Even Freelancers Need A Break From Work

A communications professional has stressed the importance of freelance workers selecting the right strategy when it comes to handling emails whilst on holiday. With many freelancers working from their own home or office environment, coupled with working for themselves, it can be difficult for them to know when enough is enough.

Writing for freelance advice website Freelance UK, Kay White, author of The A to Z of Being Understood: Make Your Voice Heard and Your Conversations Count, said following the AIG (acknowledge, inform, guide) formula is the best approach.

She puts forward three options for handling communications during holiday periods. The first involves reading emails regularly and responding when necessary, the second involves organising someone to read and sort your emails for you, while the third involves reading them just once a day.

White said: "Whichever holiday mode suits you, discussing how you intend to respond before you depart for Monaco or Magaluf will make it easy for affected parties to understand the type of communication they will receive.

No matter what your job role is, a peaceful break is of paramount importance, wish good communication beforehand ensuring you get exactly that. Trying to catch up on emails between trips, transfers and tours just becomes stressful and isnt good for your health or wellbeing.

As well as advice being given to freelancers about how to work when on holiday, Freelance trade association, the PGC, has published a guide designed to clarify other useful tips for freelancers, such as how the new employment regulations will them.

The new Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) are set to come into force in October, and are aimed at providing temporary agency workers with the same rights and employment conditions as they would enjoy had they had been employed directly to do the same job.

Despite the fact the new rules are not intended to apply to freelance workers in business on their own account, the PCG believes official guidance "lacks clarity and transparency" for these workers. To help make the situation clearer, the body is sending recruitment agencies and human resources directors at businesses across the country a guide called Working With Freelancers.

John Brazier, managing director of PCG, said: "We have been forced to step in to supply this for those with freelance work, clients and agencies. This guide is therefore vital to ensure that those working with freelancers on a day-to-day basis have the confidence to conduct business as usual.