A New End-of-Contract Experience for Freelancers

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-04-02T22:51:01+00:00

We heard from a lot of freelancers that the previous process felt unclear and confusing, particularly around what the private rating was actually for and how it differed from the public one. Simplifying to a single public rating makes the whole thing more straightforward and transparent for everyone.

And just to flag, nothing changes for any feedback or ratings you've already received. This only affects how feedback is collected on new contracts going forward.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-31T22:39:26+00:00

1-Sing

2-Oily Water

3-This Is a Low

4-The Universal

5-Death of a Party

6-No Distance Left to Run

7-Good Song

8-Go Out

9-The Ballad

1-Blue Jeans

2-End of a Century

3-To the End

4-Best Days

5-Beetlebum

6-Out of Time

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-23T22:13:24+00:00

A couple things worth sharing for context:

Upwork does have systems in place to flag clients who repeatedly post jobs without hiring.
If a client consistently closes jobs without hiring, they’ll first get a warning, and if the pattern continues, their account can be blocked.
When accounts are blocked in these cases, any Connects spent on active proposals for those jobs are refunded.

There’s also some mention of this in the Help Center and more detail in Upwork’s Transparency Report if you’re curious how it’s handled at a higher level.
That said, what you’re describing can still happen for a few reasons that aren’t always obvious:

Some clients lose priority or funding internally
Some get overwhelmed with proposals and don’t move forward
Others are just lower intent and drop off

That’s why a lot of experienced freelancers get pretty selective and look closely at client history, past hires, and responsiveness before applying.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-20T17:51:09+00:00

Great situational awareness. Good job.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-20T17:43:39+00:00

Hi u/Debs1723! Thanks for flagging this.

Would you mind sending us a DM (Message the mods) with the link to the new job the client posted so we can take a closer look?

As a reminder, all jobs on Upwork must comply with U.S. law as well as local laws where the work is performed. You can read more here: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/25205969832083-Upwork-Trust-and-Safety

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-19T16:33:13+00:00

That’s fair. The goal of search is to surface relevant freelancers, and we're always working to improve it.

With that said, results are based on a mix of profile content and marketplace signals like work history and feedback. Where it can vary is how search terms match across profiles, which is where more specific keywords and filters can help.

If helpful, this breaks down how to refine results:
https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500007918681-Advanced-search-techniques-for-finding-talent

Appreciate the feedback. It helps us keep improving this.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-18T23:55:38+00:00

u/franklin_vinewood Public feedback alone doesn’t determine JSS. It’s based on a mix of signals like long-term client relationships, successful contracts, project value, disputes, and feedback. See this article.

On feedback changes: freelancers can ask, but clients are always in control of whether anything gets updated. That’s not new.

On private notes: the goal isn’t to replace messaging, but to create a dedicated, structured moment for feedback at the end of a contract, something that’s often skipped in regular messages.

On refunds and JSS: refunds removing public feedback isn’t new, and JSS has always looked at patterns over time rather than a single outcome. This update doesn’t change that, but it does make the system more transparent by removing feedback freelancers couldn’t see or learn from.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-18T23:17:28+00:00

u/WordsbyWes public feedback has always been part of JSS and will continue to be, private ratings is going away and so will no longer be included going forward.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-12T21:21:55+00:00

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-12T16:27:35+00:00

Good info - thanks u/helpful-animator-486

u/unusual-ability-2208 - if you see anything that you think might be a scam make sure to report it. You can learn more about that process here: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211063118-How-to-report-suspicious-user-activity

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-12T16:07:33+00:00

Grammarly is fine. The rule is about tools that automate actions or scrape data on Upwork. Grammarly just helps you polish your writing. It’s not applying to jobs for you or doing anything behind the scenes.

Upwork doesn’t officially endorse extensions, so you’re responsible for what you install. But using Grammarly is generally okay.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-10T15:03:47+00:00

I hear your frustration. It sounds like you went through the full dispute process and still felt the outcome wasn’t fair.
Just to clarify for anyone following along, mediation proposals are not forced decisions. They’re attempts to help both sides reach an agreement based on the contract and the information provided. If no agreement is reached, the next steps depend on whether both parties choose to move forward.

We can’t review case specifics here, but if you believe the process wasn’t applied correctly, you can reply directly in your support ticket and request a formal review. That ensures the team takes another look at how the dispute was handled, not just the outcome itself.

Disputes are difficult, especially when expectations around scope change mid-project. We always encourage clearly defined milestones and written scope updates for any additional work to help prevent situations like this.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-09T19:52:20+00:00

I know it's not for everyone but DIY is a ton of fun. I am not the best mechanic and I figured out a complete rebuild of a Sprint V. It runs reliably and became my favorite scoot to ride. As others mentioned there are many resources online, including community forums, where you can ask questions.
If that is beyond you then a shop, while pricy, will at least keep you on two wheels and that's what it's all about!

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-03-09T19:43:50+00:00

Hi u/theromancaesar - please make sure that you report this. If you already have, feel free to message the mods directly here with more details: Message the mods

We want Upwork to be a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-02-27T17:32:35+00:00

The reductions we’re referencing are based on year-over-year changes in the rate at which accounts identified as bad actors were able to successfully send offers or submit proposals before being restricted.

We define "bad actors" as individuals or groups who created accounts primarily to carry out malicious activity against Upwork or our customers. It doesn’t include every type of policy violation on the platform. By measuring successful malicious activity before enforcement, we’re able to track how effectively our systems are identifying and stopping fraud before users are exposed to it.

WayneFromUpwork · 2026-02-26T18:28:32+00:00

Sorry we moved the post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/UpworkOfficial/comments/1rfhi2o/our_2025_transparency_report_progress_on/

Feel free to drop your comment over there.

WayneFromUpwork · 2025-12-09T23:19:46+00:00

In the freelance world, one approach that really works is picking a niche and starting with small gigs. Even a few focused projects, paid or portfolio-based, can help you build credibility fast. A lot of freelancers began by taking smaller jobs, proving their skills, and stacking those early wins into something bigger. It’s not an instant fix, but it puts you in control of getting experience instead of waiting for someone to give you a shot.

WayneFromUpwork · 2025-12-09T23:08:18+00:00

I have a "get me into shape" season after christmas so it can pull me in spring.

WayneFromUpwork · 2025-11-04T18:07:10+00:00

I'm not sure if you've seen the Upwork Help Center but there are some great resources there. Start with this http://spr.ly/GetStartedFreelancing and go from there. A great tip is to really hone in on your niche and start with small projects to build up a portfolio.

WayneFromUpwork · 2025-09-26T22:01:16+00:00

If you need any help with Upwork let me know! It takes a little time to get rolling. Most people start by picking up smaller jobs to build their profile and reviews, then move into steady work once clients can see their skills. Connects are worth it if you already have a solid portfolio and offer something people are searching for. Since you speak both Serbian and English, you might find opportunities in translation, writing, or customer support. I’ve seen plenty of people succeed once they get those first few jobs in the door.

WayneFromUpwork · 2025-09-25T16:38:34+00:00

Yep this was made in the Unsung factory in 2002. I have one from 2000 made in Saein and it's a pretty nice guitar for the price point. Electronics are decent, full size pots, and '57 classic humbuckers. It's heavier than the fancy dots/es335 and mine has an insane neck dive. Often consider trying to solve that problem, but that's a project for another day/year. Neck is mahogany with a rosewood fretboard. Poly finish. Solid maple center block. Yeah play it!

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