The Weekly Independent: March 7, 2022

Being a successful independent contractor or a Client of Choice isn’t just about doing the best work or having the best perks. It also means staying one step ahead of the curve. That’s why each week we bring you The Weekly Independent, a quick-hit digest of news of note from around the web.

• Given the lessons of the Great Resignation, companies have been trying to provide more benefits to their workers, including Unilever’s new U-Work program that gives employees the flexibility of contract work and the security and benefits of a full-time job. Professionals who shifted to freelance work are happier and healthier according to the MBO Partners’ 11th Annual State of Independence report.
• A Rolling Stone article discusses the effects of the pandemic on millions of Americans who have developed chronic illnesses due to COVID-19. As independent workers grew according to MBO Partners’ 11th Annual State of Independence report, gig workers that are living paycheck to paycheck without any formal savings plan are one of the most affected.  
• Given the increase of digital nomads according to the MBO Partners’ 2021 Digital Nomad Research, three expats who have traveled in Costa Rica, Portugal, and France, share their personal experiences about visas, financial planning, and cultural integration. 
• Freelance designers value purpose more than their paycheck as 97% of them believe they can make a real social impact on the world, based on a recent study of 99designs by Vista.
• The majority of freelancers are not being paid on time. The research conducted by the Independent Economy Council revealed that 72% of freelancers have outstanding invoices yet to be paid by their clients. 
• The International Network of Interim Manager Associations data revealed that interim management roles expanded across Europe in 2021, along with higher utilization rates.
• A Forbes article explores how the gig economy changed in the last two years due to the pandemic and the Great Resignation trend.
• Onbe study indicates that gig workers play a major role in helping companies to meet their resource demands amidst the Great Resignation. 
• New research from MIT Sloan professor Paul Osterman shows that only 38% of contract workers received formal training from their legal employer, as some workers who need the most training aren’t getting any.
• New research from Wharton management professor Lindsey Cameron explores the different tactics that gig workers are implementing to mitigate health risks while managing their reputation in the industry. 
• Innovation consultant Adi Gaskell shares the challenges of cybersecurity, along with a set of recommendations on mitigating the risk, in the midst of growing remote work arrangements. 

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