What is an economically dependent self-employed worker?

A self-employed worker with no employees, with one or up to two employees, is considered an economically dependent self-employed worker. The boundaries between dependent employment and self-employment have become increasingly blurred in some areas in recent years. years, in a context of changing labor markets and the spread of practices such as subcontracting and Outsourcing.

This process has sparked growing interest in economically dependent workers, workers who are formally self-employed but depend on a single employer for their obtain their income, and that unions and other sources request that this work be regulated and that social security and protection of the labor legislation be covered provide to.

Definition

The concept of economically dependent self-employed worker refers to those workers who do not correspond to the traditional definition of employee, essentially because they do not have an employment contract as a dependent employee. However, they are financially dependent on a single employer for their work. It is what today is commonly known as a freelance person or worker.

The debate focuses on emerging labor arrangements that are "halfway" between self-employment and dependent employment.

Economically dependent workers have some characteristics of both in that: they are generally formally autonomous have a kind of service contract with the employer and, depend on a single employer for their income (or much of they).

features

In some cases, economically dependent workers may also be similar to employees from other points of view:

• Lack of clear organizational separation, i.e. they work on the employer's premises and / or use the employer's equipment.
• There is no clear distinction of tasks, that is, they perform the same tasks as some of the employees existing jobs, or tasks previously performed by employees and then outsourced to "Collaborators".
• The "service" they sell individually to employers falls outside the traditional scope of "professional services", that is, the tasks are simple, do not require specific skills and do not need knowledge or skills professionals.

Profits

There are many potential benefits of being self-employed, such as:

• Creative Freedom - If you are self-employed, you will be in charge of decision making. You will have the freedom to explore a number of creative solutions to problems that arise, and you will have the satisfaction of seeing your ideas through to the end.
• Independence: In addition to creative freedom, you will also be able to set your own hours and adapt your work to other commitments, which often leads to a better quality of life.
• Job satisfaction: reaping the rewards of your hard work can be very satisfying, while also having the autonomy to do the things you love the most.
• Location - Working from home, if applicable, means you don't have to worry about office politics, company hierarchies, or a costly and stressful commute.
• Salary: Your earning potential is much higher when you are self-employed; it's all in your hands, which means you can get more work done at various times of the day. Financially, the sky is the limit.
• Variety - Since you are in control of your workload, you will have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects with multiple clients and develop new skills. You will also gain experience in the different areas of starting a business, including supervising finances and administrative work.

Disadvantages

Despite the benefits, there are some unavoidable risks associated with being self-employed. These include:

• Lack of Employee Benefits - You will not receive sick pay, vacation pay, or any other employee benefits.
• Long hours: Your workday can be much longer and more irregular than that of someone who is not self-employed. Business commitments can mean that you spend less time with your friends and family, or that you have a hard time disconnecting from work life.
• Responsibility: you are in charge of your pension, national insurance and completing your self-assessment tax return; In addition, you will pay taxes even if your business has losses. The fact that success or failure depends on you can increase your stress levels.
• Social isolation: You will lose your work environment, at least while you establish yourself as a business owner. Not only can this be lonely, but you may also have to try harder to stay motivated.
• Starting from scratch - Establishing your business and building a customer base can be a long, tiring, and sometimes frustrating process. You will need determination to succeed and perseverance, even if progress is slow.
• Unpredictable finances - Your income can be erratic, especially in the early days. You could go several months without making a profit, and you will always have to pay running costs like rent, insurance, and internet access.