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  <channel>
    <title>MBO Blog</title>
    <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog</link>
    <description>Access valuable tips and resources for independent consultants and small business owners as well as enterprises engaging independent professionals.</description>
    <language>en</language>
    <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:14:35 GMT</pubDate>
    <dc:date>2026-07-02T14:14:35Z</dc:date>
    <dc:language>en</dc:language>
    <item>
      <title>How to Secure Buy-In for an Independent Contractor Program</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/four-tips-to-secure-buy-in-for-your-independent-contractor-program</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/four-tips-to-secure-buy-in-for-your-independent-contractor-program" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1022439280-1.jpg" alt="How to Secure Buy-In for an Independent Contractor Program" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;To compliantly engage independent talent, enterprise managers should consider building a centralized, company-wide engagement program.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Without a centralized program, managing risk is difficult—even if some departments already engage independent talent.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;When senior leaders champion the program, adoption is smoother and success is more likely across the organization.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/four-tips-to-secure-buy-in-for-your-independent-contractor-program" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1022439280-1.jpg" alt="How to Secure Buy-In for an Independent Contractor Program" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;To compliantly engage independent talent, enterprise managers should consider building a centralized, company-wide engagement program.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Without a centralized program, managing risk is difficult—even if some departments already engage independent talent.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;When senior leaders champion the program, adoption is smoother and success is more likely across the organization.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fworkforce-management%2Ffour-tips-to-secure-buy-in-for-your-independent-contractor-program&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Management</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Program Design and Implementation</category>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/four-tips-to-secure-buy-in-for-your-independent-contractor-program</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-15T09:00:00Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>5 Challenges Independent Contractors Face When Working With Enterprises</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/understanding-contractor-5-challenges-ics-have-your-enterprise</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/understanding-contractor-5-challenges-ics-have-your-enterprise" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Mbopartners_April2026/images/AdobeStock_529802649-web-1-scaled.webp" alt="5 Challenges Independent Contractors Face When Working With Enterprises" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 12px;"&gt;
  Key Points 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;ul style="margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333;"&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Make your enterprise a desirable place for independent talent to work by optimizing policies and procedures.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Being paid fairly and quickly is one of the top factors that come into play when independents choose the clients they work with.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Independents want to work at a company where they are treated with trust and respect.&lt;/li&gt; 
&lt;/ul&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/understanding-contractor-5-challenges-ics-have-your-enterprise" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Mbopartners_April2026/images/AdobeStock_529802649-web-1-scaled.webp" alt="5 Challenges Independent Contractors Face When Working With Enterprises" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 12px;"&gt;
  Key Points 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;ul style="margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333;"&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Make your enterprise a desirable place for independent talent to work by optimizing policies and procedures.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Being paid fairly and quickly is one of the top factors that come into play when independents choose the clients they work with.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Independents want to work at a company where they are treated with trust and respect.&lt;/li&gt; 
&lt;/ul&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fworkforce-management%2Funderstanding-contractor-5-challenges-ics-have-your-enterprise&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Management</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Workforce Strategy</category>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/understanding-contractor-5-challenges-ics-have-your-enterprise</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-14T09:00:00Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How Enterprises Can Win the Battle for Top Creative Talent</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-enterprises-can-win-the-battle-for-top-creative-talent</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-enterprises-can-win-the-battle-for-top-creative-talent" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/getty-images-QoDltMtMfwA-unsplash-1-May-22-2026-06-09-35-1904-PM.jpg" alt="How Enterprises Can Win the Battle for Top Creative Talent" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background: #f0f4f9; border-left: 4px solid #0e5fc0; padding: 16px 20px; margin-bottom: 28px; border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Enterprises need a more cohesive strategy to source and manage creative professionals for their most important projects.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Clear expectations and smooth onboarding keep top independents satisfied and more likely to return for future engagements.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Success comes from aligning workplace culture with the expectations and motivations of today’s creative workforce.