Impact on family
There are quite a lot of self-employed people in the UK – more than 130,000 people started working on their own in the last year. They account for some 15% of the total UK workforce. Many leave their traditional jobs with the idea of gaining greater control and flexibility in their working life. They want to choose their own working hours or be able to fulfil their parental responsibilities.
And indeed, over a third of self-employed people really can spend more time with their families. Self-employment is one possible way of achieving a rewarding career, with enough time for one's family. Support, both practical and financial, may encourage more people to become self-employed. And this is probably true not only in the UK.
Nearly 20% of people living with a self-employed person in a shared household claim the situation is not so bright: they have more financial worries than they had with the usual traditional job; furthermore, the self-employed family member is always on call for work. These shortcomings are cited in an article on the bmmagazine.co.uk website.
Barriers: financial insecurity and lack of support
A considerable number of people want to be their own boss; however, plans on how to do this are less common. Financial security is much better with a permanent job, which also offers parental leave and sick pay.
Many claim that with better financial support from the government, they would give it a try and become self-employed. And there is a demand for practical support:
- Online forums
- Local entrepreneur networks
- Guidance offered by the government
-jk-