.
That's really helpful to know, thank you Emcee. I'll let the rest of the team know about the Business Debt Line too so we can let people know about it.
I'd like to say all employers are fair and work within the Equality Act and treat people with decency particularly at a time when the staff member is vulnerable due to health. That's not the case though and freelancers are in an even more precarious position. Most have no paid sick leave or even annual leave. When I had my major surgeries I just had a fee days off. No sick pay, main bread winner, I didn't really have a choice. Fortunately I am mainly home-based so was more do-ablw but really hard. When I did mention OC even in a historic context I suddenly had to give weekly updates at work (when no other staff did) and another staff member kept saying it was in case I was hit by a bus!!!! This kept coming up frequently! At my next contract renewal it wasn't renewed despite previously being rewarded for my excellent work! I mean this is blatantly discrimination but when you're not well with little rights (and paying all the taxes a permanent employee get but without any of the benefits (paid sick, annual leave and paid time for appointments) you do question whether you should mention it in the future. I know I haven't!!! So I do completely sympathise. I did consider taking it further but decided i needed to choose my battles so found a much better role (and boss) instead.x
God Notage, that's terrible to say the least. Thank you for sharing your experience and glad you got a better boss. You were right to choose your battles.
I'm also sorry to hear you had to work around all your surgeries. I didn't but that was down to a myriad of factors. Mainly, there was no work for just about anyone in my line of work at the end of last year and start of the year, and I felt like I could just about scrape by by living off my saved but owed tax money, large overdraft and minimal benefits ... and crucially, I thought I could pay back the debts fairly steadily with what I was about to earn on a nice juicy long contract. But the contract was delayed by 2 months! Then, when it was running to December, now it is only a pencil after mid August with no indication of when they would be in a position to confirm one way or another. And no, I don't get any sick pay. (I've been freelance since 2000 and stupidly didn't take out/keep up with critical illness cover. Too late now 😒.)
I feel like the rug has been ripped from under me yet again, just as I got to the end of treatment. I do now know it isn't discrimination, as I have found out that some others on my regular team of freelancers that do this particular job year on year have had exactly the same treatment. It's actually 'just' a trickle down effect of what's going on in my industry. As you say, freelancers are right at the bottom and the s**t comes raining down on us when things go t***s up at the top.
I know in my heart that I have to somehow pay off this debt and forge a new career. I can't take this level of stress nor is it good for us! I'll find a way. I have to!
Sorry to hear your struggles Emcee71 but hope you can get good advice from some of the agencies mentioned here. I'd like to add CAP (Christians Against Poverty) which does not require you to be a Christian but will give compassionate and helpful advice. Sending hugs!
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