Upwork Inc..
UPWK.US | Activities of employment placement agencies
Upwork Inc. operates an online platform that connects businesses with independent professionals and agencies. The platform enables companies to find, hire, and work with freelancers for various projects, including web development, writing, graphic design, and administrative support. Upwork facilitat...Show More
Better Health for All
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The company's core products and services, which involve connecting businesses with independent professionals, are assessed as having no significant direct positive or negative health impact. However, the freelancing model facilitated by the company contributes to social isolation, which is linked to negative health externalities such as increased risk of burnout, mental health challenges, chronic stress, weakened immune system, and depression.
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While the company's 2023 Impact Report mentions $1.27 million in donations to nonprofits and $50,000 in loans through the Upwork Foundation, reaching 56,000 beneficiaries and training 1,400 people for work, these initiatives are not explicitly linked to mitigating the mental health impacts of social isolation on freelancers.
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Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
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Upwork charges a variable service fee of 0-15% per contract for freelancers, a client marketplace fee of up to 7.99% (3% for US clients), and $0.15 per 'Connect' to bid on projects.
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New freelancers can expect an effective fee rate of 22-25% including all costs, while established freelancers pay 5% on repeat work.
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The company also charges a contract-to-hire conversion fee of $2,999 or 15% of 12-month earnings if a client hires an Upwork freelancer outside the platform within 24 months.
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Upwork deletes identity verification images after 30 days and encrypts sensitive information using SSL/TLS, complying with GDPR.
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The exact service fee percentage is shown before a freelancer accepts a contract.
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Basic financial information is available through a free rate calculator to help freelancers determine how much to charge after fees.
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The article emphasizes understanding the new variable fee system and provides examples to calculate earnings, suggesting a need for advanced high school level reading to fully grasp the terms.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
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In fiscal year 2024, Upwork's CEO to median employee pay ratio was 43:1.
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Employee surveys indicate that 73% of employees report being paid fairly.
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The company's implied annual turnover rate is 27.3%.
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Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
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No evidence available to assess Upwork Inc. on Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing.
Honest & Fair Business
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No evidence available to assess Upwork Inc. on Honest & Fair Business.
Kind to Animals
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Upwork Inc. operates as an online platform connecting businesses with freelancers, generating revenue through service fees. Its business model does not involve animal testing, animal agriculture, the use of animal-derived ingredients, or direct impact on wildlife habitats. Therefore, all KPIs related to these activities are not applicable to the company's direct operations. While the platform facilitates work for freelancers with animal welfare skills, including those who have worked for animal sanctuaries, this does not reflect Upwork's direct engagement in animal-related operations or policy.
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No War, No Weapons
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No evidence available to assess Upwork Inc. on No War, No Weapons.
Planet-Friendly Business
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Upwork's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions for 2024 were 9,453.22 tCO₂e, comprising 0 tCO₂e for Scope 1, 11.10 tCO₂e for Scope 2 (market-based), and 9,442.12 tCO₂e for Scope 3.
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The company achieved carbon neutrality in 2019 and pledged to maintain it.
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For 2024, Upwork purchased 858 Renewable Energy Credits (MWhs) to match its total non-renewable electricity use of 858 MWh (684 MWh office + 174 MWh remote work).
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Carbon offsets purchased were verified to meet quality criteria parameters in accordance with the WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol.
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The company reported 100% e-waste recycling, amounting to 1,000 pounds in 2024, but did not specify a total waste diversion rate.
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Upwork reported no environmental compliance violations. The company reports in alignment with TCFD recommendations but has not conducted climate scenario analysis.
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Water use in 2024 was less than 200,000 gallons, with revenue of $769.3 million.
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Respect for Cultures & Communities
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No evidence available to assess Upwork Inc. on Respect for Cultures & Communities.
Safe & Smart Tech
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No specific, concrete evidence was found across the provided articles to assess Upwork Inc. against any of the 'Safe & Smart Tech' KPIs. The articles either explicitly stated a lack of relevant data, were inaccessible (404 errors), or focused solely on operational uptime and service disruptions rather than data protection, cybersecurity, or AI ethics.
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Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
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No evidence available to assess Upwork Inc. on Zero Waste & Sustainable Products.