1.6M+ reasons why clients can request unpaid tests

[jr-translation]

I have applied for a job and reported the job description when the client requested a test and informed me:

The test is the only step of the qualification process, and thus unpaid.

I expected Upwork to close the job and return the connects to the freelancers that have send a proposal but it seems that the ToS for Upwork Enterprise Clients differ from other clients.

[petra_r]

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Jennifer R wrote:

it seems that the ToS for Upwork Enterprise Clients differ from other clients.

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They do not differ. Clients are not allowed to ask for free work.

[melaniekhenson]

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Jennifer R wrote:

I have applied for a job and reported the job description when the client requested a test and informed me:

The test is the only step of the qualification process, and thus unpaid.

I expected Upwork to close the job and return the connects to the freelancers that have send a proposal but it seems that the ToS for Upwork Enterprise Clients differ from other clients.

---

No, ToS is ToS, at least as far as I know. You know Upwork. Sometimes things like this can take an hour or two. Or more...I'm sure they're on it, especially now that you mentioned it here. 🙂

[jr-translation]

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Melanie H wrote:

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Jennifer R wrote:

I have applied for a job and reported the job description when the client requested a test and informed me:

The test is the only step of the qualification process, and thus unpaid.

I expected Upwork to close the job and return the connects to the freelancers that have send a proposal but it seems that the ToS for Upwork Enterprise Clients differ from other clients.

---

No, ToS is ToS, at least as far as I know. You know Upwork. Sometimes things like this can take an hour or two. Or more...I'm sure they're on it, especially now that you mentioned it here. 🙂

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I reported the job on the 18th, who cares about an hour or two. I think that the freelancers that used their connects for the proposal should get them back. Some freelancers need them and it shouldn't take that long to take a job down.

[colettelewis]

Clients are not allowed to ask for free work, but they do, and they get away with it even when reported. 

[bstojadinovic]

Hi Jennifer,

I attempted to find the job and the request for free work you are referring to but wasn't able to. Could you please send me a PM with more details about it so that I can check it further and follow up with our team. 

Thank you.

[jr-translation]

Day 11 after reporting the client. The job is still there and the client just reposted the job.

[jr-translation]

Now the first job shows as "Invite only" but I never was invited. I (and a few other freelancers) used 2 connects for a job with an enterprise client that violates the ToS and Upwork does nothing.

[kat303]

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Jennifer R wrote:

Now the first job shows as "Invite only" but I never was invited. I (and a few other freelancers) used 2 connects for a job with an enterprise client that violates the ToS and Upwork does nothing.

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The only thing you can do in this case and future cases is to report it, if you choose and then just move on. Upwork will do whatever they will do whether to take the job down, or not. It's just too bad that not only does this (and maybe others) can get away with this but for the freelancers who don't know any better because they fail to find out about the procedures and what to look out for, or are so desperate that they will gladly do whatever work they can, for free and for promises of future work or payment after work is delivered. For those freelancers, it's their choice and decision. 

[jr-translation]

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Kathy T wrote:

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Jennifer R wrote:

Now the first job shows as "Invite only" but I never was invited. I (and a few other freelancers) used 2 connects for a job with an enterprise client that violates the ToS and Upwork does nothing.

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The only thing you can do in this case and future cases is to report it, if you choose and then just move on. Upwork will do whatever they will do whether to take the job down, or not. It's just too bad that not only does this (and maybe others) can get away with this but for the freelancers who don't know any better because they fail to find out about the procedures and what to look out for, or are so desperate that they will gladly do whatever work they can, for free and for promises of future work or payment after work is delivered. For those freelancers, it's their choice and decision. 

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If I apply for a job and do not participate in an unpaid test but report the client for ToS violation, Upwork should return the connects. Some freelancers need them and if Upwork refuses to take down the job they should at least return these wasted connects.

I hardly use any of my connects nowadays and could just ignore everything but I did not came up with the ToS.

[kat303]

Jennifer 

If I apply for a job and do not participate in an unpaid test but report the client for ToS violation, Upwork should return the connects. Some freelancers need them and if Upwork refuses to take down the job they should at least return these wasted connects.

If Upwork leaves the job up, it's fine with me, I don't care, (and maybe that's the wrong attitude but that's the way I feel.) It's also not my job to worry about other freelancers. My job here is to obtain jobs and do the best possible work that I can. I report jobs, and that's it, Whether they are taken down, whether they hire someone and take it off site it's not my concern anymore. I did what I could, It doesn't matter if Upwork keeps the job up or takes it down. 

But here is the problem with the statement above. So Upwork returns the connects for all the freelancers who've applied to that job. BUT...... the job still says up. (or the client deletes that unpaid test statement from the job description but still enforces it for all that apply, Does upwork keep returning all the connects from the freelancers who still keep applying? How does that work then? 

[jr-translation]

Hi Bojan,

are you working on the issue? When will the job description be removed and the connects returned to the freelancers?

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi Jennifer,

As we've shared before, we won't be able to provide details about the outcome of the team's review of the job and the client's account. Rest assured that any evidence is reviewed and action is taken accordingly.

Thanks.

[jr-translation]

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Valeria K wrote:

Hi Jennifer,

As we've shared before, we won't be able to provide details about the outcome of the team's review of the job and the client's account. Rest assured that any evidence is reviewed and action is taken accordingly.

Thanks.

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But how long can it take? Some jobs are taken down within the hour and this one is still up and has been reposted since. I can forward the entire email if you tell me to which email address.

[kochubei_valeria]

Jennifer, 

Could you please send me or Bojan a screenshot of the email (and not a copy pasted text) via a private message? We could forward it to the team for review as well.

Thanks.