Member Article

Have you met your boss?

The surge in freelancers working remotely has led to virtual workplaces where many have never met their ‘boss’. With 30% of freelancers working for 20 or more clients per annum and a further 7% working for more than 100 clients a year, it comes as a no surprise 78% haven’t met their bosses.

The survey, by online freelance marketplace PeoplePerHour, found that freelancers access to video technology and VoIP systems provides the tools to connect without the need for face to face contact. Surprisingly results found 36% of freelance workers are more or just as nervous entering into a video/virtual interview as they would be in person. 27% felt there was more pressure to impress on video than there would be in person.

The freedom allowed by the internet, has enabled a virtual workforce to develop strong working relationships without the need for face to face contact with either bosses or co-workers. 71% felt that the lack of social contact was not an obstacle and in fact 67% found team calls via Google Hangout and Skype were more productive than meetings in person in an office

Working non-traditional hours outside of the 9-5 office norm proved to be the favourite benefit for 56% of remote freelancers. The ability to work around commitments such as other employment and children during the evening or weekends proved a huge bonus for 88% of parents surveyed.

Closely following this was the benefit of little or no travel costs 64% and little to no time spent on a daily commute (61%). London’s freelancers led the way with 89% citing this as their top reason for choosing to work remotely.

The figures also revealed that 57% of freelancers working remotely believe that not having to work in the same office as the boss relieves many traditional pressures that come with working in an office environment such as your employer breathing down your neck when working to a tight deadline (43%), avoiding office politics (24%) and escaping unnecessary meetings (16%).

Two thirds (63%) believe that the quality of their specialist work as a freelancer working for a client is higher than if they were in the workplace with all it’s distractions.

Xenios Thrasyvoulou, CEO & Founder of PeoplePerHour comments:

Virtual workforces have taken the UK by storm over the last five years. The internet has created a whole new jobs market and opened up new ways of work for both individuals and businesses. While freelancers boomed during the recession, their popularity among small businesses shows no signs of slowing down and many use whole networks of virtual workforces across the UK and the rest of the world. Ten years ago it would have been very rare to not meet the people working for you, it’s now speedily becoming the norm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by VP .