Poll: On average, who do you think works longer hours — freelance or in-house language professionals? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "On average, who do you think works longer hours — freelance or in-house language professionals?".
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It's hard to compare, though I should know as I worked as staff translator between 1986 and 2006 and I have been working as freelancer since 2006. As staff translator. I had flexible hours, but I had to work 30 hours a week, except during plenary sessions, when I was on duty until the end, often until the early hours of the morning (unpaid, but compensated with holiday time). As a freelancer, there are days when I work ten, eleven, twelve hours, including weekends, but on others I don't work at ... See more It's hard to compare, though I should know as I worked as staff translator between 1986 and 2006 and I have been working as freelancer since 2006. As staff translator. I had flexible hours, but I had to work 30 hours a week, except during plenary sessions, when I was on duty until the end, often until the early hours of the morning (unpaid, but compensated with holiday time). As a freelancer, there are days when I work ten, eleven, twelve hours, including weekends, but on others I don't work at all or only one or two hours. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Josephine Cassar 
Мальта
Local time: 17:23
Member (2012)
English to Maltese
+ ...
| It's hard to say.. | Jun 28, 2025 |
But as freelancers, it's up to the freelancer to fix your own hours and make sure you avoid burn-out. If I work long hours one week, I make sure I rest properly after. On the other hand, most in-house language professionals have fixed times, though there might be certain occasions when you're told beforehand that you need to finish the translation before you leave.
| | | | | Freelancers work longer hours. | Jul 4, 2025 |
I agree with the majority, 52.9%, that 'Freelancers work longer hours.'
If you don't have regular clients or a steady job, promoting yourself or seeking projects/clients is a sort of side job that in-house professionals don't have.
Although this side job is unpaid, it takes up much time.
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| Yes, freelancers | Jul 7, 2025 |
When I used to work on location at a translation agency, they forced me to go home at 7pm, because the building would be closed down. Or at least I'd be the only one there, and they didn't want me to wander around unsupervised. The room where I worked with a dozen people was empty after 6pm.
By the way, this was not the case when I was employed as a programmer. One of my colleagues once fell asleep on the floor after she finished a job in the middle of the night.
[Edited at 2... See more When I used to work on location at a translation agency, they forced me to go home at 7pm, because the building would be closed down. Or at least I'd be the only one there, and they didn't want me to wander around unsupervised. The room where I worked with a dozen people was empty after 6pm.
By the way, this was not the case when I was employed as a programmer. One of my colleagues once fell asleep on the floor after she finished a job in the middle of the night.
[Edited at 2025-07-07 18:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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