Feeling betrayed after layoffs spree, more workers flock to freelance

“Initially when I got laid off, I found myself almost unhirable because of my salary requirements, because I had worked in smaller companies but was paid very well,” he said. “None of the big companies felt I had the experience they wanted, and no small companies felt like they could afford me.”

Not seeing an obvious path to a traditional work arrangement, he opted instead to take on freelance projects with a variety of companies, including large employers that would’ve never considered him for a full-time role. 

“I realized having lots of clients was more secure than having one employer, and I never looked back,” he said, explaining that since he’s gone to work for himself, he better prioritizes his personal needs, has more time to see friends and family, even takes better care of his health, including more regular visits to the doctor.

“It’s all at my pleasure now,” said Nate. “Life is good.”

Last year, one of the most buzzed-about trends was The Great Betrayal, defined by employees having grown to feel that workplace stability and employer loyalty are a fantasy, and that workers who bet on themselves and rent out their skills across a range of clients tend to be better off. 

A recent survey of 1,000 knowledge workers by the members-only product builders network A.Team found that those sentiments are becoming even more entrenched following the recent wave of layoffs, particularly at tech companies, leading many to go from merely complementing their full-time jobs with side gigs to ditching the staff job altogether. 

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