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-enterprises-can-win-the-battle-for-top-creative-talent" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/getty-images-QoDltMtMfwA-unsplash-1-May-22-2026-06-09-35-1904-PM.jpg" alt="How Enterprises Can Win the Battle for Top Creative Talent" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background: #f0f4f9; border-left: 4px solid #0e5fc0; padding: 16px 20px; margin-bottom: 28px; border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Enterprises need a more cohesive strategy to source and manage creative professionals for their most important projects.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Clear expectations and smooth onboarding keep top independents satisfied and more likely to return for future engagements.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Success comes from aligning workplace culture with the expectations and motivations of today’s creative workforce.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fworkforce-management%2Fhow-enterprises-can-win-the-battle-for-top-creative-talent&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Management</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Program Design and Implementation</category>
      <category>Workforce Optimization</category>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:03:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-enterprises-can-win-the-battle-for-top-creative-talent</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-11T14:03:31Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How to Show Your Company Values Independent Contractors (7 Channels)</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/7-channels-to-showcase-your-companys-commitment-to-independent-workers</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/7-channels-to-showcase-your-companys-commitment-to-independent-workers" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_2007206837-May-22-2026-06-08-07-7051-PM.jpg" alt="How to Show Your Company Values Independent Contractors (7 Channels)" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;The modern workforce is undergoing a significant transformation, with independent contractors playing a vital role in driving success across various industries.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;To attract and retain top independent talent, move beyond typical engagement tactics and demonstrate genuine, meaningful support.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Use these seven strategies to highlight your appreciation for independent contractors and their daily impact.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/7-channels-to-showcase-your-companys-commitment-to-independent-workers" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_2007206837-May-22-2026-06-08-07-7051-PM.jpg" alt="How to Show Your Company Values Independent Contractors (7 Channels)" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;The modern workforce is undergoing a significant transformation, with independent contractors playing a vital role in driving success across various industries.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;To attract and retain top independent talent, move beyond typical engagement tactics and demonstrate genuine, meaningful support.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Use these seven strategies to highlight your appreciation for independent contractors and their daily impact.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fworkforce-management%2F7-channels-to-showcase-your-companys-commitment-to-independent-workers&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Management</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Workforce Engagement</category>
      <category>Building Contractor Relationships</category>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:09 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/7-channels-to-showcase-your-companys-commitment-to-independent-workers</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-07T09:00:09Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How to Choose a Talent Marketplace: 5 Questions to Ask</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/5-questions-to-ask-when-using-a-freelance-marketplace</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/5-questions-to-ask-when-using-a-freelance-marketplace" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1315451216-scaled-2.jpg" alt="How to Choose a Talent Marketplace: 5 Questions to Ask" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 12px;"&gt;
  Key Points 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;ul style="margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333;"&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;A talent marketplace is an online platform that connects independent contractors with projects.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;In the past year, 40% of independent contractors used a marketplace to find work.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Marketplaces can help enterprises match the supply and demand of labor, lower hiring costs, and decrease the time it takes to fill a role.&lt;/li&gt; 
&lt;/ul&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/5-questions-to-ask-when-using-a-freelance-marketplace" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1315451216-scaled-2.jpg" alt="How to Choose a Talent Marketplace: 5 Questions to Ask" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 12px;"&gt;
  Key Points 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;ul style="margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333;"&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;A talent marketplace is an online platform that connects independent contractors with projects.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;In the past year, 40% of independent contractors used a marketplace to find work.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;li style="margin-bottom: 10px;"&gt;Marketplaces can help enterprises match the supply and demand of labor, lower hiring costs, and decrease the time it takes to fill a role.&lt;/li&gt; 
&lt;/ul&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fworkforce-management%2F5-questions-to-ask-when-using-a-freelance-marketplace&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Management</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Program Design and Implementation</category>
