Have to be a bit vague about my job but basically I offer a freelance service and have been doing it for years and am v well respected in my field
One service I do for a client always gets paid a flat rate - sometimes it involves loads of work, sometimes v little. However today they called me asking me to do this for them at v short notice. I said fine, at my usual rate. They called back and said no, it'll involve less work than usual we'll pay you 40 per cent less than we normally do. I said absolutely not you'll have to find someone else to do the job and that was the end of the conversation.
I am now wondering what to do. I know this company is violently costcutting and making people redundant but I feel to just accept a 40 per cent pay cut is to set a very dodgy precedent.
OTOH of course I'm worried these people will now never ask me to work for them again as they'll think I'm too expensive. Are other people experiencing this kind of thing? They are not my main employers but I do usually enjoy working for them and want to keep communciations open. Is it worth getting in touch and saying, look, I realise you're cutting back but I was a bit shocked to have the price drop so dramatically or do I just go and look for work elsewhere? Thanks.