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No Safety Net: The Hidden Risks of Self-Employment
Everyone’s talking about being a digital nomad, moving abroad and working a four-day week. Or chucking their jobs and making money online full-time.
But have you really thought about what you’re actually signing up for?
Working for yourself is great in some ways and not so good in others. I should know. I’ve been working for myself for the last few years.
And, yes, I love that I choose my own hours and can go off to a matinee at a theatre in Glasgow at the drop of a hat (as I did on Thursday — Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None at the Theatre Royal, in case you were wondering).
However, here are the things that I don’t like about working for myself…
1. No vacation pay
When I worked for both public and private organisations and companies, I was paid to take my holidays. Working for myself, I don’t get paid, so I have to work like a dog at least two weeks before I want to take that time off to ensure my work is done and I still get paid the same at the end of the month. Is that something you’re prepared to do?