Procedures for Interpreters
Scheduling assignments:
When leaving a message on the VIRS answering machine or sending
an e-mail responding to a specific job please include:
- job date (month, day)-this is crucial, jobs are filed by date in our book
- location
- if you are available or not. Please let us know even if you are not available as soon as possible
so we can contact interpreters further away if needed.
Let us know of your work schedule/availability and vacations to
avoid us calling you during those times. Also, if you plan to be
away and want jobs booked into your schedule, please leave us a
list of your availability and we will put jobs into your schedule
based on your preferences.
Definition of terms:
"Hold" - When we ask you to "hold" a date and
time in your book, this means we are still checking on some aspect
of the job. So, hold that time in your schedule until you hear back
from us, which will be as soon as possible. If it happens that during
the time you are holding a job for us, you are offered another job
for that time, please call us to check on the status of the job
before accepting. If you are not willing to hold something just
let us know.
Some of the reasons why we use this hold method.
- Sometimes we cannot locate an interpreter for the requested
time, so we ask the interpreters for another time when they would
be available. The hiring organization then needs to contact all
those involved to determine if the new time works. It is important
for the interpreter to hold that time until we hear back from
the organization.
- We are sometimes asked by an organization to find an interpreter
for “as soon as possible”. We contact interpreters
and find out their availability and then confirm the interpreter
who is available the soonest.
- We are waiting to find an interpreter to team with you.
"Confirmed" - This means we have put you down as doing
that job and have called and given your name, phone number and an
address if needed (for preparation materials) to the contact person.
We inform them that they should discuss the following with the interpreter
directly: rates, cancellation policy, and retainer fees (if used).
At the time we confirm a job with you, you will receive the following
information: billing, contact person, deaf and hearing people in
the meeting, location and team interpreter’s name. If you
have been confirmed for a job and for some reason you are unable
to do the job, you are responsible to find a substitute for yourself
and to notify the hiring agency of the change. In cases of illness
and last minute emergencies, VIRS will assist you in trying to locate
a substitute.
Interpreter fees:
Interpreter billing policies vary and should be negotiated on
an individual basis. Rates may vary depending on the nature and
timing of the assignment and the level of experience and certification
of the interpreter. Some common practices include a minimum fee,
hourly rates, charges for mileage and travel time, cancellation
policies and retainer fees. |
