A pregnant freelancer Thread poster: Josie St-Amour
|
|---|
Hello all,
I'm pregnant and due in 7 weeks.
I live in Canada and since I paid my taxes I'm allowed to take a year off and depending on the lenght of my maternity leave, receive between 55 & 75% of my annual salary of the last year.
So I can afford to take a leave and not worry too much.
I don't think I'll take a full year but rather a few months.
My question is how d... See more Hello all,
I'm pregnant and due in 7 weeks.
I live in Canada and since I paid my taxes I'm allowed to take a year off and depending on the lenght of my maternity leave, receive between 55 & 75% of my annual salary of the last year.
So I can afford to take a leave and not worry too much.
I don't think I'll take a full year but rather a few months.
My question is how do I tell my clients that I won't be available for a while, without a firm come back date and not risk loosing them??
Any idea?
Josie
My ▲ Collapse
| | | | PRen (X) 
Local time: 11:09
French to English
+ ...
| Congratulations! | Sep 8, 2006 |
Josie St-Amour wrote: Hello all, I'm pregnant and due in 7 weeks. I live in Canada and since I paid my taxes I'm allowed to take a year off and depending on the lenght of my maternity leave, receive between 55 & 75% of my annual salary of the last year. So I can afford to take a leave and not worry too much. I don't think I'll take a full year but rather a few months. My question is how do I tell my clients that I won't be available for a while, without a firm come back date and not risk loosing them?? Any idea? Josie My
Hi Josie, first, congratulations! Second, I assume by taxes you mean EI contributions? Third, I'd find two or three translators whose work your respect and ask them to share your workload while you're on leave. When I take holidays, I have three other translators who cover for me, and I do the same in return. I know their work and that my clients will be in good hands with them.
Paula
| | | | | Congratulations! | Sep 8, 2006 |
Hi Josie,
First, all the best for the upcoming birth!
I've gone through this twice as a freelancer, each time taking 3 to 5 full months off from freelancing, and have only lost 1 client because of it.
I gave all clients good advance warning of when I was due. I accepted projects right up until my due date, but they all knew towards the end that I might have to send work back in a hurry and incomplete, hee hee. They were willing to take that risk.
Then, about... See more Hi Josie,
First, all the best for the upcoming birth!
I've gone through this twice as a freelancer, each time taking 3 to 5 full months off from freelancing, and have only lost 1 client because of it.
I gave all clients good advance warning of when I was due. I accepted projects right up until my due date, but they all knew towards the end that I might have to send work back in a hurry and incomplete, hee hee. They were willing to take that risk.
Then, about 2 to 3 weeks before returning to work, I sent all my clients a reminder of when I would be back at my desk, and again on the day of my return. In both cases, business after mat leave just seemed to pick up right where it left off.
Hope it's the same for your and enjoy that precious time with your baby!
Mara ▲ Collapse
| | | | Josie St-Amour
Canada
Local time: 11:09
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
Mara Bertelsen wrote:
Then, about 2 to 3 weeks before returning to work, I sent all my clients a reminder of when I would be back at my desk, and again on the day of my return. In both cases, business after mat leave just seemed to pick up right where it left off.
Thanks Mara!
I love this notice it's a pretty good idea!
josie
| | |
|
|
|
NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 11:09
Member (2002)
French to English
+ ...
MODERATOR | Congratulations Josie ! | Sep 8, 2006 |
That's great news!
My third child was born April 11 of this year (she's gooing and gaaing in the background as I type this). I, too, share workloads throughout the year with a handful of trusted colleagues and so far it's worked out just fine.
I sent out a reminder last week that I would be back to work this week, and my clients are sending me work again, along with their congratulatory notes.
There's lots of work out there, so you'll be just fine after a t... See more That's great news!
My third child was born April 11 of this year (she's gooing and gaaing in the background as I type this). I, too, share workloads throughout the year with a handful of trusted colleagues and so far it's worked out just fine.
I sent out a reminder last week that I would be back to work this week, and my clients are sending me work again, along with their congratulatory notes.
There's lots of work out there, so you'll be just fine after a two-week start-up (or so).
One caveat --
Just don't try to go back to work too quickly -- I did, this time, and have regretted it. Sleep deprivation takes its toll, and sometimes you don't really see that until after the fact (when you're finally rested). We need to be "on" for our job as translators and interpreters.
Good luck, and here's hoping for an easy delivery and a quiet baby!
Nancy ▲ Collapse
| | | | Laura Gentili
Italy
Local time: 17:09
Member (2003)
English to Italian
+ ...
| My experience! | Sep 8, 2006 |
Congratulations!
When I had to stop working due to my triplet pregnancy (i.e. a few months before giving birth) I informed all my customers. After birth I took a few months off and then I informed them I had resumed work. I did not lose any client, they all came back. I would rather do it this way than suggesting using other colleagues.
Enjoy this precious experience and don't worry about work. Be reassured that work will start flowing back in as soon as you are ready.
... See more Congratulations!
When I had to stop working due to my triplet pregnancy (i.e. a few months before giving birth) I informed all my customers. After birth I took a few months off and then I informed them I had resumed work. I did not lose any client, they all came back. I would rather do it this way than suggesting using other colleagues.
Enjoy this precious experience and don't worry about work. Be reassured that work will start flowing back in as soon as you are ready.
Laura ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sophia Hundt (X)
Local time: 10:09
Russian to English
+ ...
| A slightly different perspective | Sep 8, 2006 |
Congratulations Josie! (That's what I named my daughter, by the way).
While this is not exactly an answer to your question, I actually only became a freelancer after I'd had my baby (when she was about 3 months old) and I still do it. I found that my work did not interfere with my mothering and vice versa (After all, there's a lot that can be done after baby goes to sleep). You may very well be able to and want to do some.
I also think that's it's perfectly reasonable ... See more Congratulations Josie! (That's what I named my daughter, by the way).
While this is not exactly an answer to your question, I actually only became a freelancer after I'd had my baby (when she was about 3 months old) and I still do it. I found that my work did not interfere with my mothering and vice versa (After all, there's a lot that can be done after baby goes to sleep). You may very well be able to and want to do some.
I also think that's it's perfectly reasonable to tell your clients up front that you are expecting to be off for a certain period of time, and then contact them again when you are willing to start working and tell them you are available. As long as they have worked with you for a while and know you as a reliable translator providing high-quality output, they will be very happy to work with you again.
Good luck,
Sophia ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Congratulations Josie! | Sep 11, 2006 |
In my experience, I told my clients I was pregnant and due at the beginning of April, and continued working until the day I gave birth. I already had a prepared e-mail letting all my clients know I gave birth and I will take some time off to get back on my feet again. While I was in the hospital, I told my husband to send that e-mail, and the result was that I got plenty "Congratulation" mails, but no one minded my absence. I even... See more
| | |
|
|
|
Josie St-Amour
Canada
Local time: 11:09
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you all for you replies.
I just advised all my clients they pretty much all told me that they really appreciated that I was so considerate to let them know about the time I'll be off and that they'll all look forward to my return.
Fiew... one stress gone
To be quite honest I intend to take as long as I can, as I rather spend my time "off" at the gym regaining my body ... See more Thank you all for you replies.
I just advised all my clients they pretty much all told me that they really appreciated that I was so considerate to let them know about the time I'll be off and that they'll all look forward to my return.
Fiew... one stress gone
To be quite honest I intend to take as long as I can, as I rather spend my time "off" at the gym regaining my body
Once again thanks!
Josie ▲ Collapse
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » A pregnant freelancer | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
| | TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
