Comments on: How do you handle illness?

By: Corinne McKay

Corinne McKay — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:26:32 +0000

Good question! I’ll admit that normally I just tough it out and work even when I’m sick; I just try to limit the new work I take on and I exercise the option to work on my laptop in bed. A few years ago I had pneumonia and was so sick that I couldn’t even sit up; at that point I had my husband send an e-mail to my clients and explain the situation to them since I had to take 7-10 days off working. Normally I just find it easier to power through the pending deadlines and then give myself a couple of days to recover with no work.

By: Oleg Kuzin

Oleg Kuzin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:24:53 +0000

Looking after one’s health is definitely the responsibility of the freelancer as he/she is both boss and employee. Most clients do have to deal with employee sickness and should not be surprised if “their” translator gets sick occasionally. The freelancer as an “employer” has the responsibility to ensure that the sick person is looked after and helped to get better soon. As a matter of interest, the Quebec professional translators association (OTTIAQ) has a plan for its members that covers mental health and counselling. Large multinational companies have similar programmes.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:56:55 +0000

At the beginning of February, I was working on a large and very interesting project for a new client, and unfortunately had to stop in the middle due to becoming very ill. I’m glad I did, since I ended up being diagnosed with a chronic disease and having to be hospitalized for three weeks. Thankfully, the client was very understanding and there were no problems.

Good health is precious—preserve it and/or restore it at all costs!

Hope you feel better

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:39:09 +0000

Listen to your body – and get well soon.

By: Tess

Tess — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:24:24 +0000

It totally depends on how sick I am. I usually try to tough it out if I just have a cold and a bit of a fever, but sometimes the actual disease forces me to stay in bed (i.e. stomach flu, regular flu). The clients are usually very understanding. I agree with inkarmaria. Just listen to your body. Get well soon!

By: Janine

Janine — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:57:08 +0000

I agree with Kitty and inkamaria. Sometimes there is some wiggle room in a project or the time can be made up in another part of the project. I was asked recently to work over the weekend on the editing of a Spanish translation and I was happy to do so. The translation was behind schedule because the translator had a family emergency, something most people can commiserate with.

By: inkamaria

inkamaria — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:49:06 +0000

Well, you should always listen to your body, especially when it’s ailing. I have heard of colleagues who had to take some time out (we are talking about six months to a year) because they went thru some burnout and worse. I am sure, any client will understand when you call in sick and ask for an extension.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:35:44 +0000

I recently discovered that the clients are actually human and do understand that a freelancer gets sick as well and some even extended the deadlines to more than I dared to ask.