Comments on: Freelance Ethical Boundaries (and how to spot attempts to cross them)

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 16:24:44 +0000

In reply to Paula Hendrickson. Great measurement, Paula. If it feels off, don't. I agree with you on the tree service dude insisting on cash. Good reason for a receipt, too. Cash transactions are tougher to trace, so it would be tough to get restitution should he have damaged something in the process.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 16:55:20 +0000

One of my very first clients tried the old, “You write this glowing article about my business. You research the markets. You pitch it. I get final review. The magazine pays you and I get all the glory. For free.” Um, no. He thought because I was young and just starting he could pull one over on me.

The thing is, if anything feels off or sketchy, it probably is unethical at best. Unless you’re a sociopath.

A friend of the family owns a tree service. A friend of mine hired his company to do a large amount of work. He insisted she pay in CASH. The total was high enough that she had to hit ATMs on two separate days to withdraw the entire amount. I told her the only reason he insisted on cash was to avoid paying taxes. As a fellow IC, I resent that, and would demand an itemized receipt — and let him know it’s because I MIGHT be able to declare a portion of it on my taxes.

A few years ago, a huge limb fell off a tree out back. I cut the leafy bits and the smaller branches off and had it down to a ~30 foot log. A couple neighbors were going to bring a chain saw over and cut it up, but kept being delayed. So when the neighbor’s yard guy offered to cut it up and haul it off for $50 (or $20 cash), I had him go ahead. Pretty shortsighted of him, considering his “cash discount” would have lost him $30 when the taxes owed on that would be so much less. I paid by check. (Seriously, it was worth more than $50 to me, and his crew had it cleaned up in about 10 minutes. Worth it.)

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 13:08:41 +0000

OK, now you’ve triggered my thinking. Two in one week? Some “influencer” is getting paid for telling people how to be like them, and this is one of the things they’re suggesting. And you know what? Some stupid writer probably did this for that “influencer.” Ethics today are so out of kilter. Again. Gross.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:14:25 +0000

In reply to Gabriella.

ALL the risk. And all the damn work. Really, dude?

I told him it was unethical. I said, “The magazine’s guidelines do not allow for interview sources to control the content they’re paying for.” Never heard from him again. Shocker! LOL

I like your answer better. 😉

Know what else? He was one of TWO people in two weeks to propose that. Seriously, are people completely mad?

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:19:19 +0000

Yes, to all the things you said about ethics. It’s also gross and slimy!

But here’s the other part: Dude wanted to shift all the risk of this assignment on you. If you couldn’t get it sold, well pound sand for all the work you did.

Again with the people wanting stuff for free today!

I want to hear what you said to him, Lori. You left that part out!

I’m hoping it was something like: “I’ve never had a client ask for this arrangement before, and it’s certainly one I’m not comfortable with. OFF YOU GO, MOTHER——”

OK, maybe not that last part. 🙂