With most jobs, you are provided statutory sick pay. You can still earn a living, even if you need time off following an injury at work or a sudden illness. However, if you are self-employed, whether as a freelancer or working in trades, you know that you – and only you – are responsible for your financial support. This stings, to say the least, especially if you’re in a situation where you’ve been unable to save. While it is not ideal, though, there are some things you can and must do to make sure you can find some stability, particularly if you do not know how long you will be out of action.
Let Your Clients Know
Experiencing an injury or coming down with an illness can happen at any time, and while speaking to your clients might not seem high on your priorities immediately, it’s still something you need to do. A quick email is usually enough, and you should fill this email with as much information as possible, including how long you expect to be out for.
But suppose you’re unable to speak to clients yourself. It can be useful to create a folder with all their information, which will make it easier for friends or family to share the information.
Look for Financial Support
Financial support for the self-employed is challenging. You’re expected to be so self-sufficient that you have enough money saved up. However, this is rarely the case. So you can look for financial support packages, whether through a union or the government.
This may not be as much as you are used to getting, but it can help prevent any severe financial issues that you might encounter from being out of work. If possible, you might be able to find side gigs to steady the ship until you can get back to work full time.
Obtain Representation
If you suffered an injury on a client’s property, then you may be entitled to compensation, especially if it has put you out of work for a long time. You can look for law firms familiar with serving the seriously injured since 1991 or even longer, as this ensures experience in the field.
Is it right to seek compensation against a client, though? Yes and no. you don’t want to affect your working relationship, but at the same time, you are owed some financial benefits if the accident was due to negligence on their part.
Getting Back to Work
Whether you need to be off for a day, a month, or even longer, you will no doubt be itching to get back to work, even if you spend most of your time complaining about it. When you feel physically and mentally ready to get back into it, send out an email or make a phone call to your clients and customers to let them know, they might have some work lined up for you so you can hit the ground running again. Likewise, you should make sure you inform the proper authorities, so you don’t accidentally continue to claim benefits even though you’re in top shape.
