🤔 Don't you hate closing contracts quickly after a project is done?

[#1]

I am wondering if other freelancers feel as I do in regards to Upwork strong push to quickly close contracts after a project is done.

I am a top-rated freelancer with hundreds of feedbacks and (up to 2 weeks ago) 100% JSS and was demoted lately to 96% due to some contracts that have been sitting idle for quite some time. 

Regardless of how the project ends, sometimes it is actually very comfortable to leave a project idle for a few months to let the client have an option to add a milestone if any issue comes up. More than that, "demanding" or even "suggesting firmly" a quick closure of the contract at the moment the project reached its final milestone honestly feel a bit strange, and even after a few months, it sometimes feels like "I want to cut the cord" with the client just to stay with Upwork policy of closing contracts as soon as possible or my JSS will turn ugly pretty quickly.

I mean, there are so many reasons why its good that a contract is sitting idle, and none of them has anything to do with lowering your JSS score as far as I can see it.

1.  A client "got what they want" and don't really care anymore about closing a contract

2. A project ended but the client is now "feel secure" when the contract is not closed and at any time they can go back to the chat and get new things done or fixed

3. An idle contract is also an opportunity for a new milestone at a certain time in the future as not all projects really NEED TO END, and some projects have a very good chance to get a new milestone 6 months along the road when certain elements in the project need renewals or update.

4. Pushing a client to close a contract before they feel comfortable to do it, feels like you just want to move away from the relationship you forged with them rather than evolve this business relationship further. A much more comfortable way to close a contract at the end of a project is when the time comes for a new contract, AT THAT TIME, ask the client to close the old project and start a new contract. This is the best timing to do it naturally and comfortably in many cases.

I can go on and on with more and more subtle but as important reasons why a contract needs to stay alive after a project is done in some cases, but I will stop here. Please remember, I am not saying that ALL CONTRACTS needs to stay alive after it is done, in many cases, the contracts ends perfectly with the client EXCITED to close it and give 5-star feedback (and get one back) - but for those special projects that are sitting idle for one of the many reasons they are, it should not pull a top-rated Upwork freelancer JSS down and DEMOTE the freelancer pretty much - all for the sake of trying to keep a client happy and a business relationship healthy.

Yes, it is a tricky thing with this issue, but unless there is a REAL REASON why Upwork is pushing so hard for us to close contracts quickly, I do not understand why it has to even be part of the JSS and it should be left out of it and allow us to manage it with the clients properly and gently without any "rush to closing" attitude.

Sorry about the long rant, but I had to take it out of my chest.

What do you think?

[#2]

I don't care to leave things hanging open cluttering up my project lists, personally.

And, the last thing I want is a client creating a new milestone six months down the road without consulting me--no reason you can't open a new contract in that situation, which gives you the opportunity to accept or reject based on your schedule. 

Fortunately, though, we all get to make our own decisions, since Upwork absolutely does not in any way encourage you to close contracts "quickly." 

Under some circumstances, if it's a large percentage of your recent jobs, contracts hanging open after you've been paid on them can start to have a negative impact, but it takes months.

[#3]

Seeing a contract closed is the best part about being a freelancer.

[#4]

Why is that, Preston?

Why a closed contract is such an achievement of a lifetime we should aspire to exactly?  

I want contracts to go on forever rather than close any.

[#5]

Winning the next piece of work from an existing client is the best part of being a freelancer.

[#6]

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John B wrote:

Winning the next piece of work from an existing client is the best part of being a freelancer.

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that is the right way to look at it and not "Seeing a contract closed is the best part about being a freelancer."

nice one, John.  I like it. it totally reflects how I feel.  Winning the next piece of work, whether it is a new milestone or a new contract is the best part of being a freelancer.

[#7]

I've never felt pressure to close a contract quickly. I close them when I want to. 

[#8]

Hi Tonya,

here is the part of the chat I had with support and you can see what I mean -- Upwork has a "best practice" policy of closing contracts or your JSS will be lowered.

This is exactly the issue.

**Edited for Community Guidelines**

[#9]

Tiffany - you got that wrong "..Fortunately, though, we all get to make our own decisions, since Upwork absolutely does not in any way encourage you to close contracts "quickly.""  

