I recently worked on two assignments that paid a lot better than what I’m used to. One assignment was well-paid because it was for a corporate client; the other was well-paid because I negotiated my rate better. I knew that both assignments would have a positive effect on my checking account (duh), but what surprised me the most was how I executed those assignments.
In both cases, I got a meticulously detailed brief and a clear schedule. Both clients knew that having me work more hours than necessary would cost them (a lot) of money. Something also changed for me. I wasn’t cobbling together different assignments, the way I always have in journalism. Instead, I was able to fully focus on the assignment in front of me. I moreover felt like I was being treated nicely, which motivated me to treat my client just as nicely in turn. I was happy because I was able to deliver my best work; the client was happy with the result; and I was happy because the client was happy. Happiness all around!
Being paid rates that allow you to do your work to everyone’s satisfaction should be normal. Of course. But there are other good reasons to increase your (day) rates – and, especially, to do that now.
We all have read news stories about savings that are losing value, while shopping for groceries, heating our homes and driving our cars is becoming more expensive. What we do in our downtime is costing us more money, but our activities as freelancers have probably also become more expensive – the equipment you buy for your work, heating your workspace, and possibly your travel expenses. There’s a fat chance that you’ve already realised that the rates you charged last year no longer are covering your expenses.
Employees are better protected against inflation. Their wages are adjusted for inflation in Belgium (where I live). Sometimes they enjoy benefits like meal vouchers and salary cars and petrol cards, things that somewhat soften the blow of rising prices. It is only fair that freelancers also receive better compensation to be able to keep up. And this can be a strong argument if you choose to increase your rates now.
Point in case: the journalism industry, a sector in which freelance journalists, photographers and editors have pressed for fairer remuneration for years. In April of this year, 30 freelancers working for the Belgian wire service Belga had had enough. They wrote an open letter, denouncing the irony of writing stories about sky-high inflation rates day in, day out, while their own rates had not gone up in 10 years.
The journalism industry attracts a lot of people who do what they do because they feel passionate and intrinsically motivated. They go above and beyond to be able to continue working in the industry and look for all sorts of solutions to make ends meet. But when the end of the road is in sight, the road ends – and if companies refuse to adjust their rates to the increased cost of living, people will leave the industry because they see no other option.
That appears to be something that media companies have realised. After the freelancers’ open letter, the Belgian wire service Belga increased its rates. Mediahuis, another local media company, also increased its freelancer rates with 5% after being pressured to do so by individual freelancers and interest groups. Another local media player, DPG, said that freelancers could individually ask for rate increases . Even after these increases, journalism rates continue to be too low, but that something is finally changing even in this sector illustrates the momentum there is to ask for and get more money at this moment.
There’s another reason that initiatives like the freelancers’ open letter give me hope. It was signed by 30 people, full names and all. Freelancers are apparently linking up and are not afraid to stick their head above the parapet. They are not afraid to discuss their rates among each other and to collectively ask for better rates, defying the stereotype of the competitive freelancer in a dog-eat-dog world.
So, I would say: discuss your rates with other freelancers, try to find out how your clients are compensating inflation for their employees and use this as one of your arguments; and raise the issue with clients – either on your own or with other freelancers. And let us know how it went by emailing us at freelancerthefriendly@gmail.com
Good luck!
Selma