| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you keep regular "office hours" for your translation work? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you keep regular "office hours" for your translation work?".
View the poll results »
| | | | Ty Kendall 
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:04
Hebrew to English
| Who's asking? | Jul 17, 2012 |
?
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:04
Spanish to English
+ ...
Er... LOL?
No seriously, my hours are as regular as you like. I claim to provide a service 24-7, 365 days a year. Nobody has ever really put it to the test, although I have been sent jobs on the 24th and 31st of December on occasion...
| | | | | What does it matter who's asking? | Jul 17, 2012 |
The question and the answers and the format are the same whether the asker is anonymous or not - and what possible harm can it do anyone to divulge this kind of information anonymously anyway? Sorry, I just don't get this paranoia!
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| It's ok by me to ask this question! | Jul 17, 2012 |
The thing about this life, as we know, is its level of isolation.
I WANT to know how other people manage things, even - no, not even - ESPECIALLY the details, where as we all know, the devil resides.
Me, I work early mornings and late at night when the kids are on holiday, and those times plus during the day as well when they're in school. i.e. whenever I can.
I dream of working office hours, but this will only be possible when the children are all grown ... See more The thing about this life, as we know, is its level of isolation.
I WANT to know how other people manage things, even - no, not even - ESPECIALLY the details, where as we all know, the devil resides.
Me, I work early mornings and late at night when the kids are on holiday, and those times plus during the day as well when they're in school. i.e. whenever I can.
I dream of working office hours, but this will only be possible when the children are all grown up, but for now, I'm happy. As long as I've got a tiny bit of work on the horizon.......
Does ANYONE manage office hours? Is it possible in this industry?
Heatwave here in Portugal at the moment ▲ Collapse
| | | | | No! I don't manage office hours! | Jul 17, 2012 |
Being a freelancer means having complete freedom on where and when you work and not being stuck in an office all day!
| | | | Steve Derry
Spain
Local time: 10:04
German to English
+ ...
.. but that's one of the many advantages of working freelance.
And Chris S, I totally agree with your comment. It's a perfectly harmless question and what does it matter who's asking?
And as I'm not tied to the office, I'm now off for a coffee by the sea with my laptop (although technically in office hours).
| | | | Samantha Payn
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:04
Member (2008)
Russian to English
+ ...
Like Teresa, I enjoy the benefits of a freelance existence (days off during the week, or time off during the day for an activity at that time) as well as the drawbacks (working at weekends, and in the evenings, when required).
The irregular hours suit me very well (usually!).
(Oh, and by the way, I also think that if anyone finds the questions intrusive or disturbing, they need not answer them).
[Edited at 2012-... See more Like Teresa, I enjoy the benefits of a freelance existence (days off during the week, or time off during the day for an activity at that time) as well as the drawbacks (working at weekends, and in the evenings, when required).
The irregular hours suit me very well (usually!).
(Oh, and by the way, I also think that if anyone finds the questions intrusive or disturbing, they need not answer them).
[Edited at 2012-07-17 09:11 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Alison Sparks (X)
Local time: 10:04
French to English
+ ...
Just depends on what else is going on in my life. As others have said it's one of the advantages of being a freelancer
Besides, some days I work better in the mornings, others I get more done in the afternoon or evenings. It depends on how well I've slept!
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:04
Hebrew to English
| Coz I like to see who I'm talking to | Jul 17, 2012 |
Chris S wrote:
The question and the answers and the format are the same whether the asker is anonymous or not - and what possible harm can it do anyone to divulge this kind of information anonymously anyway? Sorry, I just don't get this paranoia!
Admittedly, this poll is more innocuous than the previous THREE have been, but the fact they have all been anonymous is somewhat strange.
And if you think handing over sensitive finanacial information incrementally is harmless, well I disagree.
It may seem harmless if you look at it in isolation, but that's just ignoring the bigger picture and the string of other strange anonymous polls (mostly asking about financial details).
Where I come from, asking about money is still a bit taboo, a bit personal. So I'm surprised to be constantly asked how I'm doing financially, how I expect to do in the next 6 months, how better/worse have my finances been since last year. I feel like I'm filling out a profit/loss statement, not answering a few polls.
I'm not saying you can't answer, feel free.....
