How Bonuses Can Help You Hold on to Top Freelance Talent

Finding and retaining top talent is a challenge—one that extends beyond employees and includes freelance professionals, who can be a critical part of getting things done. By building positive relationships with the independent talent you work with, you help keep their trusted expertise at your fingertips.

One way to express your appreciation is to send an optional bonus to them on Upwork. Recognition and feedback are always valued; on Upwork, good client feedback and high ratings are essential for growing a business. By sending a bonus, you can go a step further and acknowledge exceptional work with a meaningful token of appreciation.

Let’s take a look at what a bonus is, why it can help build better relationships with independent talent, and how you can pay a bonus on the Upwork platform.

What is a bonus on Upwork?

Performance-based bonuses are often used to motivate and reward employees when they reach specific achievements or milestones. A bonus serves much the same purpose when you want to recognize and celebrate an independent professional.

People feel good when they know their contributions are appreciated!

Bonuses are completely optional on Upwork. And since there’s no required amount or percentage, the size of a bonus can vary by project, industry, or company budget. Practically speaking, you can also use the bonus feature to reimburse an independent professional for out-of-pocket expenses or to provide extra compensation if a project goes beyond scope. But, most of the time, bonuses aren’t discussed ahead of time and are rarely expected.

What are the benefits of paying a bonus?

To an independent professional, getting a bonus is a sign of a happy client and may encourage them to ensure there’s room in their schedule the next time you need support. Above all, a bonus says thank you for delivering high-quality work, adhering to tight timelines, going beyond expectations, and providing good service through flexibility, friendly collaboration, and effective communication.

By clearly describing why you’re giving a bonus payment, you can also underscore the qualities they’ve shown that are most important to you.

When thoughtfully considered, sending a bonus can help:

• Surprise and delight. Unexpected recognition can enhance relationships and encourage talent to work with you again in the future.
• Build lasting relationships. Acknowledging someone’s outstanding work with a bonus goes beyond a simple transaction and helps to establish a more meaningful and loyal connection over time.
• Show appreciation for top-notch work. Celebrating high-quality work helps set a benchmark for expectations and encourages consistency in future projects.
• Create a positive feedback loop. Choosing to send a bonus of any amount helps establish a feedback loop where professionals feel valued and rewarded.
• Boost morale and motivation. Encourage the professionals you work with to keep up the good work! A bonus is a meaningful way to highlight intangible skills that make working relationships better, such as communication, cooperation, adaptability, and reliability.

Whatever your inspiration may be, a bonus contributes to a positive environment that can have a lasting impact.

How to send a bonus on the Upwork platform

On Upwork, you can choose to send a bonus at any time. In some cases, you can add a bonus when you make a payment, such as at a milestone or when a project is completed. You can also send a bonus to an independent professional within 365 days of the end of a contract.

Keep in mind a few important things:

• Fees still apply. Bonuses are subject to Upwork’s freelancer service fees, just like other payments.
• Bonuses are completely optional. Whether to give a bonus, the amount you give, and when to give it are up to you.
• Bonuses can’t be tied to specific requirements. For independent professionals, a bonus can’t be tied to requirements such as hours of work or company performance. It should only express your appreciation for their great work.
• Bonuses are separate from other project-related payments. Unlike hourly and fixed-price payments, optional bonuses are not covered by Upwork’s payment protection. A bonus payment also can’t be used in place of a minimum hourly or fixed-price payment.

Recognizing good work helps strengthen relationships

When an independent professional has a positive impact on your business, it’s important to let them know. On Upwork, you can celebrate a successful project with a five-star review, stellar review feedback comments, an optional bonus payment, or all three. Sending someone a bonus is a way to emphasize that you value their work and their professionalism, a move that can set the tone for a stronger working relationship in the future.

Learn more about how to pay a bonus on Upwork.