Poll: Do you charge extra for working during the weekend? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you charge extra for working during the weekend?".
This poll was originally submitted by Mróz de León. View the poll results »
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:52
German to English
+ ...
| Not specifically | Jun 8, 2011 |
I will charge extra if the job absolutely has to be done over the weekend. So if it come in on Friday night and needs doing by Monday morning. But if it's my choice to work over the weekend, then no. (Having said that, it normally needs to be fairly lucrative for me to choose to do it over the weekend anyway!)
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 12:52
Member (2006)
German to English
How often has this question been asked over the past 6 months!!
Reply is always "NO"
[Edited at 2011-06-08 08:42 GMT]
| | | | Sonia Hill
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:52
Italian to English
| Exactly the same as Mary | Jun 8, 2011 |
Mary Worby wrote:
I will charge extra if the job absolutely has to be done over the weekend. So if it come in on Friday night and needs doing by Monday morning. But if it's my choice to work over the weekend, then no. (Having said that, it normally needs to be fairly lucrative for me to choose to do it over the weekend anyway!)
I answered "other". I rarely work at the weekend. When I do, I charge extra if the client specifically expects me to work at the weekend due to a tight deadline. I don't charge extra if I have chosen to schedule my work so that I work at the wekend.
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Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:52
Member (2009)
English to French
just normal
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:52
Spanish to English
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Not usually. I always work weekends (keeps me out of the pub) unless there is a really pressing reason for me not to do so (it's my birthday next Saturday and it looks like I'll be working at least for part of the day) but I might charge extra for the usual reasons (awkward formats, unreasonable deadline, stroppy clients...)
By stroppy I mean clients who are either too picky/snooty, too demanding or simply don't listen. I usually quote them a high rate hoping that they'll go away, ... See more Not usually. I always work weekends (keeps me out of the pub) unless there is a really pressing reason for me not to do so (it's my birthday next Saturday and it looks like I'll be working at least for part of the day) but I might charge extra for the usual reasons (awkward formats, unreasonable deadline, stroppy clients...)
By stroppy I mean clients who are either too picky/snooty, too demanding or simply don't listen. I usually quote them a high rate hoping that they'll go away, but if they don't at least I have the cash as consolation...
[Edited at 2011-06-08 09:13 GMT]
However, if the asker really means "should I charge extra...", then that would suggest to me that they aren't really all that keen on working at the weekend, so my advice would be "go for it"... if the client really wants/needs the work done, they'll usually acquiesce.
[Edited at 2011-06-08 09:15 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Officially, I don't work weekends | Jun 8, 2011 |
... but since my husband has retired, my working hours are getting very 'flexible'. So if I prefer to take a day off mid week, then Saturday is a good day when clients are less likely to interrupt with phone calls and urgent mails.
On the other hand, the family has finally understood that phone calls may be cut short if they ring in office hours mid week and I have a deadline looming.
I'm productive in the late evenings, and the habit is getting very pronounced!
... See more ... but since my husband has retired, my working hours are getting very 'flexible'. So if I prefer to take a day off mid week, then Saturday is a good day when clients are less likely to interrupt with phone calls and urgent mails.
On the other hand, the family has finally understood that phone calls may be cut short if they ring in office hours mid week and I have a deadline looming.
I'm productive in the late evenings, and the habit is getting very pronounced!
I don't charge extra, unless the cllient actually demands an overnight sitting or weekend session, and even then I might simply charge the normal rate for a good regular client.
Some of my good clients offer to pay extra for rushed jobs, and then I don't say no, of course  ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Running a business or a charity? | Jun 8, 2011 |
I automatically assumed that the question refers to work that absolutely requires working through the weekend, i.e. received on Friday for delivery first thing Monday morning. I therefore answered 'yes'. The same applies for work received late on a weekday for delivery first thing the next morning. This, of course, is always agreed upon with the customer in advance. Obviously, if I decide that I want to work on something in the evening/over the weekend, I do not charge the customer. The high per... See more I automatically assumed that the question refers to work that absolutely requires working through the weekend, i.e. received on Friday for delivery first thing Monday morning. I therefore answered 'yes'. The same applies for work received late on a weekday for delivery first thing the next morning. This, of course, is always agreed upon with the customer in advance. Obviously, if I decide that I want to work on something in the evening/over the weekend, I do not charge the customer. The high percentage of 'noes' to this question leaves me wondering how many of us out there are underselling ourselves? I can only speak for myself, but I'm running a business, not a charity. Speaking of which, the number of translators that hesitate to send payment reminders never ceases to amaze me..... oh dear! I could go on and on, but I'll spare you all that...... ▲ Collapse
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William Murphy
Italy
Local time: 12:52
Member (2009)
Italian to English
+ ...
