Many people who enjoy the protection and rigidity of working for an organization are turned off by the idea of being an independent contractor. In fact, this thought may be almost terrifying, because they equate it with barely scraping by, concern about rent and food, inconsistent paycheque or the potential for not having a paycheque, and of course the fact that independent contractors must bring in clients, keep clients and replace former clients all by themselves.
Obviously, this is not a career choice for everyone. For some of us, however, this is a perfect scenario. The free thinking individual who values independence and freedom above all else, not to mention a little power, will love this type of work because it enables them to use their wits to come up with creative and innovative strategies to stay on top and find new clients and keep old clients happy and satisfied and modern. I can speak from personal experience when I say that it is a little bit like solving a puzzle or a really complex mathematical problem. It requires ingenuity and creativity and a taste of being gutsy and bold.
If you own a business and have employee drug testing as part of your company policy, this may become a little complicated. You may wish to have your independent contractors tested for alcohol and drugs, or you may wish to allow them to do their work entirely of their own accord, trusting that they are handling their own legal and safety matters responsibly. Your choice may be limited to local laws, since global contractors are difficult to “tie down.” However you choose to do this, it is always a good idea to use the power of reputation building and destruction to your favor.
Independent contractors have a reputation to live up to, if they are to remain in business. Of course, this applies to all businesses, especially widely marketed ones, but independent contractors are sometimes wholly dependent upon their reputation as their marketing strategy. This fact can be used in your favor, if you have concerns about potential threats to your contract with them.
Mediscreen offers onsite workplace drug and alcohol testing for both large and small businesses across Australia. Call us today: (+61) 1300 79 70 40.