Actually they do. I had a long chat with Upwork support and they are strongly encouraging to close contracts quickly and to let the client they can "rehire" at any time, as "rehire" is a plus on your JSS.

They even suggested to me that they will send the clients request to close the contract on my behalf.

[#10]

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Hidemi T wrote:

Tiffany - you got that wrong "..Fortunately, though, we all get to make our own decisions, since Upwork absolutely does not in any way encourage you to close contracts "quickly.""  

Actually they do. I had a long chat with Upwork support and they are strongly encouraging to close contracts quickly and to let the client they can "rehire" at any time, as "rehire" is a plus on your JSS.

They even suggested to me that they will send the clients request to close the contract on my behalf.

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I usually have a bunch of open contracts, and it has never affected my JSS. I currently have six open, three of which I haven't worked on since last year. I don't feel like I'm under any pressure to close them. 

I just looked at your profile, though, and it says that you have 24 jobs in progress, and it's obvious that you haven't worked on some of these since 2016/2017. That's quite a large number of open jobs. If you encourage your clients to close contracts, they have to leave you feedback. The other advantage of not leaving lots of contracts open is that clients might think you're actually working on 24 jobs right now, and they'll worry that you're too busy to take on more work.

[#11]

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Hidemi T wrote:

Tiffany - you got that wrong "..Fortunately, though, we all get to make our own decisions, since Upwork absolutely does not in any way encourage you to close contracts "quickly.""  

Actually they do. I had a long chat with Upwork support and they are strongly encouraging to close contracts quickly and to let the client they can "rehire" at any time, as "rehire" is a plus on your JSS.

They even suggested to me that they will send the clients request to close the contract on my behalf.

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So, you're saying that if you call up Upwork and ask them if you should close your contract they strongly encourage it? That's very different from having any kind of public policy, posted information, general advice to freelancers or elements in the JSS algorithm that encourage it.

[#12]

Tiffany S wrote:

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So, you're saying that if you call up Upwork and ask them if you should close your contract they strongly encourage it? That's very different from having any kind of public policy, posted information, general advice to freelancers or elements in the JSS algorithm that encourage it.

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That's exactly what I felt. My JSS dropped from 100 to 96 suddenly out of nowhere, so I contacted them right away and asked what is the problem, I thought maybe there is some issue I am not aware of, and the tech support person told me that all he can see that nothing but those idle contracts has any negative effect on my JSS so his advice was to contact one by one all those clients and ask to close the idle contracts.

I thought it was weird - but regardless, I contacted clients I haven't been in touch in some while and asked if they can close the contracts politely. 3 clients agreed right away, but the rest simply did not reply. 
2 days later my JSS on "My Stats" page got extra point to 97% (although it is not reflected in my profile page yet - I assume it will soon) but it showed me that indeed those idle contracts weight quite heavy on the JSS score!  

Since then, I made sure to close 2 contracts that ended this week just to avoid such problem in the future but I can not do anything for other contracts that a client do not reply to, if I will close it, and the client iwll not leave feedback, that's another JSS hit... 

IMHO - I am not sure why we have to be put in this position at all. If the client did not close the contract, have their score drop, not ours.

[#13]

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Hidemi T wrote:

2 days later my JSS on "My Stats" page got extra point to 97% (although it is not reflected in my profile page yet - I assume it will soon) but it showed me that indeed those idle contracts weight quite heavy on the JSS score!  

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No.

They do not.  If your JSS improved it's because you got good feedback, not because idle contracts were hurting. Idle contracts with money paid (at some point in the past) do not hurt your JSS at all unless you have a literally HUGE percentage of such contracts.

Nor do contracts that close without feedback provided some money was paid at some point.

There are two things that have a negative effect on your JSS: Poor private feedback and contracts that have never had anything paid, closed with poor or no private feedback or open for 2+ months.

In virtually all cases that's it.

Chances are one of the contracts that closed in the 2 weeks before Sunday's update closed with less than stellar private feedback and that's what made your JSS drop. You can't fall from 100% to 97% suddenly because of idle contracts. You have contracts that have been idle for years, some going back to 2016. They'd have hurt you by now if they were going to hurt you.

