When your parenthood is used to reduce your rate.

In this episode, Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland have a chat in response to a question from Anonymous, AKA Lotus Vanreisel.

Lotus says:

“Hello freelance friends!

I’d like your opinion on an email I’ve received from one of my longest and most favourite clients…

After months of no work and no contact, she asked me last month if I have any availability in the next few weeks. I said ‘yes’ and also told her that my rates had gone up since we last spoke.

Here is her reply:

“So I’d love to be able to put some work your way but the hourly rate is a bit high — is there any flexibility? I know you don’t really do full days because of your daughter. Let me know.”

This irritates me no end as it implies I should charge less because wI have childcare duties. (I also know she worked part-time and didn’t earn much when her kids were younger.)
How do you handle situations like these?

I’ll also add that another long-standing client just asked me for a lot of work over the next couple of months, so while I could fit her in, I don’t have an awful lot of availability.

Would love your thoughts.

Thanks, Lotus”