Re: Why are our earnings visible?

cheannel · ‎05-24-2018

I just found out that our earnings are public. I find this outrageous! Then I find out that I need to upgrade my membership to be able to hide this? Why? I have never freely discussed my earnings with anyone other than my husband in all the years that I have been working and it has even been discouraged by companies. I understand that they do that probably to keep people from competing for raises and all that goes with that.

But shouldn't such a very private thing be someone's choice to reveal? I don't see why something so basic needs to be paid for? That isn't a special feature, that is a matter of privacy. Thankfully I saw this when I wanted to change my profile to public so that more people can find me. Now I hate that even just those logged in can see it, but it benefits me that people can find me. I just don't feel comfortable sharing my earnings with them!

I see people complained about it in the past, as far back as 2012! And still, no one has done anything? This is such a very basic thing. Honestly, I don't understand it.

purplepony · ‎05-24-2018

Cheanne, I do appreciate what you're saying. However, here's another perspective.

When our earnings are shown it's proof to potential Clients we're in a sense worth what we say we are vs. blowing smoke as previous Clients have paid us such. That works especially well with Hourly. For example, my Hourly Rate is $25/Hour. My Profile shows that my current Client as well as several previous Clients have paid me that.

That doesn't work as well when a FL accepts projects with a lower rate than their posted one. IMO it's a huge mistake for a FL to accept less than their posted rate. Oftentimes potential Clients will see that and offer the FL less to do their project as well.

vladag · ‎05-24-2018

Hi Cheanne,

Thank you for sharing your feedback and opinion. We welcome other users to follow up and share their own experience with having their earnings shown publicly or made private, on how that might have affected their success on our platform.

For more background information and rationale regarding displaying earnings publicly by default on freelancer profiles, please check the announcement we posted and refer to our replies to questions about hiding freelancers earnings before and after this option was made available. Note that the decision was made based on the research we conducted, which showed that freelancers who hide their earnings earn less than those with public earnings.

As you already mentioned, freelancers do have the option to hide their earning and you can check here for more details.

~ Vladimir

prestonhunter · ‎05-25-2018

Earnings should be private? That is an interesting belief, but not a universal rule or anything.

In some countries, including some in Europe, all income is part of the public record, by law.

In many places, including the United States, all income for government jobs and all income for positions in many private companies are public.

I respect the beliefs of a person who thinks earnings should be private, but I also respect the beliefs of a person who finds it outrageous that somebody would try to keep earnings private. Of course Upwork has the right to make their own policies about this, and people have the freedom to use Upwork or not use it, as they see fit.

cheannel · ‎05-25-2018

Thanks for the replies everyone. Perhaps I should be more clear. What I don't know is why we don't have the choice to turn it off without needing to pay for it. If people are happy to share that information, that's great for them. It's just not great for everyone.

purplepony · ‎05-25-2018

@Cheanné L wrote:
Thanks for the replies everyone. Perhaps I should be more clear. What I don't know is why we don't have the choice to turn it off without needing to pay for it. If people are happy to share that information, that's great for them. It's just not great for everyone.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Cheanne, the answer is because we don't. This is how Upwork has decided to operate this facet of their business model. Of course we can always ask why and share why we'd prefer things be done differently than they are. Sometimes changes are made.

edmelville · ‎05-25-2018

I had the same kneejerk reaction, but paid the $10 per month to turn it off. It really isn't anyone's business. God bless 'Merica.

bobafett999 · ‎05-25-2018

I am with Pat on this one. Freelancers could use this as a selling point. If a potential buyer sees all private earning they may get the impression that they are not getting the best price.

petra_r · ‎05-25-2018

@Edward M wrote:
I had the same kneejerk reaction, but paid the $10 per month to turn it off.

Upwork has data which suggests that freelancers who hide their earnings win less jobs and at lower rates (which is why Upwork doesn't *like* it when freelancers hide their earnings and make it less appealing by requiring the Plus plan. (Obviously they want us to win as much work as possible and earn as much as possible so they get more money...)
It's never really "gone" if one knows how and where to look for it. 😉

tlbp · ‎05-25-2018

Companies discourage sharing salary information because they want to pay each person the lowest amount possible and knowledge is power. Upwork encourages disclosure of pay information so that clients have the maximum amount of information available when evaluating freelancers.

Upwork could not offer the option to hide earnings at all. It is a common business model to provide additional services for a fee. This is one of the additional services available for Upwork users.

Freelancing is an entirely different ecosystem than employment. And, finding leads via a freelance marketplace vs. individual lead generation is yet another system. You must choose as an individual what you are comfortable with.

As others have mentioned, however, I have found that displaying past earnings acts as a powerful device for providing social proof.

bobafett999 · ‎05-25-2018

This is very similar to many stores who will not show their price unless you put that thing in shopping cart, give them e-mail address, and blah blah blah.

I leave those places.

charles_kozierok · ‎05-25-2018

@Prashant P wrote:
This is very similar to many stores who will not show their price unless you put that thing in shopping cart, give them e-mail address, and blah blah blah.

I leave those places.

https://www.consumerreports.org/online-shopping/why-do-i-have-to-put-an-item-in-my-digital-shopping-...