The Weekly Independent: March 28, 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.

• A Harvard Business Review article co-authored by Gene Zaino, Founder and Executive Chairman of MBO Partners, cites MBO Partners State of Independence Study series as it unravels that a growing number of traditional full-time workers believe that independent work is becoming more secure than traditional work.
• A Globetrender article cites MBO Partners as it talks about Remote Dream, a new travel company that enables digital nomads to book remote work locations.
• MBO Partners announces that it suspends business in Russia and would take several steps in light of the war.
• If drivers want to keep working on platforms like Uber and Lyft, they’ve got to keep their ratings up. A Knowledge Wharton article explores how Gig Workers in the service industry respond and control situations when dealing with difficult customers and reveal blind spots that companies may face when relying too much on customer ratings.
• S&P Global Market Intelligence article shares five business practices that might change in the future of work, including the persistence of hybrid and remote work arrangements.
• An MIT Sloan School of Management article discusses “sustainable productivity”, which focuses on engagement and well-being aside from traditional metrics.
• Many companies have adopted hybrid work models in their business operations. Phil Alberta, the Managing Partner of Next Phase Consulting, shares some successful management practices in the hybrid workplace.
• The growth of the creator economy and the promise of decentralization hailed in by Web3 led to a new era of fandom economy. A group of experts in the South by Southwest panel, which is presented by Plus Company, explores this evolving relationship. 
• A Forbes article discusses why flexible work not only attracts top talent but also boosts workers’ productivity. 
• Hayden Brown, the president and CEO of freelancing platform Upwork, urges employers to consider integrating freelancers into the company culture and create a thoughtful onboarding process given the increasing number of freelancers.

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