      <category>Workforce Strategy</category>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/5-questions-to-ask-when-using-a-freelance-marketplace</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-07T09:00:00Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Wellness Benefits for Independent Contractors: 8 Ways to Offer Support</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/8-ways-to-offer-wellness-benefits-to-independent-professionals</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/8-ways-to-offer-wellness-benefits-to-independent-professionals" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/wellness-meditation-2.jpg" alt="Wellness Benefits for Independent Contractors: 8 Ways to Offer Support" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Being a Client of Choice is critical for any enterprise competing for independent professionals with in-demand skills.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Among other benefits, your status as a Client of Choice can be influenced by the types of wellness benefits you offer to independents.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Make sure that what you offer doesn’t trigger regulatory compliance risk.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/8-ways-to-offer-wellness-benefits-to-independent-professionals" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/wellness-meditation-2.jpg" alt="Wellness Benefits for Independent Contractors: 8 Ways to Offer Support" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Being a Client of Choice is critical for any enterprise competing for independent professionals with in-demand skills.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Among other benefits, your status as a Client of Choice can be influenced by the types of wellness benefits you offer to independents.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Make sure that what you offer doesn’t trigger regulatory compliance risk.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fworkforce-management%2F8-ways-to-offer-wellness-benefits-to-independent-professionals&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Management</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 09:00:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/8-ways-to-offer-wellness-benefits-to-independent-professionals</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-06T09:00:36Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The New Face of Candidate Fraud—and How Organizations Can Protect Against This Growing Threat</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/independent-workforce-trends/the-new-face-of-candidate-fraud</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/independent-workforce-trends/the-new-face-of-candidate-fraud" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/christina-wocintechchat-com-UTw3j_aoIKM-unsplash-2-2-2.jpg" alt="The New Face of Candidate Fraud—and How Organizations Can Protect Against This Growing Threat" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Candidate fraud is increasingly sophisticated, with AI tools enabling impersonation, deepfakes, and identity manipulation.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Organizations face financial losses, security breaches, and reputational damage as fraudulent workers infiltrate remote hiring processes.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Many organizations don't have the internal infrastructure to manage this process, but there are options available to address it.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/independent-workforce-trends/the-new-face-of-candidate-fraud" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/christina-wocintechchat-com-UTw3j_aoIKM-unsplash-2-2-2.jpg" alt="The New Face of Candidate Fraud—and How Organizations Can Protect Against This Growing Threat" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Candidate fraud is increasingly sophisticated, with AI tools enabling impersonation, deepfakes, and identity manipulation.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Organizations face financial losses, security breaches, and reputational damage as fraudulent workers infiltrate remote hiring processes.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Many organizations don't have the internal infrastructure to manage this process, but there are options available to address it.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Findependent-workforce-trends%2Fthe-new-face-of-candidate-fraud&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Trends</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Candidate Fraud</category>
      <category>Workforce Trends</category>
      <category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 18:46:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>smannon@mbopartners.com (Stephanie Mannon)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/independent-workforce-trends/the-new-face-of-candidate-fraud</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-04T18:46:02Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How to Collaborate With Independent Contractors (5 Key Strategies)</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-to-successfully-collaborate-with-independent-contractors-in-the-modern-marketplace</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-to-successfully-collaborate-with-independent-contractors-in-the-modern-marketplace" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/clay-banks-LjqARJaJotc-unsplash-1-2-2.jpg" alt="How to Collaborate With Independent Contractors (5 Key Strategies)" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;82% of large organizations are taking steps to integrate and manage independent workers as part of their workforces.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Independent contractors offer enterprises expertise and flexibility.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Effective collaboration with independent talent requires a different approach to managing traditional employees.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-to-successfully-collaborate-with-independent-contractors-in-the-modern-marketplace" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/clay-banks-LjqARJaJotc-unsplash-1-2-2.jpg" alt="How to Collaborate With Independent Contractors (5 Key Strategies)" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;82% of large organizations are taking steps to integrate and manage independent workers as part of their workforces.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Independent contractors offer enterprises expertise and flexibility.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Effective collaboration with independent talent requires a different approach to managing traditional employees.