Poll: Do you let your clients know in advance before you go on vacation?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
May 26, 2015

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you let your clients know in advance before you go on vacation?".

This poll was originally submitted by Nadine Epstein. View the poll results »



 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:50
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other (Yes and No) May 26, 2015

As I said before (another repeated poll) I haven't taken a "real" vacation (meaning more than 8 days) since my youngest daughter left home = some 15 years ago... I prefer taking long weekends here and there (meaning between jobs) but I always tell my regulars in advance that I will not be available from xx till xx. That’s exactly what’s going to happen next Monday and Tuesday… Anyway, I always take my notebook with me to check my emails and all phone calls are redirected to my mobile.
... See more
As I said before (another repeated poll) I haven't taken a "real" vacation (meaning more than 8 days) since my youngest daughter left home = some 15 years ago... I prefer taking long weekends here and there (meaning between jobs) but I always tell my regulars in advance that I will not be available from xx till xx. That’s exactly what’s going to happen next Monday and Tuesday… Anyway, I always take my notebook with me to check my emails and all phone calls are redirected to my mobile.

http://www.proz.com/forum/poll_discussion/243868-poll_do_you_let_your_clients_know_in_advance_when_you_are_going_on_vacation.html

http://www.proz.com/forum/poll_discussion/153944-poll_do_you_usually_inform_your_clients_regarding_your_vacation_schedule.html
Collapse


 
Philippe Etienne
Philippe Etienne  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 16:50
Member
English to French
Yes all of them May 26, 2015

"Them" being customers with whom I have an ongoing relation. I don't want to annoy prospects I have never worked with or one-offs or former customers with unsolicited email.

I also have an auto-reply set for anybody who tries to contact me.

Philippe


 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 16:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes, some May 26, 2015

Although I tend to keep working to some extent even when on "vacation"... I rarely feel the need to get away from my job and I'd often rather be translating than for example, watching TV or socialising.

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Depends May 26, 2015

I just do the sensible thing, telling those who need to know but not bothering those who don't.

PS The pedant in me much prefers the wording of Teresa's previous poll. I'm still trying to get my head around the time travel implications of letting customers know in retrospect before I go on holiday, or even letting them know in advance after I've gone.


 
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Forbes  Identity Verified
Local time: 15:50
French to English
+ ...
In memoriam
Exasperating ... May 26, 2015

Yes, I always let my regular customers know when I'm going to be away for more than a day, telling them my date of departure and my date of return. Like others here, I don't bother customers for whom I've worked only very occasionally.
The exasperating thing - as has just happened - is that few of them seem to take note of my announced absence and some continue to send me offers of work while I'm away (usually "urgent"). One can't inform every PM individually, and many agencies seem to cha
... See more
Yes, I always let my regular customers know when I'm going to be away for more than a day, telling them my date of departure and my date of return. Like others here, I don't bother customers for whom I've worked only very occasionally.
The exasperating thing - as has just happened - is that few of them seem to take note of my announced absence and some continue to send me offers of work while I'm away (usually "urgent"). One can't inform every PM individually, and many agencies seem to change PMs pretty often. It seems that the PMs at some agencies don't communicate with one another. Que faire?
Collapse


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:50
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
I let regulars know, and remind them when I am back May 26, 2015

I let regulars know. Like Jenny, I find it doesn't always work.

Several have calendars on their websites, where I can mark the dates when I am away, but I only do that for a couple of really good clients (whose websites are easily accessible and hassle-free...). I don't have time to check them all, though I may ask a PM to do it when I deliver a job.

Then I set my automatic answer... but I always check my mails anyway.

When I get back I choose a picture as
... See more
I let regulars know. Like Jenny, I find it doesn't always work.

Several have calendars on their websites, where I can mark the dates when I am away, but I only do that for a couple of really good clients (whose websites are easily accessible and hassle-free...). I don't have time to check them all, though I may ask a PM to do it when I deliver a job.

Then I set my automatic answer... but I always check my mails anyway.

When I get back I choose a picture as a 'postcard' and send it round to my regular PMs to let them know I am in circulation again. Again, I don't waste time on occasional clients and one-off contacts, but it is a very effective form of marketing!
Collapse


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:50
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Even if... May 26, 2015

Jenny Forbes wrote:

The exasperating thing - as has just happened - is that few of them seem to take note of my announced absence and some continue to send me offers of work while I'm away (usually "urgent"). One can't inform every PM individually, and many agencies seem to change PMs pretty often. It seems that the PMs at some agencies don't communicate with one another. Que faire?


... I'm never away for a long time, I have had this problem as well. That's why I always tell the PM something like "Would you mind letting your colleagues know that I will not be available from xx till xx"?. Well, sometimes this works, and sometimes not!


 
Anthony Baldwin
Anthony Baldwin  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 11:50
Portuguese to English
+ ...
What? May 26, 2015

What is this "vacation" of which you speak?
(Last time I was away from the office for longer than a weekend, which was several years ago, I brought a laptop with me and worked).

[Edited at 2015-05-26 12:14 GMT]


 
Samantha Payn
Samantha Payn  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:50
Member (2008)
Russian to English
+ ...
Yes, some of them ... May 26, 2015

...

When I get back I choose a picture as a 'postcard' and send it round to my regular PMs to let them know I am in circulation again. Again, I don't waste time on occasional clients and one-off contacts, but it is a very effective form of marketing!



What an excellent idea!


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:50
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
When I study my target language live, buy books... live May 26, 2015

Anthony Baldwin wrote:

What is this "vacation" of which you speak?
(Last time I was away from the office for longer than a weekend, which was several years ago, I brought a laptop with me and worked).


This side of the pond we call it a holiday, but it is a very important part of getting the brain to function and translate better. (For me at least.)

I get some extra fresh air and exercise, listen to my target language live, buy and read books, and observe my philosophy about once I have earned my living, not forgetting to get a life...


 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: Do you let your clients know in advance before you go on vacation?






TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »
Anycount & Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000

Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.

More info »