Your rights as an independent contractor include the right to a fair contract, management of your business, and the receipt of payment. No one, not even the most competitive client, has the right to violate your legal rights.
Anyone who does throw your right to get paid into question may face legal consequences for their inappropriate behavior. A Boston labor & employment lawyer can help you break down the rights you have in the wake of a bad client relationship before taking legal action against bad actors.
Knowing Your Rights as an Independent Contractor
Today’s gig economy is more competitive than ever. Independent contractors have to think creatively to stay one step ahead of their peers. However, no independent contractor should have to compromise their rights when working with clients.
If you find yourself asking, “What are my rights as an independent contractor?” you’ll find that the broad answer includes rights like the following:
Right to a Contract
Contractors have the right to pursue work in any field of their choosing. However, some possible clients may not understand that a contractor has the right to ask for a written contract upon agreeing to take on work.
In fact, many clients may try to get a contractor to agree to work based on a verbal or implied contract. If you find yourself being pressured into accepting work without a contract, do not accept. It’s incredibly important to your career that you have the details of your latest job written down and recorded.
The average contractor contract should elaborate on:
- The nature of your work
- The amount of time you intend to commit to a project
- Your project rate
Your contract also establishes that you are not a client’s employee. If a client doesn’t create a written distinction between you as a contractor and their employees, federal and state agencies may have lots of questions about the benefits, hours, and other forms of support you may deserve.
Right to Control and Manage Your Own Business
As an independent contractor, you are the head of your own business. No one, especially not your clients, has a say in how you run that business. You instead have the right to establish your own bylaws and elaborate on what work you will or won’t do.
Clients do not get to direct your business. Clients who attempt to have a say in your business operations threaten to become your employers, at which point a court may argue that your new employer owes you back pay and additional benefits.
Right to Work When and Where You Want
One of the greatest perks of working as an independent contractor is your right to work whenever and wherever you want. Want to travel the world but still work as a data analyst? You can do that. Need to visit your parents but work on backend development for a client? You can.
Clients who try to tell you when and where you need to be when tackling a project cross the line from “client” to “employer.” You have the right to re-establish distance between yourself and clients who get too close to your business operations. You may alternatively pursue civil justice against a client who insists on making themselves your workplace superior.
Right to Receive Payment
No one wants to complete a job and then suddenly lose contact with a client. Unfortunately, many clients will try to get out of their responsibility to pay a contractor for that contractor’s work.
This is where having a written contract comes in handy. If you pre-established your working rate and the nature of a project, you can sue for non-payment as a part of your independent contractor payment rights.
You also have the right to use a contract to discuss how you’d like to receive payment for a job, be that a PayPal invoice, direct deposit, or handwritten check. If a client refuses to pay you through pre-established means, you may have the right to take that client to court.
For a free legal consultation, call (860) 999-9394
How to Defend Your Rights as an Independent Contractor
If you find your rights as an independent contractor at risk, you can work with an experienced labor & employment lawyer to challenge your mistreatment. We encourage you to keep a comprehensive record of that mistreatment so we can argue for your right to damages in court.
When defending your rights as an independent contractor, our team will:
- Review your independent contractor contract or other agreements made with your clients
- Communicate with an offending client on your behalf
- Document conversations with an offending client
- Create and file a formal demand letter, particularly in the face of client belligerence
- Determine what laws best apply to your situation
- File a wage claim in your name, if necessary
- Arrange private settlement negotiations with a client who acknowledges your right to legal action
- Prepare to take your case to trial
Our team tends to bring independent contractor complaints to a close during private settlement negotiations with unruly clients. However, we’re not afraid to take your clients to trial. We’re more than ready to demand the compensation you deserve for unreasonable treatment in front of a judge and jury.
You Can Work With Boston Labor & Employment Lawyers to Defend Your Rights Today
Our team wants to ensure that independent contractors like you get the payment you deserve for your hard work. If you need help determining your rights as an independent contractor, you can turn to our labor and employment lawyers in Boston.
We can explain the rights violations you’ve endured and discuss how you can take legal action against offending parties. Our team can also find a favorable negotiating position that may allow you to get the financial support you deserve.
Book a free labor & employment case evaluation with our attorneys today.
Call or text (860) 999-9394 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form