How to deal with a bullying peer on the online work platform of a translation agency? Thread poster: Rajan Chopra
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Rajan Chopra
India
Local time: 20:42
Member (2008)
English to Hindi
+ ...
Hi,
I am working for a translation agency based in China for more than 3 years by now. It has an online platform where the translators can claim and deliver the jobs. Some of the delivered jobs are offered again for proofreading on the same page on which the job has been delivered. In addition to it, they sometimes especially invite me to translate projects instead of posting them on that platform where anyone can claim the job. However, I am required to claim even these jobs from... See more Hi,
I am working for a translation agency based in China for more than 3 years by now. It has an online platform where the translators can claim and deliver the jobs. Some of the delivered jobs are offered again for proofreading on the same page on which the job has been delivered. In addition to it, they sometimes especially invite me to translate projects instead of posting them on that platform where anyone can claim the job. However, I am required to claim even these jobs from that platform and have to deliver them there only.
A few months ago, I proofread a translation job and rated it 3 out of 5 as per the parameters of the agency. The translator who had translated it, sent me a message on the platform and claimed that it was unprofessional and unethical on my part to give a rating of 3 for his translation. I politely replied him that I have evaluated his job on merits. The site staff and the clients can see the communication between a translator and proofreader. Likewise, a translator and a proofreader can see the communication by a translator or proofreader with the site staff and clients on the same page.
A few months ago, I translated a document and delivered on the platform and this time the same translator mentioned above proofread my document and rated as 1 out of 5. I immediately lodged a protest with the site staff and requested them to refer the case to a reviewer (third party) because the site staff can’t judge the quality of translation as they don’t speak Hindi. They referred this case to a reviewer of their choice and he/she raised the rating to 3. The same translator once again did the same thing during this month and a reviewer revised the rating to 3. So, it is clear that he is doing this intentionally and knowingly out of anger and frustration as I did not accede to his unjustified demand for raising his rating to 4 or 5 from 3.
One of the major drawbacks of this online platform is that a translator can know as to who has proofread his translation because there is no anonymity. And when the translation is rated as per merits and an average rating is given in view of the quality, he feels offended. He keeps on waiting for his turn and plays the dirty game of insulting the “culprit” by underrating and ridiculing an acceptable translation. There may be another reason – the translators with low ratings are perhaps not entitled to claim the jobs. This is a clear conflict of interest.
In view of his two failed attempts to malign my image, I requested the site staff to have a small but important change in the programming of the online platform, i.e. a translator must not know as to who has proofread his document and similarly a proofreader must not know as to whose document he is proofreading. Secondly, I suggested them to debar a proofreader from proofreading if a reviewer does not approve the poor rating by a proofreader three times in a certain period.
Have you had such a bad experience? What would you suggest the translation agency or site staff to sort it out?
Thanks and regards,
Chopra
[Edited at 2019-09-14 12:38 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Over the years I haven’t had bad experiences with proofreaders/reviewers/editors. For the last 10 years or so, I have been working with three different agencies that employ the same editor, this means that we know each other work quite well and we trust each other. I must say that we only had a slight disagreement once. The only problem related to proofing was a few years back when one of my long-standing customers (a Japanese company) decided to pick a Spanish proofreader for the texts I tra... See more Over the years I haven’t had bad experiences with proofreaders/reviewers/editors. For the last 10 years or so, I have been working with three different agencies that employ the same editor, this means that we know each other work quite well and we trust each other. I must say that we only had a slight disagreement once. The only problem related to proofing was a few years back when one of my long-standing customers (a Japanese company) decided to pick a Spanish proofreader for the texts I translate (I translate exclusively into European Portuguese) and it took some time and a LOT of emails back and forth for him to understand that Spanish and Portuguese, though related, are quite different.
How would I deal with that situation? I'd ask the agency:
1. To make clear to the other person that he/she should behave professionally; and
2. To change the platform as you suggested.
I’d also start looking for other agencies… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rajan Chopra
India
Local time: 20:42
Member (2008)
English to Hindi
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks for your views but... | Sep 15, 2019 |
you can't advise a person who is not ready to listen and who is bent upon to harm others to satisfy his false ego.
Teresa Borges wrote:
How would I deal with that situation? I'd ask the agency:
1. To make clear to the other person that he/she should behave professionally;
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Apparently you misunderstood what I said, you can't advise a person who is not ready to listen but the agency can and should...
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Rajan Chopra
India
Local time: 20:42
Member (2008)
English to Hindi
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Oh, sorry, that was an oversight... | Sep 15, 2019 |
I have already written to the agency and if they implement my suggestions, it might change the scenario to a good extent.
Teresa Borges wrote:
Apparently you misunderstood what I said, you can't advise a person who is not ready to listen but the agency can and should...
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