The Weekly Independent: March 21, 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 Nieman Reports article discusses how freelancers play an important role in journalism as it mentions the MBO Partners’ 11th Annual State of Independence Report, stipulating a massive growth in freelancing.
• Currently, gig workers are overlooked in the traditional banking sector. The Financial Brand article spotlighted Oxygen’s initiatives to address gig workers’ financial issues, especially since over half of US workers will be independent contractors by 2025, based on the MBO Partners’ forecast.
• The Senior Director of Risk Management of MBO Partners, Nathan Gibson, said that workers hired through a staffing agency typically aren’t protected by state and federal laws the same way as to direct employees, despite facing the same types of issues.
• An MSN article shares 11 European countries suitable for American digital nomads as it mentions the growing number of digital nomads as per the findings of MBO Partners’ 2021 State of Independence Report. 
• An article by The Paypers shares the emerging global payment trends within the freelance industry. Freelancers expect to be paid quickly and frequently, and more gig work platforms are already integrating these payment benefits as key differentiators against their competition.
• A Harvard Business Review article explores the Flexible or Open Talent Model, which focuses on filling project-based or temporary jobs with workers who are not permanently attached to the company.
• Niels Martin Brochner, Co-founder and CEO of Contractbook, discusses technology start-ups being winners of the Great Resignation since they offer better purpose and job flexibility. 
• Recent surveys show that companies are addressing the great resignation, talent shortage, skills gaps, and training roadblocks issues, by increasing their learning and development budget.
• Iain Fisher, the future of work and customer experience lead at ISG, perceives that the rise of contingent workers can become a market driver in using dynamic workforce planning systems, given its need for “dynamic pricing.”
• A Human Resource Executive article discusses talent mobility as employers might consider implementing a multi-channel employment model approach, which can optimize collaboration and achieve better results. 
• Hiring a freelancer can alleviate a lot of stress and allow you to rely on services provided by an expert but this isn’t always the case. An Entrepreneur article sheds light on how one can determine if one should part ways with a freelancer.

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