In response to this very real—and disturbingly common—risk, the New York City Council enacted the Freelance Isn’t Free Act in 2017. The law, which provides multiple rights and protections to freelancers, is primarily aimed at reducing non-payment, delayed payment, and partial payment, and protection from retaliation.
Any individual who is hired as an independent contractor to provide services in exchange for compensation is considered to be a freelance worker under the Freelance Isn’t Free Act. The person or entity hiring the freelancer can be any individual or business that is not a government entity.