I took on 116 freelance jobs in a year. Here are 5 ways to protect yourself while hustling.

Photo credit: Lauren Mancke.

With living costs rising in Singapore while salaries stay stagnant, it is no wonder many find it hard to get by. Thanks to the shared economy, everyone who is industrious enough can find supplementary income as a freelancer. There is more than enough work to go around – be it driving for Grab, delivering packages for NinjaVan, or selling Android media boxes.

As someone who freelanced 116 jobs in 2014, I know its pitfalls very well. Recently, personal grocery shopping startup, Honestbee, was lambasted in the press for rate cuts, late pay and communication woes. Uber is facing a class action suit on whether its drivers are employees or contractors. Freelancers do not have the benefits and protection that full-time employees enjoy – hence many have been burned by unscrupulous employers.

For my experience, here are 5 ways freelancers can protect themselves and keep the hustle on.

1. Have terms of employment in writing

Verbal, SMS and email confirmation of your freelance employment is not enough. You need the proper terms and conditions, this is especially important when the work involves variable payments. Also, there should be a mutually agreed deadline for payment. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has published a guide for the details needed in every contract of service.

2. Document the work that has been done

If there is a dispute on your deliverables (which may occasionally arise), there needs to be evidence of it. Luckily with smartphone penetration at 99 percent in Singapore, almost everyone can snap a few pictures or videos to prove that they delivered the work as requested.

3. Inform others of your whereabouts

As a precaution, it is wise to inform someone of your whereabouts at all times. For safety purposes, always update a family member or friend – so they can keep track of you. In case of an emergency during work, at least someone will know where you are and where you were. Folr is a free tool that can help do exactly that.

4. Choose a company that is trustworthy

While most companies are generally good, there are always some black sheep out there that repeatedly take advantage of its part-time staff. For scale and reputation in smaller firms, doing a quick scan of their social media pages will give you a clue if they have any disgruntled staff. Slightly bigger firms can be reviewed on JobStreet and Glassdoor.

5. Get personal health insurance

According to MOM, freelancers are not able to claim work injury compensation – meaning if you are hurt at work, not only will you not be able to continue and lose income, you have to use your savings to pay for your own medical bills. This double whammy can be avoided if you invest in some personal health insurance from as low as $19.20 per month – you can explore your options with Advisors Clique.

A hustler’s path to riches is often fraught with dangers. But don’t be put off by this harsh world of freelance work. By following these steps to CYA (cover your own ass), you can still get a flextime career to put more in the bank, work around family commitments or learn something new.