Upwork’s mission is to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. Key to our mission is that these opportunities should be equally available to all qualified users. For this reason, Upwork does not, and we do not permit users of our platform to unlawfully discriminate against or harass any member of our community, based on nationality, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, or other similarly protected characteristics.
Our community deserves to be respected and feel included, regardless of their backgrounds or personal characteristics. Members should strive to ensure that all others feel welcome and respected. We do not permit any language or conduct that is illegal, threatening, prejudiced, hateful, or unlawfully discriminatory or harassing.
In addition, Upwork itself does not discriminate against any person on any unlawful basis. Qualified freelancers and clients alike are welcomed in our community without regard to protected characteristics, and opportunities on our platform are facilitated in a manner designed to reduce possible unlawful bias or prejudice.
We expect all clients and freelancers to comply at all times with laws concerning discrimination and harassment. Users may not unlawfully discriminate or harass:
- When communicating with other Upwork users
- When outlining eligibility or requirements on job posts
- When inviting freelancers to submit proposals
- When interviewing and selecting freelancers
- When negotiating payment and other contract terms
- When leaving feedback for users upon conclusion of the project
- When otherwise working with other users
Clients and freelancers are free to decide on any lawful basis which freelancers or clients they would like to work with and which projects to post or accept. For example, clients may decline a proposal if they determine the freelancer does not have the needed skills. Likewise, freelancers may decline projects if they consider the budget too low or the description of the project too vague.