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fworkforce-management%2Fhow-to-successfully-collaborate-with-independent-contractors-in-the-modern-marketplace&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Workforce Management</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Building Contractor Relationships</category>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:44 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/workforce-management/how-to-successfully-collaborate-with-independent-contractors-in-the-modern-marketplace</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-01T09:00:44Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Contractor vs Employee: 6 Ways to Avoid Costly Misclassification Risk</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/misclassification-compliance/engaging-independent-contractors-vs-employees-6-ways-to-avoid-misclassification-risk</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/misclassification-compliance/engaging-independent-contractors-vs-employees-6-ways-to-avoid-misclassification-risk" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Mbopartners_April2026/images/Shutterstock_2121462050-May-22-2026-06-17-56-2428-PM.webp" alt="Contractor vs Employee: 6 Ways to Avoid Costly Misclassification Risk" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;It is important for companies to take a step back and ensure that an independent contractor is the best match for the work they need to be done.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;The wrong match can lead to worker misclassification or other risks.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;When engaging independent contractors, having a written contract that includes a clear Scope of Work (SOW) is a key best practice.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/misclassification-compliance/engaging-independent-contractors-vs-employees-6-ways-to-avoid-misclassification-risk" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Mbopartners_April2026/images/Shutterstock_2121462050-May-22-2026-06-17-56-2428-PM.webp" alt="Contractor vs Employee: 6 Ways to Avoid Costly Misclassification Risk" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;It is important for companies to take a step back and ensure that an independent contractor is the best match for the work they need to be done.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;The wrong match can lead to worker misclassification or other risks.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;When engaging independent contractors, having a written contract that includes a clear Scope of Work (SOW) is a key best practice.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fmisclassification-compliance%2Fengaging-independent-contractors-vs-employees-6-ways-to-avoid-misclassification-risk&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Misclassification &amp; Compliance</category>
      <category>For Enterprises</category>
      <category>Workforce Engagement</category>
      <category>Risk Mitigation</category>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/misclassification-compliance/engaging-independent-contractors-vs-employees-6-ways-to-avoid-misclassification-risk</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-05-01T09:00:00Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Winning Repeat Business: Client Retention Strategies for Independent Contractors</title>
      <link>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/how-grow-small-business/client-retention-strategies</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/how-grow-small-business/client-retention-strategies" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sebastian-herrmann-NbtIDoFKGO8-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg" alt="Winning Repeat Business: Client Retention Strategies for Independent Contractors" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;A consistent flow of work is necessary for expanding and sustaining your business.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Developing strong relationships with clients can help you gain repeat business.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Learn five strategies for keeping your best customers.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"&gt; 
 &lt;a href="https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/how-grow-small-business/client-retention-strategies" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"&gt; &lt;img src="https://www.mbopartners.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sebastian-herrmann-NbtIDoFKGO8-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg" alt="Winning Repeat Business: Client Retention Strategies for Independent Contractors" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"&gt; &lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt; 
&lt;div style="background:#f0f4f9;border-left:4px solid #0e5fc0;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:28px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;"&gt; 
 &lt;div style="font-size:16px;font-weight:600;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:12px;"&gt;
   Key Points 
 &lt;/div&gt; 
 &lt;ul style="margin:0;padding-left:20px;color:#333;"&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;A consistent flow of work is necessary for expanding and sustaining your business.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Developing strong relationships with clients can help you gain repeat business.&lt;/li&gt; 
  &lt;li style="margin-bottom:10px;"&gt;Learn five strategies for keeping your best customers.&lt;/li&gt; 
 &lt;/ul&gt; 
&lt;/div&gt;  
&lt;img src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=51284034&amp;amp;k=14&amp;amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mbopartners.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-grow-small-business%2Fclient-retention-strategies&amp;amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.mbopartners.com%252Fblog&amp;amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Building Client Relationships</category>
      <category>For Independent Professionals</category>
      <category>Grow a Small Business</category>
      <category>Growing My Business</category>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <author>jong@5ei.com (MBO Partners)</author>
      <guid>https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/how-grow-small-business/client-retention-strategies</guid>
      <dc:date>2026-04-30T09:00:00Z</dc:date>
    </item>
  </channel>
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