Is this UN-Proffesional from a company

[TomWeston]

Hello

 

Recently I have received this email from a company witch I have done freelance work with,

 

The email contained the following sentence.

 

''Unfortunately due to working for other companies with similar interests in the industry and locality as us we will not be able to use your services for any future events.''

 

To me, this kind of defeats the object of being a FREELANCE worker.

 

let me know on your opinions.

 

( please not I am not prepared to name companies or people )

 

Tom

[w/robe]

Unless something has happened between them and you or another company that we don't know about then it is a bit strange, apart from anything else they could have just stopped phoning you

 

You could point out that unless they offer you full time employment then you have to take other work in your area of expertise and close to where you live but I doubt it will make any difference.

[TomWeston]

Nothing had happened between me and the company,

 

but I have also done work for their main competitors,(who they do not like !!!! ) but isn't this business and the whole point of being freelance, you work for who wants to hire you ?

 

just seems very strange!

[nb705]

I have heard that some of the larger PA companies have similar policies for their freelancers. It seems morally dubious to me.

[Doug Siddons]

I'm guessing there is more than meets the eye on this and you've probably got caught in the crossfire.

[stevefez]

I'm guessing there is more than meets the eye on this and you've probably got caught in the crossfire.

+1 That would be my guess also. Doesn't seem quite right to me.

[back_ache]

maybe they feel they've been unfairly losing work to the other company so they have decided to make sure they is no overlap between them.

[TomWeston]

well apart from one company trying to steel clients of the other ? this email went out to all freelancers who work for multiple companies in the area!

[TonyMitchell]

Morals aside, let's look at this from an availability perspective. (This secnario may of course be different to that of the OP)

 

If company "A" has supported a freelancer/subcontractor with regular work throughout the year, thick & thin, traditionally quiet months included, they are not going to be best plased if, come the busier seasons, these freelancers/subcontractors are then not available to work. Company "A" will be even less pleased to find them working for Company "B", their competitors, on dates that are the busiest throughout the industry.

 

The company I work for has a policy (which we are all very upfront about), in that any subcontractor whose support during December and the busy summer months is poor, guarantee themselves being offered no work between January and April. Loyalty is repaid with loyalty, it's a two way street.

[TomWeston]

I totally agree Tony, That is common etiquette and loyalty.

 

but having only worked on 2 or 3 jobs for the company ( company A) I just wondered if people thought the same as I now do. That it is an unprofessional thing to do.

[Paul TC]

The company I work for has a policy (which we are all very upfront about), in that any subcontractor whose support during December and the busy summer months is poor, guarantee themselves being offered no work between January and April. Loyalty is repaid with loyalty, it's a two way street.

Equally we all have to pay our taxes and eat, so if company A offers work 8 weeks in advance, do you expect the freelancer to call company B and ask if they have anything before accepting ? ( And it may not then, but may later).

 

Just beacuse you can't get someone probably means they have the get up and go to maximise their income, exactly what you are doing by not paying freelancers for 365 day availabilty.

[j_b]

It's not particularly good English.

 

It's not really clear whether 'we' or 'you' are 'working for other companies with similar interests in the industry and locality'.

 

I presume that they're saying that they don't want you on their books if you do work for other local companies, which I agree is daft if you're a freelancer!

 

Kev

[TomWeston]

I dont not know much about the running of either companies but I do believe it is to do with one company trying to win clients witch may have previously used the other company, to me this is just being competitive and at the end of the day its Business.

 

Thanks for replies guys !

[TonyMitchell]

Just beacuse you can't get someone probably means they have the get up and go to maximise their income

 

Whoooooooooosh! :P

 

You've missed the point - in my example, the subcontractor/freelancer has done the VERY OPPOSITE of maximising their income.... they may well have earned a little more in the very short term, but if this is followed by a long period of little or no income, then stability and loyalty throughout 12 months would be the way to maximise income.

 

Incidentally, those that have learned the hard way tend to only do so the once. :)

[TheLightsTech]

All the freelancers I know operate on a first come- first served basis except for freebie/charity stuff that they usually agree to on an as-available basis. Then again their best paying clients also plan their shows a couple of years out, so it's not a huge issue.