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Potential client saw my UW profile and approached me on LinkedIn

2 points · submitted Jun 2024 by u/kreeef

Never had this happen before, got a message from a well known company on linkedin saying they saw my UW profile and asked if I'd like to work with them. They must have had to search quite a bit to find me as my linkedin profile is for my day job and my freelancing work is in a different field. Surely this is against ToS to offer a freelancer off platform work even though they didn't make contact with me on UW?

19 comments · 75% upvoted · other discussions

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TheUnknownNut22 11 points · Jun 2024

This is going overboard, is it not? You are not contracting with this company through UpWork, nor have you. How they found you is their business and UpWork does not own you.

kreeef [OP] 3 points · Jun 2024

It would have been ok if they hadn't mentioned how they found me, but the way UpWork is cracking down on freelancers makes me not want to do anything that would get me kicked off the platform. I make a couple thousand dollars every month on UpWork and if I get my account suspended I'll be totally screwed.

TheUnknownNut22 3 points · Jun 2024

I hear you but aren't you giving UpWork way too much power? How on earth are they going to find out? They can't and it's none of their business. There are zero interactions between you and this company on their platform. I don't think it's unethical at all.

kreeef [OP] 2 points · Jun 2024

I just wanted to find out if anyone else has seen this before, and what they did if they had a similar situation. I can't afford to lose my UpWork profile so I won't take them up on this offer, but thought it quite strange as I've never been contacted off platform before.

TheUnknownNut22 2 points · Jun 2024

I hear you. It's always better to be safe. But I really do think you are giving UpWork more power than it actually has.

gatopipo 0 points · Jun 2024

Well, the problem is, if something goes wrong and the client is problematic, they can report you to Upwork and your profile is gone.

I would tell the client the circumstances and try to take them to Upwork.

[deleted] 6 points · Jun 2024

Only an idiot would tell you to tell the client to contact you through shitwork only

OsirusBrisbane 3 points · Jun 2024

I empathize, OP -- I've had many clients contact me on Upwork and then try to hire me off the platform, but I've been incredibly meticulous about following Upwork's ToS and keeping everything on platform, even though it has cost me clients.

On one hand I sort of regret it since I feel like Upwork has repaid my loyalty with tons of new fees and fewer invites. But on the other hand, I did agree to Upwork's ToS when I signed up, and feel bound to follow them -- especially since, like you, the bulk of my income is on the platform and it doesn't seem worth risking tens of thousands of dollars annually just to talk to one or two potential clients.

kreeef [OP] 2 points · Jun 2024

Yeah it is a weird feeling turning someone down, especially from such a large company.

gatopipo 1 points · Jun 2024

Don't reject them, tell them the problem and see if they would be willing to go to Upwork.

OsirusBrisbane 1 points · Jun 2024

I can't speak for OP, but I suspect that's what they did and that their experience was like mine -- client said, "we don't really want to pay Upwork's fees, so we're contracting off of Upwork, let's do that instead", I said, "I'm bound by their ToS which I've agreed to, any chance we could do this on the platform?", and then the client stopped responding.

NocturntsII 3 points · Jun 2024

Personally, I think it is a grey area. I have had a couple longer term jobs where the clients saw me on upwork, but contacted me via LinkedIn.

If I have never spoken to them on upwork, or they have never messaged me, then I reckon fair game.

Especially since the recent move towards a new money grab every day.

Pelangos 1 points · Jun 2024

You must be shaking!

kreeef [OP] 2 points · Jun 2024

I'm quaking in my little freelancer boots

[deleted] 1 points · Jun 2024

Just tell the client you conduct all business on Upwork for the benefits of protection for both yourself and the client and ease of communication, etc. They can hire you on Upwork if they so choose. It's you who takes the 10% hit so it shouldn't matter to them if you prefer it that way.

GigMistress -1 points · Jun 2024

Yes it is.

black_trans_activist 3 points · Jun 2024

This is kind of annoying when it happens.

Alot of clients just go to Upwork purely to find talent and then reach out directly on LinkedIn.

Some have the self awareness to know its against the rules and some dont.

And the only reason it becomes against TOS, is when they actually inform you.

runner5126 -6 points · Jun 2024

It is against TOS for them to do that, and I would recommend you either don't respond or respond with "please reach out to me on Upwork as per Upwork's TOS." And leave it at that. Nothing more, regardless of their response. These guys always slip up, and you don't want to go down with their ship when they get in trouble.

Pet-ra -1 points · Jun 2024

Surely this is against ToS

It is.