[#14]

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Tiffany S wrote:

I don't care to leave things hanging open cluttering up my project lists, personally.

And, the last thing I want is a client creating a new milestone six months down the road without consulting me--no reason you can't open a new contract in that situation, which gives you the opportunity to accept or reject based on your schedule. 

Fortunately, though, we all get to make our own decisions, since Upwork absolutely does not in any way encourage you to close contracts "quickly." 

Under some circumstances, if it's a large percentage of your recent jobs, contracts hanging open after you've been paid on them can start to have a negative impact, but it takes months.

_______________________________________________________________

I have several open contracts with long-term clients I don't hear from for months. I have never had one open a new milestone without discussing it with me first.

Some of my clients keep our contracts open because they maintain websites as hobbyists and only work on them once in a blue moon. By keeping the contract open, they know they can find me quickly and easily whenever they feel like they want a new article.  The fact they want to keep me easily accessible should be looked upon favorably and not be cause to lower my JSS.

Some clients just don't want to be bothered with details like closing a contract once they get what they want. Why that should reflect negatively on a freelancer, I can't imagine.

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[#15]

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Melanie M wrote:

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The fact they want to keep me easily accessible should be looked upon favorably and not be cause to lower my JSS.

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It doesn't lower your JSS. You have 18 open contracts and 100% JSS, so why do you think that it's negatively affecting you?

[#16]

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Christine A wrote:

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Melanie M wrote:

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The fact they want to keep me easily accessible should be looked upon favorably and not be cause to lower my JSS.

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It doesn't lower your JSS. You have 18 open contracts and 100% JSS, so why do you think that it's negatively affecting you?

Exactly my point!

Why it does not affect her JSS with 18 contracts open while I get minus 4 points for open contracts

The fact that the tech support person said that idle contracts do affect your JSS is so fraustrating as it does to some and not to others...

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[#17]

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Melanie M wrote:

Some of my clients keep our contracts open because they maintain websites as hobbyists and only work on them once in a blue moon. By keeping the contract open, they know they can find me quickly and easily whenever they feel like they want a new article.  The fact they want to keep me easily accessible should be looked upon favorably and not be cause to lower my JSS.

Some clients just don't want to be bothered with details like closing a contract once they get what they want. Why that should reflect negatively on a freelancer, I can't imagine.

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I agree with you 100%!

That is exactly what shocked me, since leaving contracts open has so many reasons which are all legitimate reason and are not any freelancer "fault" --- some clients simply LIKE IT when a contract is still open - it gives them the feeling "we are working" together even though the project ended and every now and then they come up with a new idea for a new milestone.

and as you said, so clients - after they "got what they need" -- simply feel annoyed if I keep asking "can you close the contract please?"  -- it feels like such a drag to do so when you know the client has already moved on.  Of course, some clients, most of them, are happily closing the contract and excited to leave feedback, but with those who doesn't -- that is no reason whatsoever to lower my JSS as if I am the one who did not close the contract...  not sure what Upwork gain from such a strange algorithm calculations factor.

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[#18]

Did you check the "Clients who would recommend you" and "Long-term clients" on your stats? Did they change resently? They are also part of the JSS.

Besides that I agree with you that forcing the end of a business relation ship is not the best move. Most of my contracts start with a small job and then have multiple milestones. As a client I feel like I was just an obligation the freelancer had to work off before "pressuring" me into leaving a feedback.

[#19]

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Jennifer R wrote:

Did you check the "Clients who would recommend you" and "Long-term clients" on your stats? Did they change resently? They are also part of the JSS.

Besides that I agree with you that forcing the end of a business relation ship is not the best move. Most of my contracts start with a small job and then have multiple milestones. As a client I feel like I was just an obligation the freelancer had to work off before "pressuring" me into leaving a feedback.

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Yes, I checked it and the "Clients who would recommend you" stay the same in the past few years around the 95% and Long Term Clients got slightly down when I got 2-3 clients to close those contracts this week but other than that nothing really changes when my JSS dropped from 100% to 96% 2 weeks ago.  It did slightly go up to 97% this week.

