Poll: What is your attitude to work during vacations? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What is your attitude to work during vacations?".
View the poll results »
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:09
German to English
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| I check e-mail | Sep 20, 2011 |
I take a phone with me which has e-mail on it. It allows me to check work coming in and respond to customers where appropriate. It also means I can get work lined up for when I get back. I don't do any actual work though.
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Some or all of the above, where I can I would gladly switch off for a short period of time, but the availability of mobile access to the Internet and a Laptop mean that I can deal with any urgent client requests while on holiday.
I also do not stop my marketing efforts to prevent a dry spell when I get back from my break. This is both with existing and prospective clients.
One of the advantages of freelance work, however, is that you can take breaks from work as/when i... See more Some or all of the above, where I can I would gladly switch off for a short period of time, but the availability of mobile access to the Internet and a Laptop mean that I can deal with any urgent client requests while on holiday.
I also do not stop my marketing efforts to prevent a dry spell when I get back from my break. This is both with existing and prospective clients.
One of the advantages of freelance work, however, is that you can take breaks from work as/when it suits you and the current workload - a couple of days here and there mean that long beach holidays in total isolation are sadly a thing of the past, for me at least.
Thought provoking poll though.
[Edited at 2011-09-20 10:09 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 08:09
English to French
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| Totally switch off | Sep 20, 2011 |
I prefer active holidays in remote places, with no connection to the rest of the world. However, when/if there is a "chill out" period at the end of a holiday, if I get bored by inactivity (long layover in airports for instance), and there is a cyber possibility around, I check my mail.
Of course, I tell customers well in advance that I will be away from date A until date B. The ones who forget while I am away or those who have not contacted me for a while receive an automatic reply... See more I prefer active holidays in remote places, with no connection to the rest of the world. However, when/if there is a "chill out" period at the end of a holiday, if I get bored by inactivity (long layover in airports for instance), and there is a cyber possibility around, I check my mail.
Of course, I tell customers well in advance that I will be away from date A until date B. The ones who forget while I am away or those who have not contacted me for a while receive an automatic reply. As the latter is sent only to the people among my email contacts, I am afraid others have to wait until I return.
An answering machine picks up the phone and tells callers the office is closed, never that I am away (a matter of security).
[Modifié le 2011-09-20 14:13 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| I check mails - and let clients know when I am back! | Sep 20, 2011 |
I tell clients when I plan to be away, and add a line to my profile to say I am not available. Still, there are always some who forget, or non-regulars who turn up. One had not contacted me for over five years.
This year I also sent a 'postcard' to some of my important clients when I came home.
I wrote a five-line mail and attached a view of the countryside, with a greeting to say I hoped they too had had a good summer. Adding that I had listened to language in real lif... See more I tell clients when I plan to be away, and add a line to my profile to say I am not available. Still, there are always some who forget, or non-regulars who turn up. One had not contacted me for over five years.
This year I also sent a 'postcard' to some of my important clients when I came home.
I wrote a five-line mail and attached a view of the countryside, with a greeting to say I hoped they too had had a good summer. Adding that I had listened to language in real life and bought some good books.
I added a PS that I was going on a one-day training course and attending a powwow, and then would be back to work...
They all responded, and immediately, I was inundated with job offers! It might not work in all cultures, but I took a real, old-fashioned holiday with a good conscience, walking and visiting family. Afterwards I was refreshed and really looking forward to getting back into my routine.
I will be doing it again! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 08:09
Member (2006)
German to English
| Always have work with me | Sep 20, 2011 |
but I make sure that I have enough time for the family as well and organise my work around that. Completely without work i difficult to imagine ...
| | | | | I let my clients know beforehand | Sep 20, 2011 |
So they know I won't be available at all. They send me their assignments sooner or delay them. Worked well so far.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 08:09
Spanish to English
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I usually work a bit anyway during "vacation" periods, although less than usual. I haven't been able to really disconnect for a few years now, but it's not really an issue. Maybe next year I'll try to get a week or two away from it all...
[Edited at 2011-09-20 14:00 GMT]
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Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 02:09
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
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| Depends if I'm traveling alone or with someone else | Sep 20, 2011 |
If I'm traveling alone, I try to work 15 to 25 hours a week as this lets me take relatively long trips. Especially if I'm going to another country, I want to be there long enough to really explore and "sink into" the local culture. Working part time lets me do that.
However, if I'm taking a shorter trip with friends or relatives, then I usually just check messages and line up jobs for after the trip. If a direct client is really in a bind and needs something done, I might squeeze in... See more If I'm traveling alone, I try to work 15 to 25 hours a week as this lets me take relatively long trips. Especially if I'm going to another country, I want to be there long enough to really explore and "sink into" the local culture. Working part time lets me do that.
However, if I'm taking a shorter trip with friends or relatives, then I usually just check messages and line up jobs for after the trip. If a direct client is really in a bind and needs something done, I might squeeze in a couple hours of work but I prefer not to.
[Edited at 2011-09-20 14:33 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Valeria Fuma
Argentina
Local time: 03:09
English to Spanish
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| I completely switch off... | Sep 20, 2011 |
... after sending a notice and setting an email auto-response. In case anything urgent arises, they can contact me by cellphone. I think that taking job with you during vacations turn them into something that is not vacations at all.
| | | | Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 02:09
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Depends what you enjoy | Sep 20, 2011 |
Valeria Fuma wrote:
I think that taking job with you during vacations turn them into something that is not vacations at all.
Personally, I'd rather have five weeks of travel while working part time instead of just 5 or 10 days of travel with no work. But different people enjoy different things.
| | | | | Travelling and holiday need not be the same thing! | Sep 20, 2011 |
Now that my husband has retired, we are really considering taking advantage of the fact that suddenly we are not so tied as we have been for some years, with work through the week and an elderly relative to take care of at weekends.
I would definitely take my computer along and work part time while we spent some weeks seeing a different part of the world.
But now and then I think a real break where I simply refer all work to colleagues or leave the agency to sort it out... See more Now that my husband has retired, we are really considering taking advantage of the fact that suddenly we are not so tied as we have been for some years, with work through the week and an elderly relative to take care of at weekends.
I would definitely take my computer along and work part time while we spent some weeks seeing a different part of the world.
But now and then I think a real break where I simply refer all work to colleagues or leave the agency to sort it out... is good for everyone. ▲ Collapse
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bookwormkt
Local time: 07:09
French to English
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| The availability of free wi-fi in hotels/cafés has changed holiday time for me! | Sep 20, 2011 |
We tend to make use of these free wi-fi services, so I do tend to check work emails as well as my private email and favorite websites.
I have fond memories of holidays with no TV, no phone access at all............
Such is progress!!
| | | | | I try... I swear I try! | Sep 21, 2011 |
Latptops and mobile phones with emails are really tricky for me: there is absolutely no way I won't be checking my emails every now and then, and as I started as a freelance quite recently I feel I really don't want to miss an opportunity.
Just like James, I tend to take a day or two when possible or go work in our family home in the Alps to make a change.
Getting married very soon, this might change : my future husband has a regular job, and will probably not enjoy it ... See more Latptops and mobile phones with emails are really tricky for me: there is absolutely no way I won't be checking my emails every now and then, and as I started as a freelance quite recently I feel I really don't want to miss an opportunity.
Just like James, I tend to take a day or two when possible or go work in our family home in the Alps to make a change.
Getting married very soon, this might change : my future husband has a regular job, and will probably not enjoy it if we can't have a proper break
(what? no one answering "I'm on holidays right now, what do you think?"  ) ▲ Collapse
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