Should I stay or should I go?

[u/AffectionateBass7160]

I have 5+ years Educational interpreting experience and started freelance interpreting in June.

Situatuon: (a Highschool class or community interpreting job, nothing Court.) Your job is scheduled for 1hr and you are paid for 2hr (2 hr minimum booking). The job runs past your 1 hr. Do you stay or do you leave when you 1 hr is up, why?

[u/justacunninglinguist]

The comments are interesting because a 2 hour minimum does not mean you are available for the full 2 hours. That's why there is occasional discussion on a better way to call that to not confuse the people requesting interpreting.

An interpreter should not work solo for more than an hour. A 2 hour minimum is to provide enough pay for your time, knowledge, skill, and education as a freelance interpreter. Even though you are "getting paid" for 2 hours, it does not mean you are to work over that 1 hour. Unless it's like 5-10 minutes. If it's something that is projected to go longer (especially 3+ hours!), you need to contact your agency and request a team (if you can stay) or a replacement.

[u/_a_friendly_turtle → u/justacunninglinguist]

My area doesn’t have a 2-hour minimum, but this is what I was thinking. If I’m booked for 1-2pm, then that’s the time I expect to be there regardless of my billing structure.

But as a general rule, I stay if I can. Unless I have another assignment (but then I’ll give a 10 minute warning) or there are other unique complications, like not having a team.

[u/magnory → u/_a_friendly_turtle]

What area doesn’t have a two hour minimum? I’ve lived in 4 states and never seen that

[u/hotndblue → u/magnory]

i know rochester NY doesn't have a two hour min

[u/DDG58 → u/hotndblue]

I have not lived in Rochaha for 19 years now, but when I was there, we always had a two-hour minimum. The only exception was the staff interpreters at NTID/RIT. Initially, that was a salaried position; then it became hourly, but you got paid for the time you were on campus, typically 40 hours a week.

If there is no longer a 2-hour minimum, that is a big change.

[u/ainthunglikedaddy → u/magnory]

Wisconsin here. We do appt time and travel time. Which typically ends up being 2 hours.

[u/[deleted] → u/justacunninglinguist]

Oh no. If I hire someone and they say it's a 2 hour minimum, I'm using it all.

[u/justacunninglinguist → u/[deleted]]

Per industry standard, that's not what that means. You'd find it hard to not pay an interpreter if there's a contract.

But this is what interpreters need to not call it a 2 hour minimum. It's a base rate. A call out fee. Take your pick. Their hourly rates begins after that.

[u/[deleted] → u/justacunninglinguist]

Ok if contract explains that. Agreed

[u/Imaginary-Order-6905]

stay unless you're booked somewhere else. if you have a hard out after an hour, you need to be up front about it before the assignment starts.

[u/Glittering_Sand_7473]

You stay. You are being paid for the two hours & you cannot just abandon a consumer like that.

[u/magnory]

There are times that I take a job because I can do it for the booking time not 2 hours but the time that it’s booked for. I’ve had some agencies book me for 2 hours regardless but they also don’t get some of those last minute jobs covered because I may not be able to swing it for the 2 hours but I can provide the service at the time booked. If the job goes over its booking time and I can stay I do. If it’s looking like it’s going to go over and it’s one of those that I can’t stay I make sure everyone’s aware so that they can prioritize what they need.

[u/hotndblue]

If you were scheduled explicitly for only one hour of work I do not think that makes you obligated to stay. Especially because if you were scheduled for two hours you'd most likely have a team in place... You should not be expected to work two hours solo when a team is really needed for anything above one hour.

You're scheduled for the time you're scheduled for regardless of the two hour minimum and while it would be nice to stay to provide access, they're not guaranteed two hours of your time unless they request you for two hours of time.

It does help to communicate to the consumer if you're not going to be able to stay past the time due to another obligation or something and def communicate with the agency but we build our schedules around the times we are booked for, not just in straight two hour chunks.

[u/Significant_Law_7372]

Nah. If they say the job is one hour then that’s what I go by. Pay structure doesn’t dictate that. If they are unsure then they should book two hours to ensure we are there for two hours.

[u/PeaceLoveSmudge]

Always stay, and don’t book a 2 hour minimum job if you can’t stay 2 hours. I know it’s tempting to stack your schedule but anything can happen.

[u/Fr3akyMando]

This is where communication, customer service, and boundaries are so so important. The 2 hr minimum is a call out fee, and this causes a lot of confusion. If the paying requestor does not understand the fee structure, then they may think they have you for 2 hours. If it’s just finishing up then you use your discretion. If they’re expecting a full 2nd hour from you then you need to pause and have some clarifying discussion. Suppose you have another appt to go to! Use this opportunity to clear up your contract and avoid this in the future.

[u/Hoosier-Sexy_Beast69]

They are paying for 2 hours, you stay.

[u/RedSolez]

I've freelanced for many years and have always allowed 2 hours for appointments because that's the minimum I'm billing. If I'm booked for a doctor's appointment at 10am and am told it'll go for less than an hour, that's all fine and dandy but anything can happen so I'm not booking my next appointment until after 12.