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Poll: Do you have strict working hours? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you have strict working hours?".
This poll was originally submitted by Els Spin
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For m... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you have strict working hours?".
This poll was originally submitted by Els Spin
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
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Margreet Logmans (X) 
Netherlands
Local time: 01:34
English to Dutch
+ ...
| No, but I'm trying | May 5, 2008 |
I try to keep strict business hours, but I lack self-discipline. So I voted 'No'.
In general, I am glued to my computer for much too long.
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| Yes, absolutely!!... | May 5, 2008 |
...I work strictly most hours of the day.
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And I guess that's the advantage of working as a freelancer, or not? The possibility of organizing one's own time in such way that the translation deadline is met.
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An opportunity to introduce those of you who don't know it to this most useful of Spanish words - one word to express that longing, that yearning, that if it only that were possible....
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Jade Baksh (X)
Local time: 20:34
Portuguese to Spanish
+ ...
I am very indisciplined, I like what I do alot so I just keep on going and sometimes I loose track.
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jokerman
Germany
Local time: 01:34
Member (2008)
English to German
+ ...
and I consider it one of the main benefits of being a freelancer. I just love the fact that most of the time I have a certain freedom to decide myself when to start working or when to make a (shorter or longer) break or when to go for a coffee or for a few hours of tennis or whatsoever. I suppose I'd hate to have to show up in an office every morning at a same time. Furthermore, I don't mind at all working additional hours if the job hasn't been finished within a 'normal' shift. Neither do I min... See more and I consider it one of the main benefits of being a freelancer. I just love the fact that most of the time I have a certain freedom to decide myself when to start working or when to make a (shorter or longer) break or when to go for a coffee or for a few hours of tennis or whatsoever. I suppose I'd hate to have to show up in an office every morning at a same time. Furthermore, I don't mind at all working additional hours if the job hasn't been finished within a 'normal' shift. Neither do I mind occasional urgent job inquieries late in the evening or even at night. Basically, I consider being on stand-by 24/7 less limiting than strict working hours are. ▲ Collapse
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Marie-Josée Gravel (X)
Canada
Local time: 20:34
French to English
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I quit my last job so I wouldn't have to answer to anyone (except clients' needs and deadlines, obviously). I have a family and this works just great with my mother duties. If a kid is sick, I don't have to beg my boss for a day off, or to keep my pay intact until I can make up for the lost time.
It also means extra hours at night or on weekends, but I can't complain since I spend more time with my family and I can take longer breaks on sunny days!!
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Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:34
Flemish to English
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Impossible to have strict hours in the translation business.
Whoever enters it and wants to earn good money with translation should be available at all times and go the extra mile to be competitive.
Strict working hours : Possible with interpreting.
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Michael Boone
Spain
Local time: 01:34
Member (2007)
Spanish to English
No I definitely do not! I put a great deal of effort into this job because I like it so much, and so much depends on deadlines.
However, the upshot of all this, I believe, is that from time to time you can really suit yourself, really break out of the routine and really take some well-earned, worry-free, quality time off!
The thought of going back in an office... yeuch!!!!!! (no thank-you)
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Williamson wrote:
Impossible to have strict hours in the translation business.
Whoever enters it and wants to earn good money with translation should be available at all times and go the extra mile to be competitive.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're generalising.
I, for one, earn very handsomely, I'm definitely not available all the time, I keep to a strict routine (when I am working, but take regular breaks and go away for a couple of days) and I'm certainly not alone in this department.
As for it being 'impossible' to have strict hours, you can only mean that it's impossible for you.
Some people are more disciplined than others. Some prefer working the way I describe. It's a fact of life. There are no absolutes.
[Edited at 2008-05-05 16:51]
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Fabiana Zardo
Brazil
Local time: 20:34
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| In my case... | May 5, 2008 |
My case is a bit different. I have a 9 to 5 job and I also study, so my working hours = free time!
