Here at Comet we’ve always striven to do right by our freelancers, not (just) because we understand where they might be coming from -many of us have worked in not-at-all-human centric ESNs, so called meat-market sellers or body shopping, and not (just) because our business-model depends on a sustainable ecosystem of freelancers and enterprise. We believe that the future of work is freelance, and now is the time to co-create a sustainable framework, from which we can continue to innovate as a society. Yes, it’s corny but true, we want to be part of creating a better world, starting at work.

Ethical: hard to define

The word ethical is a shaky one, in part because it’s based on a moral code of right and wrong that is admittedly subjective. We use ethical in a meaning that contrasts it to legal. Legal is what you have to do and you can be sued if you don’t, ethical is what one will tend to do if you respect human well-being. Ethics are moral principles chosen by a company or people that govern their actions and behavior towards other companies, people or activities of these people. Functioning in an ethical manner ensures sustainability, because all the parts of the system are kept healthy. This is why we care about our freelancers as much as our clients (also because they are awesome).  Ethics are the groundwork of a healthy ecosystem and an essential part of managing complexity in a sustainable way. It just makes sense..

Agility rules

A dominantly digital marketplace and the subsequent demands of today’s digital consumer have become increasingly unpredictable and urgent, requiring unprecedented speed and agility. Prone to a survival-of-the fittest competitive mentality, this landscape is driven by efficiency, on-demand services and adaptability. Opening the gateways for the rise of freelancing. This combination of elements is ideal for both freelancers and companies who use freelancing. The move towards remote-friendly work spurred on by the Covid-19 pandemic has only further reinforced this trend, severing  the final ties from the in-office 9 to 5 mentality.  Yet this (wonderful) new work-scape is largely unregulated. It is based on the free-market principles that historically leave humans vulnerable to precarity.. 

Protecting the magic

While freelancing seems like the solve-all magic wand to be shaken at this new thirst for agility, it is necessary to establish limits for the protection of humans from a world governed by supply and demand. Not solely for ethical reasons, but for the health of the entire ecosystem, on which future innovation and progress depends. Norms, standards and ideals are now required to regulate and frame it..

When freelancing goes bad: unethical practises

The great advantage of freelancing is also it’s danger-zone. The same freedom that allows freelances to choose their missions, companies and projects, allows certain companies to play on precariousness to their advantage...

• While certain food-delivery services have allowed some individuals to escape poverty traps with little or no job options, others claim market share by cutting and discounting end-consumer prices at the expense of their delivery people.

• There are stories of companies pushing workers into an auto-entrepreneur status to avoid paying salarial charges that allow for sick and vacation leave, and to  allow companies to pay workers below the legal minimum wage. A phenomenon dubbed freelancing by force.
• Or those at the other end of the spectrum, who with an opaque margin and a cascading subcontracting system, avoid all transparency and make money off the backs of workers who have no idea how much their charges are being sold for. In a sort of line of pimps of descending hierarchy.
• Or the every-day struggles of the freelancer - consultant, the (unpaid) detailed quote, the (unpaid) “can I pick your brains” moment, the time-consuming (unpaid)  billing process, late payments and the list goes on.
  
  

Formalising the abstract

As a way to avoid this kind of abuse and  harmonise the relationship between the agility that is now needed for companies to remain competitive in a changed industry landscape and human protection, we co-founded UPNE. The 1st professional union of independent intermediation platforms. This structure is constituted as a partner of companies, workers and public authorities with the aim of providing concrete responses to socio-economic evolutions. labor market economics. You can read more about that here. It is a matter of defending both the (non-existent) status of the freelancer and that of respecting our French and European habits in terms of laws and social protection. Liberalism, of course, but at any cost.

Leading by example

At Comet we work with Tech and Data freelancers and large enterprises (including 33% of the CAC40).  Because of their levels of expertise and the high demand for their skills, our freelancers are some of the highest paid. We’re in the luxurious position to be examples of what is possible in terms of ethical freelancing; it’s up to us to pioneer standards; build and propose mechanisms, for the protection of freelancers and for the health of the ecosystem. To help create a world of work where workers are fulfilled and motivated, yet not at the expense of their fundamental rights and security. Our freelancers cannot be underpaid, unhappy or unsatisfied! Our clients and thus business model depend on it.

Getting to Ethical

Ethics are often not formalised because for many they are common sense. To determine what is ethical one can ask what it takes for everyone to have a good experience: the conscious creation of win-win scenarios. 

Here are our pillars of our Ethical Freelancing at Comet:

• Communication

Clearly define the mission from the start with a clear brief, including the scope and objectives, thus allowing for  the freedom of choice for the conditions, remote or in-house, working hours. Facilitating a shared flow of relevant information, so the freelancer has the insight to complete their mission in the best possible conditions. This also means providing feedback and recommendations to the freelancer, for their continuous improvement

• Inclusion

An inclusion that makes as little distinction as possible between in-house staff and freelancers. This feeling of belonging can stem from including freelancers in team lunches and teambuilding. It also means a rapid yet successful onboarding to get started on the right foot. Consequently factors which also make for more productive teams and more successful and timely projects.

• Value

Embracing freelancing within a company means embracing diversity and possibly non-traditional hierarchies. This can be achieved by valuing, acknowledging and celebrating  the freelancer and what they bring to the company, recognizing their skills and input within the team. It also means understanding the freelancer for their unique status, so while inclusion is necessary for success, leave the freelancer as independent as possible, as per their status choice.

This new work-scope requires companies which are willing to change and learn and freelancers who are willing to educate and champion freelancing. Understanding how to best collaborate with freelancers, by better integration and communication, and outlining and demonstrating the  benefits of bringing in external skills and cultures will help us all strive for a more harmonious and innovative world of work.

Freelancing is wonderful because it’s flexible, agile and on-demand, yet because it’s governed by the free market, this exposes freelancers to precarity. Let’s work together  to allow freelancing to flourish, and benefit both individuals and businesses. 

Help us create a more healthy future of work driven by freelancers. 2021 is the year for creating sustainable ethical freelancing in France and across Europe. Don’t hesitate to reach out for further ressources insight or training into ethical freelancing and creating sustainable work-scope ecosystems.

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This article is based on the Comet Free Talk : Ethical Freelancing  to enjoy the one hour talk in French between Eric Didier and Samuel Durand, access it here.