“Work from Home” – a term used by many in present days. Specially now, when the global pandemic has struck hard in more than 200 countries.
Many major companies are trying to implement every possible steps to help employees attend to jobs online.
Remote Work and Freelancing
In remote work, you don’t need to travel/commute to the working place. It’s also called Telecommuting. This work is accomplished using a computer from anywhere in the world.
Online freelance works are also stated to be remote work but not all remote works are freelancing and vice versa.
Freelancer is a person who is Self-Employed. That means such work is considered to be a business of the freelancer and it can be done online or offline.
As a freelancer you’ll sell your works and expertise to others. If this procedure is completed online, it’s a remote work.
On the other hand, many companies hire location independent contributors to work for the company.
These works are also completed online and so these are also remote works.
Freelancer vs Remote Employee
Being a freelancer, you’re not committed to long term employment at the company. You’ll generally work on contract basis and will be paid once the job or a particular project is completed.
As self-employed, you’ll not be entitled to company benefits like insurances, paid vacations, sick leaves, 401K policy etc.
On the other hand, remote employees are hired by the company following all the rules and regulations imposed by it. If you’re hired as a remote employee, you’re committed to full time work.
Generally, you’ll need to work at the times prescribed by the employer. At times, you’ll be called together with other remote associates for a meetup. You’ll be entitled to all the benefits a general employee gets.
What to Choose
A freelancer gets to pick as many clients as s/he wants to boost up the income and an employee of course doesn’t have this liberty.
As self-employed, you’ll run your own business and that means you’ve to pay your own taxes and you may be deprived of having many benefits a company can provide.
On the other hand, taxes are being taken care of by the companies for you, if you’re a remote associate. You’ll be entitled to all benefits the company provides.
While you’re an employee, you’ll get your salary in the bank account at the beginning of each month but being a freelancer, if you don’t work for a month, there won’t be any payment.
To be a freelancer you need to take care of various expenses, e.g. maintaining the work space, buying required equipments etc., which aren’t relevant for the employees.
When it comes to picking one, it totally depends on you. There are many freelancers who are making a living only being self-employed and this gives enormous freedom and opportunities.
As long as it is “work from home”, there are certain flexibilities but like all other activities, remote work also has got some disadvantages as well, which are being stated in more detail in Pros and Cons of Remote Work.
Be it employment or freelancing, in my personal opinion, I think most of the jobs, where possible, will turn online. Remote work is eventually becoming more convenient.
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