Upwork collaborated with portable benefits service Catch on Monday (Jan. 10) to give independent employees with Upwork accounts access to healthcare benefits and personal payroll.

According to a recent Upwork study, 36 percent of the whole US workforce freelanced in 2021. Catch provides access to personal payroll for freelancers, contractors, and other independent workers in the United States, including health insurance, automated tax withholding, payments from multiple income streams, savings accounts, and retirement investment options.

In a joint announcement, Sam Bright, Upwork’s chief product and experience officer, said, “This cooperation between Upwork and Catch is in service of enabling freelancers to perform the work they love without worrying about the complexity of protecting their perks and finances.” “We hope to encourage highly trained workers to stay laser-focused on their professions and business possibilities through Catch and our other talent offering relationships.”

On Catch, freelancers may easily browse for, apply for, and renew health insurance, as well as receive free tax withholding and payments for their independent (1099) income.

“Upwork freelancers are leading the new world of work, and we’re here to provide them with the benefits they need to succeed,” Kristen Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Catch, stated. “Catch is the only personal payroll platform that allows freelancers to access benefits that they would normally earn from an employer.”

“We’re excited to help the hundreds of thousands of Upwork professionals who proudly choose to be self-employed.”

Upwork Is Working To Make Cross-Border Gig Economy Payments Easier

In November, Michelle Swiec, Upwork’s senior director of global payment operations, told PYMNTS that the work-from-home revolution has opened up gig-based labour to more firms and people.

“Freelancing has a symbiotic relationship with remote work and the hybrid workforce,” Swiec added.

“All types of flexibility and control for freelancers and allowed them to seek greater economic opportunity through freelancing as a legitimate career path,” she added, citing the rise of remote and hybrid workforces, as well as businesses’ familiarity with the new setups.

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