As I mentioned in “Where it all began“, many local friends think I am crazy to be self-employed when I could probably be much more comfortable in a more stable job.
And there’s a good reason freelancing has a bad rep here. Rather than implying “entrepreneurial and dynamic”, the term normally instead correlates to “terrible working conditions”. It’s argued that part of the reason for this is that hiring freelance workers rather than permanent ones gives unscrupulous companies who should really hire full-time workers a way to avoid paying for holidays, social security, sick days and possible redundancy payments. This has lead to the rise of “autónomos falsos“; workers who are self-employed but would normally be considered in-house employees, or at least deserve a “contrato de obras y servicios” (individual project contract). According to the Active Population Study (EPA, 2013), the amount of falsely “freelance” workers in Spain is now around 160,000.
Here’s some adverts for self-employed workers I’ve found on the job boards lately (no names mentioned). What do you think? Should these workers really be taken on as freelancers?
Looking for freelance work in Spain?
“PR Senior Account Executive – FREELANCE
- Your mission will be to work in our Communications Department AS A FREELANCE WITH SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE in the Health Sector, being responsible for:
- Follow-up of the assigned accounts under the supervision of the Account Director or the Account Responsible
- Execute determined communication and marketing plans, in particular this would entail: write press-kits, press releases, articles, specified contents for the client, follow-up of press releases, organize any type of events or meetings (press conferences, working days/conferences with clients, product presentations) and work with the new 2.0 tools (web, social networks, etc…)
- Achieve the utmost satisfaction from the client
- Collaborate in preparing plans and proposals for current or potential clients”
“On-Site Freelance Art Director
- We’re looking for an art director with experience in the creative conceptualisation of concrete tactical programmes, interactive developments and above all strong offline graphical execution skills.
- Minimum experience 2/3 years
- Offline and online experience to help with various projects in the agency
- 8 hour day on-site at the agency
- Salary to be negotiated
- Duration: approx. 1 month
- Please send portfolio”
A recent commentator on this article has helpfully directed me to the IRS’ (American Inland Revenue) website, which has some info about the kind of things to take into account when considering if you should be self-employed or actually working for a company. It’s an interesting list, although there’s probably a few things I’d add to it. How else would you specify the difference?
Text and photos by Penelope
