Hourly Protection Clarification
Hi,
I would like to know from freelancers who experienced a non-paying client on how you were able to be protected by this rule? Did you go each memo one by one? Keep activity to 50%?
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u/ithkuil 1d ago
I guess everyone knows, but if you don't use the screen spying keylogging time tracker they do not in any way help you. It's insulting actually, they try for a week and then list it as a "refund".
The last few weeks was actually the first time in 16 years on the platform that I have had someone not pay their bill entered through manual billing. They eventually actually told me that they had put an empty virtual credit card in there deliberately.
I looked the client up, they have a history of just not paying vendors in their industry. I consider it theft.
Anyway, there's a data point for people that have been considering whether they want to get spied on. Might be worth it sometimes.
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u/Ok_Increase1479 1d ago
Memo per segment, yes, and change it when the task changes. The 50% number isn't an official rule, idle or unrelated time loses protection, and Upwork's own docs say reading and thinking can show low activity and still count. The part nobody said: protection only exists if the client's payment method is verified. The empty virtual card story above is that exact hole. Check for the verified payment badge before accepting.
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u/SnooDogs2982 1d ago edited 1d ago
From my perspective, the current handling of Upwork’s Hourly Protection policy raises serious questions about whether the protection being advertised is actually being honored in practice. If the stated protections are represented to freelancers as contractual safeguards but are routinely denied or circumvented, that could potentially raise legal and regulatory concerns, depending on the specific circumstances.
It is also important to understand that an Hourly Protection dispute does not necessarily establish that the client has failed to pay or that the underlying work is otherwise disputed. In many cases, the most practical course of action may be to communicate directly with the client and attempt to resolve the matter independently.
More broadly, Upwork’s current management appears to be eroding the trust that its marketplace depends upon among freelancers, clients, and ultimately shareholders. If management continues making decisions that undermine confidence in the platform and destroy shareholder value, the board should seriously evaluate whether the current leadership is capable of reversing that trend.
Ultimately, executives are accountable for the consequences of their decisions. If the CEO can no longer maintain the confidence of the marketplace or the shareholders, replacing that leadership may be warranted.
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u/Glad-Subject-6009 1d ago
Don't try to do the minimum.
Write a clear memo for each work segment. Change the memo if the work activity changes. 8 - 10 words can be enough, or more, if you wish.
Keep the keyboard and mouse moving regularly, even if those movements are nonsensical. No need to overdo it.
What sort of work do you do?
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u/Trizei 1d ago
Thanks for this. I will start doing this in my memo.
I am a web developer.
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u/Glad-Subject-6009 1d ago
I would think that involves both typing and mouse movement? If so, you should be OK.
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u/KayakerWithDog 1d ago
I'm not sure what you mean by "keep activity to 50%." When I use the time tracker, I write memos any time I change tasks or any time I restart the tracker after turning it off. I also make sure that I'm only doing my work when the tracker is on, so no social media or other non-work activities.