Not All Contractors Are Equal in the RTO Era

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A growing divide is emerging between fixed-term contractors and true freelancers. Fixed-term workers are often treated like temporary employees and expected to mirror office attendance policies. By contrast, independent freelancers operating under a Statement of Work are paid for outcomes, not hours, giving them stronger grounds to remain remote.

That said, leverage matters. As noted by Staffing Industry Analysts, contractors with niche expertise—such as AI, cybersecurity, or specialist legal knowledge—still hold negotiating power. For more commoditized roles, however, remote flexibility is disappearing, leaving some freelancers with the insecurity of contract work and the rigidity of office life.

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feels bad realizing geographic freedom isnt a default anymore, its something you have to earn now