| Depends on the job not on the day | Jun 8, 2011 |
Main answer:
As a freelance translator I might find myself working Saturday and having say, Tuesday, completely free. It all boils down to how you wish to organize your schedule in my opinion (speaking generally and not about unfinished work which forces the issue), in the same way one can work at 9 am or 9 pm on any given day.
Personally, I accept jobs based on my availability and compatibility with my wife's work schedule (which often includes weekends), my kids' needs and, quite h... See more Main answer:
As a freelance translator I might find myself working Saturday and having say, Tuesday, completely free. It all boils down to how you wish to organize your schedule in my opinion (speaking generally and not about unfinished work which forces the issue), in the same way one can work at 9 am or 9 pm on any given day.
Personally, I accept jobs based on my availability and compatibility with my wife's work schedule (which often includes weekends), my kids' needs and, quite honestly, simply whether I feel like it. If I have been working for ten days straight or I am comfortable with my earnings to that point in time of the week/month/year and feel like some time off, I take it. It could be a weekend or the middle of the week, for a period lasting from an afternoon to two weeks, or whatever.
I don't charge more for weekend work. It is I who have accepted that schedule by accepting the job. On the other hand, I am happy to pay myself with free days of my own choosing when I wish.
Digression:
If it weren't for the fact that I have children, I doubt seriously that I would notice a difference between the 'weekend' and the 'weekday'. When I was young I went to school and my parents worked from Monday to Friday. Saturday was relegated to household chores, shopping and free time activities. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was open on Sundays. People used to say things like "I called last night but you weren't home".
All of this has obviously changed with cell phones, Internet and the consumer society. In contrast to the above, schools/work now go six days a week, people call the mobile phone at any time and then harangue you for not picking up because you were in the toilet or something, Sundays are shopping days, etc.
To sum up: What the heck is a weekend? ▲ Collapse
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My answer is no. If I work at weekends it's my choice.
If a job is given to me on Friday evening for MOnday morning, well my clients usually offer to pay more.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 12:52
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Siobhan Schoonhoff-Reilly wrote: I automatically assumed that the question refers to work that absolutely requires working through the weekend, i.e. received on Friday for delivery first thing Monday morning. I therefore answered 'yes'. The same applies for work received late on a weekday for delivery first thing the next morning. This, of course, is always agreed upon with the customer in advance. Obviously, if I decide that I want to work on something in the evening/over the weekend, I do not charge the customer. The high percentage of 'noes' to this question leaves me wondering how many of us out there are underselling ourselves? I can only speak for myself, but I'm running a business, not a charity. Speaking of which, the number of translators that hesitate to send payment reminders never ceases to amaze me..... oh dear! I could go on and on, but I'll spare you all that...... If I choose to work on he weekend, then there's no extra charge. If the client asks for an "over-weekend" job, then he or she is most likely to pay that surcharge. hich reminds me... I need to send a reminder to a client based on the past due invoice.
| | | | Johan Venter
Czech Republic
Local time: 12:52
Dutch to English
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Siobhan Schoonhoff-Reilly wrote: Speaking of which, the number of translators that hesitate to send payment reminders never ceases to amaze me..... oh dear! I could go on and on, but I'll spare you all that......
This is a bit off topic, but you're not alone, Siobhan. I allow a grace period of one week for regular clients, but with new clients I have no qualms with sending out reminders the day after payment was due.
With regards to work over the weekends, I rarely charge extra for regular clients since they do not expect me to work over weekends very often, and I believe that the one hand washes the other.
[Edited at 2011-06-08 19:30 GMT]
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Judith Shiozawa (X)
Germany
Local time: 12:52
German to English
| I agree with Mary and Sonia | Jun 9, 2011 |
... and I bill accordingly.
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