So, it's easy to find me working at 2:00 am on a Saturday...or Sunday, Thursday...lol
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| Interesting different interpretations! | May 5, 2008 |
There are those who think that not having strict working hours means being available 24/7 in order to grab every job going... and those who think it means having the flexibility to work as long as you want, when you want... and of course those who think it's a bit of both.
I'm in the "bit of both" camp, really. Like jokerman, I have no problem working a bit later (or getting up a bit earlier) if a deadline dictates it, but equally I love the freedom to take an afternoon or a couple ... See more There are those who think that not having strict working hours means being available 24/7 in order to grab every job going... and those who think it means having the flexibility to work as long as you want, when you want... and of course those who think it's a bit of both.
I'm in the "bit of both" camp, really. Like jokerman, I have no problem working a bit later (or getting up a bit earlier) if a deadline dictates it, but equally I love the freedom to take an afternoon or a couple of days off with no boss to answer to. Bliss! ▲ Collapse
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megane_wang
Spain
Local time: 01:34
Member (2007)
English to Spanish
+ ...
I do have a schedule, but I feel free to modify it, as far as it leaves time enough to do my job
In fact, with a small child and a second one coming in short, nursery/school/child sleeping time contributes a lot to keep "some" routine.
Even though I usually work 9:30-17:00 and 21:00-23:00 under my own control and self discipline, I find time to do other things without having to give any explanations to a... See more I do have a schedule, but I feel free to modify it, as far as it leaves time enough to do my job
In fact, with a small child and a second one coming in short, nursery/school/child sleeping time contributes a lot to keep "some" routine.
Even though I usually work 9:30-17:00 and 21:00-23:00 under my own control and self discipline, I find time to do other things without having to give any explanations to anyone and I would definitely not go back to an office schedule.
Ruth @ MW ▲ Collapse
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| Not so strict, but close to | May 5, 2008 |
Recently, I have realized how important it is to have a framework for freelance work. Even a person with excellent organization skills can get completely disorganized if they don't have a schedule they stick to most of the time. I am speaking from experience.
For translation work per se, I don't think a schedule is really needed. But we have to perform many tasks besides translation, some of which are tied to a schedule we have no control over (accounting, taxes, etc.). Some of thes... See more Recently, I have realized how important it is to have a framework for freelance work. Even a person with excellent organization skills can get completely disorganized if they don't have a schedule they stick to most of the time. I am speaking from experience.
For translation work per se, I don't think a schedule is really needed. But we have to perform many tasks besides translation, some of which are tied to a schedule we have no control over (accounting, taxes, etc.). Some of these tasks take too little time to be carried out each day, but they have to be done regularly in order for us to stay on top of things and it is a good idea to schedule them (once a week, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.). I pay my taxes each three months. I back up my e-mail, TMs, etc., each month. My translation-related backup is done each week (TMs, TDBs, translated documents, etc.). I also clean up my computer and reinstall everything each six months.
In order to provide for the requirements of these tasks, I need to schedule time. But if the task that makes up the bulk of my business activities, which is translation, is not well scheduled, the other tasks suffer. So yes, I do have a strict schedule.
What is not strict is how I apply that schedule. When I have less work or when something comes up (weddings, medical exams, barbecues, etc.), I stray from my schedule, and that's OK becuase I simply move blocks of time around. So, if I go to a barbecue from 2 to 5, when I'm supposed to be working, then I get those three hours of work done in the evening. It works out great. My schedule is very strict - it even includes lunch time and hourly breaks away from the computer to stretch and have a fruit or something. Some days, I am not hungry when lunch time comes - I then just keep working and schedule lunch for later.
I am surprised that most of us don't seem to have an orderly schedule. I sincerely believe we need that. We need to plan our time wisely in order to be able to respect deadlines, meet government requirements and have time off to enjoy life. We therefore need to be able to quantify the time spent on business tasks, and this can only be achieved through scheduling. ▲ Collapse
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