Contractor vs. Employee

The understanding between contractors vs. employees have come under the spotlight ever since the 2019 pandemic gave rise to an increase in global remote work.

More and more people have resorted to finding remote work, with many of these opportunities being contractor-type positions.

I’ve been in both job positions, so here are a few pros and cons I’ve picked up since being an independent contractor:

Contractor PROS:

Be Your Own Boss

Being your own boss comes with a lot of responsibility, and often a higher level of stress. This gives you a cutting edge and will show future employers what you’re capable of.

Not everyone is willing or wants to be a contract worker, but it takes a special person who is open to take on unpredictable outcomes of contract work!

Freedom and Autonomy

You most likely will not feel as tied to your company as a contract worker.

You have the flexibility to do your work and get paid, but at the end of the day, you can always move on to greater opportunities without all the weight of leaving a position as an employee.

When you leave a company as an employee, there are great costs that the company must pay to have you leave, as well as find someone as a replacement. As a contractor, the company will not have as much of a financial burden in having you leave, or finding your replacement.

Pay Less in Taxes

Employees pay more in taxes than independent contract workers. Check with your city, state, or provincial laws to see how much income tax you would pay as an employee versus an independent contract worker.

Start Dates

From my experience, contract positions have faster start dates. I know of many scenarios where people wait several weeks just to have a background check completed.

In contract work, you’re less likely to go through a lot of these HR steps, you may skip the background check completely (they may not even ask for references), meaning you’ll jump straight into your first day and skip to wait.

Contractor CONS:

Job Security

Employers pay a lot of money to hire employees. Employees are hired typically in full-time, permanent roles, which are meant to be held long-term. Employers want to keep employees, as finding and hiring new is very expensive, often costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

In contract work, companies don’t pay these types of expenses to bring on new workers, as they do not provide the perks such as benefits, health insurance, retirement, PTO, and more.

This causes a lack of job security for contract workers, though if they’re performing well, workers should not have a problem.

No Paid Time Off (PTO)

As mentioned above, most contract positions do not pay for vacation or paid time off. Yes, this means the days you take off come out of your paycheck!

When given an offer for a contract position, see if you can negotiate some of your benefits, vacation being one of them!

No Benefits

You can try to negotiate this part as well, though in most contract roles, you are not likely to be offered benefits, including health care or retirement saving plans.

It is important you set aside money for retirement by yourself (and invest accordingly) in this case. I would try to have the best oral hygiene too. Who knows when the next time you’ll be headed to the dentist will be.

Filing Your Own Taxes

You may pay less in taxes (which is great), but you’ll still have to remember to actually file them. This does take some effort and organization on your side, like putting together the invoices and other paperwork, a task many do not want to do.

You may even need the assistance of hiring a personal account to help you.

Paying For Your Own Work Equipment

Gone are the days of a company offering to cover homework equipment. Though all companies are different, many contract roles expect you to have existing and functional office equipment to use.

See if you can squeeze out some dollars for equipment when signing your offer letter.

Dedication to the Company

This may vary from person to person, but being a contract worker is different than being an employee. There is less job security, and when the need for your role no longer exists, you’re off to the races again.

Many people may not agree with this type of work, others may thrive on the ongoing change, too adventurous to ever stay stagnant.

Conclusion

Opinions on contract work vs. employee work will differ from person to person, and no one company is the same. However, contract work is different than being an employee. There is less job security, and when the need for your role no longer exists, you’re off to the races again.

Many people may not agree with this type of work, others may thrive on the ongoing change, too adventurous to ever stay stagnant.

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If you work from home, it’s important that you like the space you work in.

Here are 11 ways you can level up your work-from-home desk to create a comfortable, organized, and aesthetic environment. None of these items will break your bank and are easy to find.

You can incorporate these ideas if you work in the office as well!

So…Let’s Get Started!

1. Go Wireless

Get rid of the wires.

Not only do wires quickly get in the way of things, but they can make your desk look cluttered. I use a wireless mouse and keyboard to create a minimalist aesthetic for my home office desk.

I love the wireless Logitech MX Master 3S for its super-fast motion control, paired with my pink wireless Logitech K380  for its fun colour and bubbly buttons. Keyboards with personality have been my favourite this year!

2. Foot Roller Under Desk

I love sitting down and using my foot roller when I’m not using my standing desk. The grooves on the foot roller help in giving a comfortable massage while I respond to emails or sit in on meetings.

3. Phone Stand

A phone stand helps me be more efficient because I don’t have to constantly pick up my phone to check notifications. If I receive a notification, I can easily glance over to it (if I want) without holding a phone device.

My phone stand becomes even more important when I’m sitting in on Zoom meetings and don’t want to appear like I’m checking my phone, or that it’s in my hand (so sneaky)!

4. Large Mouse Pad

I may be a die-hard fan, but I also have this purple-lavender Logitech mouse trackpad. The mouse pad compliments my pink wireless keyboard and helps put together my home office in a fun and eclectic way.

5. Hide Your Wires

If you can’t go wireless, try hiding your wires instead. They’re cheap, and make your desk look so much cleaner!

6. Pen Holder

Use a pen holder or bin on your desk to help keep clutter away. It’s a great way of hiding not only pens but anything else that ends up making it on your desk.

If you have a desk with drawers, drawer organizers are a must. Since I don’t like having loose items rolling around every time I open or close my drawer, these cute organizers really serve their purpose.

7. Organization Boxes

If I didn’t use a ring light in my Zoom meetings, it would be difficult to bring light onto my face. I may have 5 lamps in the room, but that doesn’t help that I have a big window behind me at my desk.

8. Ring Light

You can’t always pick the spaces you work in, and sometimes the spaces you work in, really aren’t all that bright.

A ring light will make sure you never have to be seen in a dark and gloomy space again!

9. Essential Oil Diffuser

There are a ton of essential oils on the market, and each oil holds different properties. My favourite oils to diffuse are lavender or eucalyptus as their scents help make me feel calm and relaxed. Try diffusing Chamomile, Frankincense or Bergamot for the same calming effect.

10. Coasters

Not only can you find a plethora of super cute coasters online, but coasters also have the purpose of protecting your desk. Grab a set of coasters to avoid staining the material of your desk or any sticky situations.

11. Plants

Liven the room (literally) by adding some greenery to your space. Not only do plants add vibrant pops of colour to the room, but help create a calm and positive environment.

Some plants are even believed to absorb radiation, which our computers and electronic devices release into our spaces.

Conclusion

Making changes to your workspace that improve functionality and comfortability have powerful positive effects on work performance.

If you liked this blog post, be sure to check out these 5 Beauty Must-Haves to keep at your desk to make you feel comfy and happy while you work.

ALSO – make sure you don’t miss out on these 5 Amazon products that keep you more productive at your desk!