“Remote Workers are Freelancers” Let’s Find out!

In this era of a pandemic, one thing is clear — ‘Remote Work’ is the future of work. This philosophy has given an upper edge to freelancers and remote workers to get hired by global organizations.

With the gig economy and remote working culture on a steep rise, workers around the world have been experimenting with their nature of employment.

While both remote workers and freelancers ‘work from anywhere’, there are some significant distinctions that separate the two types of employment.

Who is a Freelancer?

A Freelancer is someone who works for a company on a contractual basis and gets paid once the work is done.

Freelancers have a great deal of freedom over the ‘where’, ‘when’, and ‘how’ to work.

A freelancer’s relation with the company ends once the contract is over.

They are not entitled to any benefits such as health insurance, social security, etc. They are, however, reimbursed for travel and equipment if utilised for the company’s work.

Who is a Remote Worker?

A remote worker is someone who works from home, a café, library, a park — any place other than the company’s office.

Remote workers could be employed in a full-time, part-time, or contractual capacity by a company.

The relation with the company therefore is determined by the nature of their employment. Most commonly, remote workers work in full-time capacity. In this case, they are long-term employees and they are paid monthly. They receive benefits similar to other full-time employees who work from a company’s office. So the only difference between a full-time in-office employee and a full-time remote worker is the ‘place’ of operation.

To sum it up, a remote worker would be a person who works out of office in any capacity. A freelancer is someone who works for a predetermined time period, irrespective of the place of operation.

Why should you become a Freelancer?

1. Flexibility

Freelancers get to take up multiple projects simultaneously (if they are able to meet their deadlines). This even means more sources of income. They also have more control over working hours and projects taken.

2. Freedom

Freelancers are their own bosses and have the option of choosing their field of work. They can start working whenever they want, however they want.

Why should you become a Remote Worker?

1. Greater Exposure

Remote workers have the upper edge to work for companies beyond their local area. This means working for international companies and getting more exposure. It also means you get to be around people in a similar field which gives you more room to grow.

2. Benefits

Health and insurance benefits are provided to full-time employees, even if they are working remotely. Remote workers do enjoy some flexibility over working hours as teams are spread across time zones.

Now that the difference between freelancers and remote workers is clear, the next question that arises is whether to hire Freelancers (part-time workers) or Remote Workers (Full-time Employees)?

While making the final decision, think about whether you want someone to work on a contractual basis or someone who will invest in the business and help it flourish as if it were their own. The answer to this will assist you in selecting your perfect potential employee!

Having a clear understanding of the difference between freelancers and remote workers, hiring your next employee will be an easy task. So, go grab your employer shoes and get started with hiring!