Poll: If you receive an email from a client on a weekend or holiday, you... Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "If you receive an email from a client on a weekend or holiday, you...".
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| | | | | reply but ... | Aug 26, 2017 |
I usually tell all my clients when I am on holiday.
Obviously with smartphones now we can reply to clients, but when I write my reply I always remember that every new job, or other things (like finalization of a translation) will be dealt with when I am back.
Weekends? I do not receive work related emails at weekends.
| | | | | It depends very much on the client | Aug 26, 2017 |
I set an 'out of office' message when I am on holiday, and that tells everyone I am not available.
I do not normally have my phone and e-mail accessible when I am not working, so it may be some time before I see the mail, and that often applies at weekends. Not always, however - here I am on a summer Saturday morning, just taking a break from a huge rushed job...
I answer my regular clients when I can, but generally ignore new ones! Unless they are enormously promising ... See more I set an 'out of office' message when I am on holiday, and that tells everyone I am not available.
I do not normally have my phone and e-mail accessible when I am not working, so it may be some time before I see the mail, and that often applies at weekends. Not always, however - here I am on a summer Saturday morning, just taking a break from a huge rushed job...
I answer my regular clients when I can, but generally ignore new ones! Unless they are enormously promising or have an offer I seriously want to consider.
Like asking: 'are you available next week?' two days before the end of my holiday. Well-organised clients who plan like that deserve at least a little attention! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Reply as usual | Aug 26, 2017 |
I haven’t received work related emails during the weekend more than 4 or 5 times and then I dealt with them as usual. The same doesn’t apply to public and local holidays as they are different from country to country and clients might ignore them. I also reply as usual, adding a little note saying “I’m not working today, it’s a holiday here”. Regarding my holidays I always tell my clients well in advance that I will not be available from xx until xx…
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neilmac
España
Local time: 23:09
español al inglés
+ ...
| Reply as usual | Aug 26, 2017 |
I claim to provide a 24/7 service, so I usually reply ASAP no matter what day of the year it is.
| | | | | Next work day | Aug 26, 2017 |
If I am on holiday or during the weekend, my customers know I don't work, so it won't be them.
I reply to prospects after the weekend or when I am back at the office if there is any chance it could lead to work.
I may have an entirely different view if I were working with end customers, but then I wouldn't charge the same rates at all as with agencies.
Philippe
| | | | Jessica Noyes 
Estados Unidos
Local time: 17:09
Miembro
español al inglés
+ ...
| Floating Weekends | Aug 26, 2017 |
Both my husband and I are self-employed, and the kids are up and gone, so our "weekends" float around the calendar and come to rest wherever we need a little personal time.
| | | | Michael Harris
Alemania
Local time: 23:09
Miembro 2006
alemán al inglés
| Reply as usual | Aug 26, 2017 |
If I am actually working and see the mail.
But if I am "there", then business as usual, we are for all self-employed or freelancers.
Are we running out of real translators again - anonymous!
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Kay Denney
Francia
Local time: 23:09
francés al inglés
| depends on the client | Aug 26, 2017 |
If it's a long-standing client, and therefore trusty and well-paying, I'll answer. If it's an agency or potential client I might just answer, but probably won't ever get started on a translation unless they give me a hefty weekend rate.
My partner and I both work at weekends when it suits us, but not all day, more like an hour here or there. I will mostly get an hour or so done before my partner is up. It's more a matter of getting a draft done so I can polish it up with fresh eyes the ne... See more If it's a long-standing client, and therefore trusty and well-paying, I'll answer. If it's an agency or potential client I might just answer, but probably won't ever get started on a translation unless they give me a hefty weekend rate.
My partner and I both work at weekends when it suits us, but not all day, more like an hour here or there. I will mostly get an hour or so done before my partner is up. It's more a matter of getting a draft done so I can polish it up with fresh eyes the next day in time for delivery rather than doing the whole thing without a break. Also getting ahead in case anything juicy comes in on Monday. ▲ Collapse
| | | | John Fossey
Canadá
Local time: 17:09
Miembro 2008
francés al inglés
+ ...
| Other: Reply on Monday | Aug 27, 2017 |
I don't usually check my business email on the weekend.
And neither do most of my clients.
| | | | | Reply as usual | Aug 27, 2017 |
Given that I have clients in many different time zones, including Japan, I have to respect their hours.
One advantage is that when I do respond, I might land a nice plum because other colleagues are at the beach.
| | | | | Depends on what I'm doing | Aug 27, 2017 |
... it only happens very rarely with regular clients, but when it does happen, I'm frequently busy doing something else and not checking my e-mails.
If they ask me to work on Canadian local holidays, I'll tell them, but unless I'm away home, try to accommodate their needs.
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Mario Freitas
Brasil
Local time: 18:09
Miembro 2014
inglés al portugués
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| Weekend? Let me check the dictionary... | Aug 27, 2017 |
I reply as usual. My weekends may be on a Saturday/Sunday, but they can also be on a Tuesday/Wednesday. It depends on the week. Since when do freelance translators have regular weeks and regular working hours?
| | | | Diana Obermeyer
Reino Unido
Local time: 22:09
Miembro 2013
alemán al inglés
+ ...
| If I'm working | Jan 19, 2018 |
I don't check messages on a smartphone or whatever.
I see emails if I'm sitting at the computer. If I sit on the computer, I generally work.
Some weekends I do that, and will see weekend messages. If I see them, I will reply as usual.
If I have no project pressure, I will take the weekend off. That means the computer stays firmly switched off and I am unlikely to be anywhere near civilisation or internet reception. Consequently, I won't see weekend messages and don't respond t... See more I don't check messages on a smartphone or whatever.
I see emails if I'm sitting at the computer. If I sit on the computer, I generally work.
Some weekends I do that, and will see weekend messages. If I see them, I will reply as usual.
If I have no project pressure, I will take the weekend off. That means the computer stays firmly switched off and I am unlikely to be anywhere near civilisation or internet reception. Consequently, I won't see weekend messages and don't respond to them until the next working day.
I don't think that's much different to responding to clients in other time zones during my working hours. I don't get out of bed at 1am to respond to them, either.
On a holiday, I will occassionally check emails - whenever I venture into civilisation. Clients are warned in advance and mostly refrain from trying to contact me in that period. I did sack a client once that completely ignored my holiday notice despite several reminders and kept following up with multiple panicky messages if they didn't receive a response within half an hour or so.
It was after that experience that I decided to firm up and keep the computer switched off.
[Edited at 2018-01-19 14:28 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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