# Workplace Surgery: Freelancer exclusion

- **Episode:** [111](https://agents.truthliesandwork.com/episodes/111.md) (2024-07-02)
- **Type:** workplace-surgery
- **Tags:** freelancers, exclusion, workplace-issues
- **Time:** 24:09–30:57 (start 1449s)
- **Listen:** [https://truthliesandwork.com/111?t=1449](https://truthliesandwork.com/111?t=1449)

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[24:09] Leanne Elliott: So come back. I'll cut that out
[24:11] Al Elliott: Keep that in. Welcome back onto my favourite time of the week, the world-famous weekly workplace surgery, where I put your Questions to business psychologist Leanne. Leah, are you ready?
[24:25] Leanne Elliott: Yes, I have been on holiday though, just to, just to bear in mind it's my first day back, so I might not have my old business psychology at full, you know, full throttle yet. But yeah, crack on
[24:37] Al Elliott: Yeah, you and your, you and your 4 girlfriends. One thing I do know is that Montenegro has significantly less Aperol than they did 4 days ago
[24:45] Leanne Elliott: Yes
[24:46] Al Elliott: Yes. So here we go, here's the question. I work as a freelancer at a company But to be honest, it's my main gig really. I do 25 to 30 hours a week and I get on really well with the guys I work for. I've been working there for about a year and I thought I was part of the crew until last week. The big boss came in with a big basket of pastries, like muffins, donuts, etc., for the team, and he went round the entire office and handed them out. But when he got to me, he said, sorry, you don't properly work here, so none for you. At first I thought he was joking, but he just walked off and continued handing out donuts. Told you it was scandalous. I'm really trying hard, but this is what I like about this person who's written in. This is what I really like about this. I'm trying really hard to be grown up and see both sides of this, but it's hard not to be upset about this exclusion. Surely it can't be about the money. A donut's a couple of dollars. So why do you think he's excluding me like this?
[25:35] Leanne Elliott: I mean, I think the thing is, is this person is clearly trying to make some kind of point about separating you from the rest of rest of the team. I'm not sure why. There are various things that could be motivating that. Maybe he's irritated paying a freelancer a higher hourly rate, although actually overall he's probably paying less in terms of other benefits and perks and whatnot. Um, it could be that he didn't want to hire a freelancer and he got overruled in some way. Um, I don't know, maybe he's trying to create distance because the company is about to go into a different direction and, and bring roles in-house, and that might not include you. Um, I don't really know, but it's very odd. It's very petty. Um, and I think this is where it's really— and I feel for you because it's a really fine line as a freelancer. And I too have worked as a freelancer, um, or kind of a long-term consultant for, for companies. And you can get attached, and you do start to feel like you're part of the team. And, and it really just depends how that operates. I've done it in some organizations where, as a contractor, I feel very much a part of the team, and that's not made any It's just been kind of how my pay is structured or how my employment is structured. Other organisations where it has been a bit more of a barrier. I think it's one of those where it kind of comes with the territory as a freelancer, because as much as you might get comments like that, and it's very odd and unnecessary, but equally, you're not part of that organisation in the same way that other employees are. It's a very rude and brutal way to demonstrate that
[27:10] Al Elliott: Yeah
[27:12] Leanne Elliott: But you're not. So I guess it's maybe a point of reflection in that if this is a regular gig for you, if you enjoy the work, you enjoy working with the rest of your colleagues, how do the rest of your colleagues make you feel? If they make you feel included and it's just kind of this one person that doesn't, then how much is that really going to impact your, your day-to-day life? And, and I guess a bigger question to reflect on is, as a freelancer, is this something you can get used to and get on board with and start to just accept as part of, part of the deal. You get the extra flexibility. That does mean that— You don't get a donut. Yeah, you don't get a donut, and you don't necessarily get that full sense of belonging. That's kind of the trade-off, isn't it? Um, so yeah, I guess that's my only advice, is kind of like, that's very weird, it's very odd, it's completely unnecessary. Maybe that person has their own motivations as to what that could be. You'll tie yourself not trying to figure out what that motivation is or what the reason is. I would use it more as an opportunity to, to reflect back on, on you and your experience and how you want to manage your career. Because if you stay in freelance, um, or indeed consultancy, this probably isn't going to be the only instance of this you're going to experience. So it's how you deal with that and how you manage that yourself. Maybe it's time to go back in-house. Maybe it's time to to just reflect on, on kind of your role and how integrated you get yourself. Maybe there are a few more personal barriers to put up, um, to help you stop getting so attached. That's what I'd say. It sounds very strange. Yeah
[28:42] Al Elliott: And while you was— while you were saying that, I was thinking there's 2 things I thought about. First of all is that there's a very good chance that everyone else, the rest of your— I'm gonna say colleagues because you work in the same office— will have noticed this. And maybe that was the intention, they noticed it, or maybe Maybe not, I don't know, but they will have noticed it. So if they— if you've got a really good relationship with them, there's a very good chance that they're going to stand behind you and go, yeah, he was a bit of an asshole, wasn't he? Why'd he do that? Don't get it. And that's probably done more damage to the big boss than it actually has done to you. The kind of the opposite to that I'm thinking about is potentially— and I wish, I wish we could actually have a 2-way conversation because I'd love to ask— are you getting a bit too attached? Are you maybe pretending that you're part of the team when in actual fact you're just a contractor? And this was his way of going, hey, step back, Janet. You know, you're not part of this team because perhaps you've just been a little bit, I don't know, overenthusiastic in the way that you've, um, that you, you're part of the team
[29:41] Leanne Elliott: Maybe. It sounds like, as I said, there's clearly some kind of boundary this person is trying to set, isn't there? This, this boss dude. Um, not, not in the nicest way, but, but as I said, you can tie yourself in knots trying to figure out what that is if he's not going to be transparent. You could ask him, um, but again, it's kind of to what end that's, that's gonna kind of come to. I think it's probably worth spending— rather than spending your time obsessing over him, reflect that back and obsess over you and what, you know, what you want out of it in, in terms of freelance or indeed this company. Um, and then maybe once you've figured that out And you don't, you know, you know what you want to do, then maybe go and ask that question. Ask him why, why he did that. Um, very strange. Equally, if you want to be as passive-aggressive, take in donuts next time he's in the office and don't give him one
[30:27] Al Elliott: But I mean, the positive you can take— before we go on to the next question, just thinking— the positive you can take out of this is that at least you kind of know what he thinks of you and where you stand. There is so many— I've not worked in offices for years and years and years, but There's so many bitchy comments and little stuff bubbling under the surface that you don't know. And then suddenly you find out that Arnold doesn't like you, and that's why your hours are so weird, you know. So at least you know where you stand. So at least you can do something about it. Are you ready for the next question, Lee?