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In Business & Blogging

Keeping Compliant as a Freelancer

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on
Keeping Compliant as a Freelancer

Being a freelancer can be a very liberating experience, yet with all that freedom comes responsibility and occasionally loneliness. I’ve been doing this for more than twelve years and it isn’t just a case of being a copywriter and writing, I need to know about current law around compliance, GDPR etc AND more! In this blog post, I’m going to take a look at some of the key components of being compliant as a freelancer to ensure you don’t get yourself in hot water along the way.

ACCOUNTS

If you’re used to being paid as an employee, then you will be used to having your tax deducted prior to it reaching your account.  However, as a freelancer, you are responsible for paying your own tax, and as such, you can find yourself in quite a predicament if you forget, or spend it, prior to it being due. This is something that you need to make a good habit early on.

On the plus side, there are many companies such as Qdos Accounting that can not only help you to remain compliant but can help reduce the amount of tax you do pay, as the majority of business expenses are tax deductible. This is a complex area, particularly when it comes down to aspects like home offices. I did my own books/accounts in the early years and I have to say that employing an accountant was by far one of the best business decisions I made.

GDPR

No matter how large or small your business, there’s a good chance that  GDPR is going to affect you. The GDPR is in place to make data processors more responsible for the information people give them, in this sense, it extends beyond most basic data protection policies and is in place to stop people abusing the information they hold. It is important to keep on top of GDPR in terms of being compliant with legislation in your business. To no do this could cost you money, your reputation and land you in hot water. None of this is good when you just want to get on with your freelance work.

CONTRACT LAW

The law of contract is pretty simple.  The reason a contract exists is to protect both parties entering into it, and the most important aspect is to clearly define the tasks and expectations; both in terms of requirements and reward.  This way, everyone knows where they stand and if there is an issue down the line, you can both refer to the contract agreed to in the first instance.

In simple terms, a contract is the exchange of promises between parties. Despite this so many freelancers I speak to don’t have contracts with their clients. Make this a priority if you want to protect yourself and your business.

contract, compliant

MISREPRESENTATION

This is a particularly pertinent aspect of law for freelancers. Misrepresentation is simply misrepresenting something material, for instance, it could be a qualification or something you have said the customer will get in order to induce them into sale. If you are found to be misrepresenting yourself the contract is likely to be rescinded (withdrawn) and the other party is unlikely to be held responsible for paying you any money. The key is to be transparent. Don’t say you can do something when you can’t, and basically do not lie about any aspect of your business.

NEGLIGENCE

Finally, negligence is where you carry out work without a reasonable standard of care.  Negligence when driving is when a person is found to be driving without due care and attention, which is similar in business, in that if you make a mistake that isn’t intentional but was a little reckless you could be guilty of negligence.

If you are accused of being negligent, then the other party is likely seeking damages to compensate them for any loss suffered as a result of your negligence.  It, therefore, pays to take this aspect seriously, and many freelancers know the importance of being able to demonstrate they took reasonable steps to ensure no negligence occurred. Good insurance is a must when you are a freelancer, as is, of course, being compliant.

These sorts of things aren’t what you went into business for and they don’t come up when you imagine your perfect working day. Ensuring that you are compliant in all of these areas is an important part of being a freelancer so don’t get caught out.

 

In Business & Blogging

Settling Family Disputes Without Ruining Relationships

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

family

Families can be extremely hard to deal with sometimes. I’m from a big family (I have three brothers and two sisters) and thankfully we all rub along really well. As adults now with out own families we are closer than ever. From talking to friends and so on though, our lack of family woes seems to be quite rare. As the old saying goes, “you can choose your friends but not your family”. That’s all well and good but sometimes forcing a relationship with family members you’re not fond of can be a mistake, as issues will come to the surface sooner rather than later.

Sometimes, a family dispute will start. Social conflict at some level is inevitable now and again, and of course, it will blossom or corruptly grow in the family structure you spend most of your time with. The method here isn’t to avoid this from happening. Sometimes, you simply can’t. When a disagreement occurs, no matter what it is, a clean and sensible solution is important to come to. In order to lessen the potential difficulties and relationship breakdowns, consider:

Impartiality

Settling whatever issue is harming the family in a place of pure impartiality can be very important, especially if it is a big issue rather than a small grumble. It might be that the dispute needs to take place within the guidance of family law solicitors, and even family therapy can be a massive help as far as this is concerned. Sometimes you simply need a final answer backed up legally. It might be that there are disputes over the meaning left in a passed relatives will. Family law solicitors are used to this sort of inquiry, and will often do everything they can to find the correct solution.

Proximity

Proximity to your family members can sometimes cause arguments, however, it can completely depend on the situation. If you have noticed that you can hardly say anything without another family member having something to say about it, then it can be really damaging. That is when it can be a good time to move them from your home or remove yourself from the current situation that you are in. You might find that a lot of arguments and issues can arise with siblings, as well as parents, when your parents get older. You might have discussions around the future and a potential live in care situation for them, but that can be a cause of contention for some. But if it is all getting too much, remove yourself from the scenario. Seriously, we are all grown-ups. If you find that you cannot be around an uncle or sibling or whoever without it turning into arguments, stay away. Life is too short for arguments and nastiness. This leads nicely to my next point.

Civility

It’s important to be civil with your family no matter what. When all is said and done, they are still your blood. They might not be the people you most respect in this world, but that doesn’t mean the intensity of a familial relationship gives you, them or anybody the right to remain aggressive and stir the pot even more roughly. If you’re civil on your side, then you have removed at least 50% of the potential aggression from the situation. That’s good enough. It may be that you take the high road, but either way, keeping it polite is always the best idea, otherwise things get out of hand.

Families can be complex. If you find yourself at odds with a family member consider these points. Avoid Jeremy Kyle like screaming matches and trying and resolve things or not make things worse by remaining polite and keeping your distance. Life really is too short to spend it caught up in things that make us feel bad.

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