Improve your employer brand with better freelancer benefits.

Companies put a lot of effort into building their culture, and for good reason. A strong culture strengthens your brand identity, drives performance, and improves collaboration and morale. In fact, 88% of job seekers say a healthy work culture is important to their success. More than 8 in 10 employees also say a positive work culture makes them more likely to recommend their company to others. One factor that plays a significant role in supporting your culture is the freelance benefits you offer—or don’t offer—to your teams.

Many freelancers don’t receive benefits unless they’re W-2 employees through a staffing firm. Without those benefits, there can be a disconnect between how full-time employees feel about their work environment and how freelancers experience it. Understanding that gap—and how to bridge it—can help you protect the culture you’ve worked so hard to create.

How benefits for freelancers reinforce your culture 

July 8, 2025

How to stand out to freelancers who care about more than pay.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership & Management, Retention Strategies, Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

By Nicki Howell, Sharrell Jones-Young

Access to contractor benefits helps send a clear message to your talent that freelancers aren’t second-class team members; they’re an important part of your team. And when those benefits are high quality, freelancers feel valued, and that feeling carries over to your brand and culture.

For example, here at Aquent, our CEO and the freelancers we employ have the exact same benefits. We don’t draw lines around who gets what benefits. The same medical plans, dental plans, and retirement plans are available to all our employees, showing our commitment to offering multiple options that fit their lifestyle.

When you work with a staffing agency that takes this kind of approach, it shows your commitment to care. It also acknowledges that the challenges freelancers face around benefits are real. For example, nearly half of freelancers say that freelance work has negatively impacted their ability to access health insurance.

From paid sick time to easy access to 401(k) plans, the fine print of those contractor benefits packages reinforces what your company stands for, such as inclusion, employee support, and shared success.

Avoiding the two-tier system with freelance benefits

You’ve likely spent time carefully nurturing your company culture, and the last thing you want is two people on the same team, doing the same work, but having completely different experiences. For example, a full-time employee might get a call from their child’s school asking them to pick them up early due to illness. They step away, use their paid time off, and return once their child is better.

June 26, 2025

Freelancing with benefits: What to know when your gig ends. 

Career Advice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Retention Strategies, Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

By Nicki Howell, Sharrell Jones-Young

A freelancer without access to staffing agency benefits like sick time faces a much different situation. They may feel stressed, take the day unpaid, and rush to get back to work to avoid the financial impact of time off. Both experiences reflect your company’s values, even if the second one doesn’t involve a full-time employee. Offering equitable benefits helps close that gap.

An inclusive benefits design can help you build a more cohesive culture by offering things like:

• Paid sick leave for all freelancers, even in states where it's not legally required.
• Fertility and family planning options that support all types of families.
• Access to autism support services, such as applied behavior analysis therapy.
• Mental health coverage and support resources.

When your freelancers have access to benefits similar to those of your full-time team, it shows that you value people as individuals and are willing to invest in them by partnering with a staffing agency that cares about their needs. As a result, that sense of care shows up in your freelancers’ work, their attitudes, and how they represent your company.

How staffing agencies support inclusive freelance benefits 

Offering freelance benefits that support your culture doesn’t have to add complexity to your contract teams. Staffing agencies that serve as the employer of record take on the administrative tasks, such as payroll and benefits management, so your teams can stay focused on their core work. You also gain access to vetted talent, a smoother onboarding process, and a scalable way to support freelancers in alignment with your existing culture.

Staffing agencies can also help you build specialized teams quickly. With access to large talent databases, they can identify and onboard freelancers with the exact skills you need while helping maintain the culture you’ve already worked hard to create.

Aligning your culture, values, and freelance strategy 

For companies aiming for future revenue growth, maintaining their company culture will become increasingly important. According to Gallup, companies that prioritized their culture experienced a 44% increase in revenue. What’s more, satisfied employees are on average 12% more productive than the typical worker. So preserving your culture is important not just for your full-time team but also for your freelancers, who can have a ripple effect on the rest of your employees through their satisfaction and how they feel about their work environment.

When you offer contractor benefits through your staffing agency, something freelancers often struggle to access on their own, you’re able to support happier freelancers and, indirectly, their entire teams. You’re also sending a clear message about who you are, what you value, and the care you show for those who contribute to your company’s ongoing success.

Want to dig deeper into how freelance benefits can support your talent? Check out these 7 questions to ask a staffing agency about their benefits offerings. 

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