NEW YORK - September 1, 2004 - As Labor Day fast approaches, New York's freelancers are speaking out " and voting on " the most freelancer-friendly companies. Though often overlooked, freelancers and other independent workers are estimated to number one million in New York City, and up to 30 million nationally.

Freelancers Union, a part of WORKING TODAY, the non-profit advocacy group providing a range of services and benefits for several thousand New York-based freelancers, recently completed a Web-based poll of its membership. Nearly 1,200 freelancers responded and cast votes for more than 200 companies, firms and organizations. Based on freelancers' ratings and responses, the Top Ten Companies To Freelance For In New York are:
1. AOL-Time Warner
2. BBC
3. Conde Nast Publications
4. HBO 5. MTV Networks
6. Ogilvy & Mather
7. The New York Times
8. Thirteen WNET
9. Time Inc.
10. Viacom

Freelancers Union conducted the poll as a means of assessing what employment issues were most important to freelancers, and to begin the process of establishing a core set of "best industry standards" for firms that utilize and rely on independent workers. Freelancers Union believes strongly that independent workers, who often fall outside of the traditional worker rights and safety guarantees afforded more traditional workers, need and deserve a set of fair industry practices and guidelines to protect them.

Fair and Timely Pay And Good Work Environment Matter Most

Freelancer respondents nominated and voted for their preferred employers, and then stated why, based on more than a dozen characteristics related to compensation, deadlines, work environment, supervision, feedback, access to staff and resources and contracts.

Pay was the most significant factor for freelancers. The top ten companies all scored highly on "pays in a timely fashion" and "pays at or above market rates." The top companies also tended to score highly on having a "friendly and professional work environment."

Said Sara Horowitz, Executive Director of Freelancers Union: "This is the first time any organization has set out to rate New York's top employers from a freelancer perspective. This one-million strong segment of our city's workforce is dynamic, fast growing and critical to the local economy. Yet in many ways it's a group that has fallen through the social safety net that salaried employees enjoy. Freelancers often find it difficult, if not impossible, to secure affordable health insurance, collect unemployment, fund pension programs, or even to get paid on-time and as agreed."

Added Ms. Horowitz: "These top companies deserve our recognition as trailblazers. They're helping set important new standards for the dignity, respect and fairness that independent workers deserve."

Ms. Horowitz also noted that many of New York's high-profile non-profit organizations were among the top vote-getters in the poll, ranking just shy of the top-ten. Some of these freelancer-friendly institutions include the Brooklyn Public Library, The Public Theater, Columbia University, New York University and the Ford Foundation.

Freelancing Is A Growing, Vital Segment of Labor Pool

The feedback from the 1,200 respondents also sheds new light on the demographical make-up of New York's growing independent workforce. For example:

* Freelancing is a choice: 54% of respondents said they freelance because they "enjoy the lifestyle," while 23% report that it's simply "the standard for their industry."
* Freelancers are very highly educated: 88% reported holding a college degree or graduate or professional degree.
* Freelancers are most prevalent in creative fields: The top three fields among respondents were film/television (16%); advertising (9%); and publishing (9%). The top three occupations were writer (10%); editor (8%); and designer (7%).
* Freelancers are politically engaged: 90% said they are registered voters.

More About Freelancers Union and WORKING TODAY

Freelancers Union is part of WORKING TODAY, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to address the needs of America's growing independent workforce through advocacy, information and service. Founded in 1995 by Sara Horowitz, a MacArthur "Genius" Award recipient, the group addresses the needs and concerns of freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees and the self-employed, who collectively make up about 30% of the nation's workforce.

In recent years, Freelancers Union has emerged as a key conduit and group-rate sponsor of affordable health, life and disability insurance for several thousand New York-based freelancers and independent workers. For example, qualifying New York freelancers can choose between two health coverage options that cost between $200 and $270 per month through Freelancers Union, compared with the average, open-market HMO premiums of more than $521 per month.

Based in Brooklyn, WORKING TODAY has received grants and other support from both the State and City of New York, as well as from leading foundations, including the Ford Foundation, J.P. Morgan Chase, the New York Community Trust, United Hospital Fund, the Rockefeller Family Fund and others.

In 2004, Working Today was named one of Fast Company's Top 20 Social Capitalist organizations.