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We trade as a limited company, so anybody can find out what we turn over and what we earn by going to Companies House (and of course nobody will because nobody actually cares). Perhaps that's why I'm not bothered about disclosing this kind of info.
I just can't see what harm this info can do given that it is anonymous and aggregated. Who do you think could possibly benefit from knowing whether a small bunch of freelance translators expect to earn more or less in a particular period?... See more We trade as a limited company, so anybody can find out what we turn over and what we earn by going to Companies House (and of course nobody will because nobody actually cares). Perhaps that's why I'm not bothered about disclosing this kind of info.
I just can't see what harm this info can do given that it is anonymous and aggregated. Who do you think could possibly benefit from knowing whether a small bunch of freelance translators expect to earn more or less in a particular period? Double-glazing companies? The CIA? Surely these polls are just a bit of fun...
PS I can't for the life of me understand your fears, so I am genuinely interested in your reasons for them!
[Edited at 2012-07-17 10:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 10:04
Spanish to English
+ ...
No, I gave up that concept years ago.
I probably verge on Neilmac's 24/7 365 but I do balance everything and make sure there's time for important family or other interesting activities.
In addition to working full time, I've also been studying full time since last October and managed to pass 4 out of my 5 classes this past semester. (Yeah for me!). It's all part of the balancing act of being a freelancer.
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 10:04
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Teresa Borges wrote:
Being a freelancer means having complete freedom on where and when you work and not being stuck in an office all day!
Exactly!
I work when I have work, and I don't translate when there's no current translation job. Instead I enjoy life and/or work on my other career. In the end, it's usually well-balanced.
| | | | | Pretty much the same | Jul 17, 2012 |
My hours are pretty much the same as everyone else's - work when there's work, work around kids' schedules, etc. Weekends can be work days, depending on the project. My husband is a teacher so he often works in the evenings and on weekends during the school year, but is off during the summer, so I try to work more in the summer if I can. I like the irregularity for the most part - as long as I'm busy! Otherwise, client time zones make it useful for me to be up early, but generally allow me to qu... See more My hours are pretty much the same as everyone else's - work when there's work, work around kids' schedules, etc. Weekends can be work days, depending on the project. My husband is a teacher so he often works in the evenings and on weekends during the school year, but is off during the summer, so I try to work more in the summer if I can. I like the irregularity for the most part - as long as I'm busy! Otherwise, client time zones make it useful for me to be up early, but generally allow me to quit in the late afternoon/early evening - unless work level dictates that I pick up again after dinner. Not many calls or e-mails after lunch. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:04
Hebrew to English
| @ Chris S - Not about fear | Jul 17, 2012 |
Chris S wrote:
PS I can't for the life of me understand your fears, so I am genuinely interested in your reasons for them!
[Edited at 2012-07-17 10:00 GMT]
I'm not afraid, it's not about fear. It's about transparency more than anything.
Like I said, it's nice to know who's asking, especially when it's a more sensitive or personal question. I wouldn't have an in-depth earnings discussion with my close friends (or at least not an honest one), so I'm not particularly enamoured of entering into one here, that's all.
Maybe it's because I'm not a limited company, so my finances are well....mine and more personal.
I also have in mind that these polls and their discussions are in the public domain, and my competitors have access to it. Another thing that lingers in the back of my mind. You may be right, and maybe nobody (except for Her Majesty's taxman) gives a hoot about my finances, but I'd rather hedge my bets.
Besides, we've all seen those members of this site who constantly brag about how their earnings reach triple figures and how they are buying a new Lexus next month and how their swimming pool is lined with gold (well, that one is made up)...but really, is there anything more neauseating?
I just prefer to keep things closer to my chest where $ is concerned, and I just see what has been an unusually long run on borderline personal financial anonymous questions as a bit improper (and as I said in yesterday's poll - when I feel like the data I am helping to compile might be sold on to some marketing company - because let's face it - websites do that all the time and ProZ is a business who already makes a mint out of advertising alone, so I'd hardly be floored if it came out they were selling some data from these polls - which if it were the case I'm fine with it - just give me discounted membership or a cut if you want me to contribute to the data ).
In short, much of my life is online, there's actually not much that isn't. I just want something of me to remain private and I think it's appropriate that it's my finances.
[Edited at 2012-07-17 11:36 GMT]
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