Arara, Maha

Translation Ethics at the Workplace- an employed translator’s view

 

Applying the ethics of the translation profession can be less challenging when you are a freelance translator, because you decide what to accept or decline without having to account for it- at least most of the time. However, if you are employed by a firm that engages in an activity other than translation, you are likely to face challenges in applying your ethics as a translator as you have to meet your employer’s expectations and the expectations of the team in general.

Protecting the confidentiality of a client or job is a simple task for a freelance translator. The situation is different at the workplace- you, as a translator, do not only have to protect the confidentiality of the firm’s clients, you also have to protect the confidentiality of your colleagues’ work, since you get documents for translation from all your colleagues. A translator is regarded by their colleagues as a source of information and past experiences; they will turn to you for “a template”, a “similar letter” or “a similar case”. Do not be surprised if you notice that some of your colleagues like to stop by your desk to peek at your screen or a piece of paper that is left out. It is in the best interest of the firm that you share some information with your colleagues. Confidentiality must not be compromised in this case but protecting it will require some effort. A translator who chooses to share information with colleagues at the workplace must first consult with their counselor, a member or the top management or someone from the HR team. A translator then has to ensure the anonymity of the documents or information shared by deleting name of the author, name of the client and dates.

Another challenge that faces a translator when applying the ethics at the workplace is being asked to do a job that is out of their area of expertise or beyond the reach of their skills. A freelance translator would simply turn down the job, but an employed translator would normally be expected to accomplish all the tasks they are given, especially if he/she is the only translator in the office. To handle this situation without ethical compromise, a translator will have to tell the solicitor that the job will be challenging and that they will need help from a person who is knowledgeable in that area- that could be someone from the office or some external support.

Cherishing your ethical values as a translator is an everyday concern that requires a translator to be on their guard in order to make uncompromising ethical choices that eventually pay off by contributing to your image and name as a translator.