I am going to make sure from now on to try my best to find a comfortable way to close contracts with clients - even if I feel they want it to stay open, it just doesn't worth it if Upwork hit my JSS for leaving contracts open.

As for past clients whom I have contacted back but have not replied, I will just have to wait it through until those contracts will be 2 years old - as I am not going to close contracts from my end - it will hurt my JSS even more.

ohh.... just sucks to deal with such silly things instead of focus on work.  this JSS hit I got 2 weeks ago got my a whole day of stomach pain and elevated my coronavirus anxiety a little  lol 

[#20]

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Hidemi T wrote:

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Yes, I checked it and the "Clients who would recommend you" stay the same in the past few years around the 95%

Take another look.... 

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I am not going to close contracts from my end - it will hurt my JSS even more.

No, neither idle contracts nor closing contracts yourself hurts your JSS.

Poor private feedback and contracts with nothing ever paid hurt your JSS.

[#21]

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Petra R wrote:

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Hidemi T wrote:

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Yes, I checked it and the "Clients who would recommend you" stay the same in the past few years around the 95%

Take another look.... 

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I am not going to close contracts from my end - it will hurt my JSS even more.

No, neither idle contracts nor closing contracts yourself hurts your JSS.

Poor private feedback and contracts with nothing ever paid hurt your JSS.

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Think about it, Petra -- if I close the contract on my end because the client did not reply when I requested to close the contract, they will also not bother to leave feedback, and that will hurt the JSS. 

Petra R wrote:
>> Take another look.... 

What does that suppose to mean? 

[#22]

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Hidemi T wrote:

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Think about it, Petra -- if I close the contract on my end because the client did not reply when I requested to close the contract, they will also not bother to leave feedback, and that will hurt the JSS. 

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Contracts that are closed without feedback from a client do not affect your JSS.

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Hidemi T wrote:

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What does that suppose to mean? 

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If it was 95% last time you looked, you may want to look again

[#23]

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Hidemi T wrote:

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Jennifer R wrote:

Did you check the "Clients who would recommend you" and "Long-term clients" on your stats? Did they change resently? They are also part of the JSS.

Besides that I agree with you that forcing the end of a business relation ship is not the best move. Most of my contracts start with a small job and then have multiple milestones. As a client I feel like I was just an obligation the freelancer had to work off before "pressuring" me into leaving a feedback.

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Yes, I checked it and the "Clients who would recommend you" stay the same in the past few years around the 95% and Long Term Clients got slightly down when I got 2-3 clients to close those contracts this week but other than that nothing really changes when my JSS dropped from 100% to 96% 2 weeks ago.  It did slightly go up to 97% this week.

I am going to make sure from now on to try my best to find a comfortable way to close contracts with clients - even if I feel they want it to stay open, it just doesn't worth it if Upwork hit my JSS for leaving contracts open.

As for past clients whom I have contacted back but have not replied, I will just have to wait it through until those contracts will be 2 years old - as I am not going to close contracts from my end - it will hurt my JSS even more.

ohh.... just sucks to deal with such silly things instead of focus on work.  this JSS hit I got 2 weeks ago got my a whole day of stomach pain and elevated my coronavirus anxiety a little  lol 

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Open contracts on which you were paid before do not hurt your JSS. Ignore any advise you received by CS.

Actually, the JSS page seems to change a lot lately. But it does not really tell you if an idle contract is good or bad for your JSS.

[#24]

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Jennifer R wrote:

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Open contracts on which you were paid before do not hurt your JSS. Ignore any advise you received by CS.

Actually, the JSS page seems to change a lot lately. But it does not really tell you if an idle contract is good or bad for your JSS.

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It's said that for ages. It does not mean a contract where money was paid will HURT your JSS, just that it's included in the calculation as a contract. Idle contracts are neutral, as are contracts that end without feedback, provided money was ever paid. 

[#25]

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Petra R wrote:

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Idle contracts are neutral, as are contracts that end without feedback, provided money was ever paid. 

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**Edited for Community Guidelines**

Idle contracts are neutral?    This is the whole issue, that they are not.

as are contracts that end without feedback, provided money was ever paid.  -- that is one of the definitions of idle contract.. it will affect your JSS.