Asked in Employment Law for Florida

Q: Worked for a Florida company as a "freelancer" for years, got suddenly "fired", what can I do?

For over 4 years I worked from abroad for a Florida company (the owners are from my home country, where I live). They call it freelance work but it's actually been 4 years of steady work everyday, every month. Now a client of theirs suddenly ended a contract with them and the company no longer needs my services (along with other peoples'). We had less than a week notice. We never had paid vacations, sick days, etc. Is there anything I can do?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
Answered
  • Freeeport, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: It appears that as a "freelancer", you are an independent contractor. Assuming you don't have a written contract giving you some rights in this situation, there appears that there is nothing you can do. Since you worked from abroad, the U.S. laws (Florida in particular) giving you rights as an employee (as opposed to an independent contractor) don't apply; but you might check to see if any laws in your own country might apply.

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