Introduction
In this blog, we want to talk about the work well-being of interpreters. The work well-being of interpreters is a topic that, in recent years, attracted many scholars’ attention. When it comes to public services that communicate with non-native clients, interpreters make a huge contribution to society. In other words, inadequate communication between public services and the clients without native language skills affects the quality of received services especially if the parties have limited knowledge of English.
Interpreting for different services and individuals is a meaningful job that creates a sense of being valuable and helpful and increases a sense of belonging to society. In our recent satisfaction survey for Youpret interpreters, we found that a high percentage of interpreters feel valuable for using their skills and expertise and helping people without sufficient knowledge of Finnish. However, we cannot deny that while interpreters facilitate these services they might undergo difficulties in taking care of their own well-being.
The common areas where interpreters often work include psychotherapy and counseling, medical settings, legal and administrative settings such as asylum hearings, employment offices, etc. Work well-being can be promoted by essential factors in daily work. These factors include employees' work capacity, ergonomics, and safety. According to the research that one of the Youpret trainees had done on interpreters’ well-being, work well-being has three aspects: physical, psychological, and social.
Physical work well-being
Studies show that physical work well-being encompasses physical working conditions such as workplace cleanliness, temperature, noise, and the availability of safe and functional tools. So it is recommended that the interpreters pay attention to the physical working conditions of the work environment. If attention to physical working conditions is lacking, it can lead to various problems in the workplace, such as work burnout, hypersensitivity, or a decrease in the meaningfulness of work.
Work burnout can stem from various factors but always affects the physical performance and alertness of the employee. Physical strain can be prevented through good design of workspaces and processes, investing in ergonomic tools, and providing proper training. Regardless of the working method, it is advisable to take care of the body during the workday and breaks to prevent strain. The importance of breaks, especially in work involving repetitive, static, or one-sided motor movements, is emphasized. Physically demanding jobs that frequently put a strain on particular body parts highlight the importance of good working conditions. Unilateral strain at work is quite harmful to one's health, especially to the neck, shoulders, and back. So it’s recommended that you incorporate stretching and the type of exercise that you can do with your chair or when sitting. Here you can find some helpful ideas for office exercises.
It is also important to keep in mind that the primary prerequisite for the recovery of physical energy levels is an adequate amount and quality of sleep. In addition, the mind needs to take breaks during working hours as well. Here you can read an article about
why your brain needs breaks and what kind of break is helpful. For example, checking emails by phone during break or checking Instagram is not counted as a break that your mind needs. On the other hand, playing a puzzle or a 20-minute walk can make your mind rest well and prevent fatigue.
Another important factor in physical health is having a healthy diet. Because making healthy food choices at work can enhance your efficiency and effectiveness. It can also improve your immune system, and your quality of sleep at night, and help you concentrate better during the day. Learning strategies for eating healthier at work will assist you in making better food decisions and creating habits that will keep your energy levels high during the workday.
Psychological work well-being
Psychological work well-being plays an increasingly central role in overall well-being. Psychological distress arises from urgency and stress. Besides, the work atmosphere creates pressures in daily work as well. The meaningfulness of work, sufficient leisure time, the balance between work and rest, and support from supervisors contribute to mental well-being in workplaces. The uncertainty of job retention, meaningless work, and underpayment cause distress in the work community.
Moreover, in the context of “public service interpreting” or “community interpreting”, as a significant portion of interpretations is related to refugees or immigrants, external factors, such as wars or forced displacement in immigrants’ home countries, can impact the subjects and themes of interpretations in a host country. Work tasks for interpreters can involve very personal and heavy topics that may not be anticipated in advance. The uncertainty about the nature of the task or the content to be interpreted can feel psychologically stressful.
Any of these conversations may raise specific reactions or feelings (i.e. sorrow, anger, or shame) in the interpreter; but in all of these situations, the interpreter must stay calm, listen to the conversation, and interpret it without showing their personal feelings. If not taken care of, this might lead to vicarious or secondary trauma which happens when individuals are exposed to the traumatic experiences of others and can’t express their feelings. However, it is valuable to know that interpreters are allowed to show their feelings or when difficult to continue tell the client that they need to pause for a moment to be able to handle their feelings.
This topic is covered in the Youpret Academy app, which is a mobile learning app, that aims to help interpreters familiarize themselves with the topics of interpretation so that they can prepare for assignments better. In the course series, it is discussed that interpreters are allowed to talk about their feelings related to challenging interpretations. As long as they don't reveal information about any specific interpretation or people involved, the confidentiality of the interpretation will not be undermined. Interpreters can also learn about time management skills in the Academy courses.
During our recent training event in Helsinki, the lecturers talked about ways for interpreters to handle stress, setting practical goals for interpreting, looking at challenging situations from a neutral viewpoint, and recognizing external factors that can help reduce work-related stress. In the training session in Helsinki, it was also discussed about the benefits of professional supervision. One of the speakers elaborated on the benefits of professional supervision, Professional supervision is a form of psychological help provided by mental health professionals. The benefits would be that the interpreters could have an official and professional channel to discuss those emotions related to challenging interpretations.
Sometimes psychological recovery from mental strain at work requires detachment from the stress caused by work. However, if you take care of your well-being daily you will not end up in a burnout situation. Burnout is characterized as a feeling that arises from long-term job-induced stress and is particularly prevalent among professionals in the human services sector, such as educators, translators, and interpreters. Dedicating time for leisure and balancing between work and rest as a time management skill can prevent emotional and mental strain.
Sufficient leisure time is very important, especially for recovery from working loads. Consider establishing a range for the number of interpretations and daily goals, factoring in the mental and physical well-being of those involved, such as professionals in human services. Prioritize listening to individual needs and assessing available resources when planning the workload. To promote mental well-being, especially when dealing with challenging subjects like war-related interpretations, encourage incorporating daily walks, gym sessions, reading books, and exploring interesting topics to expand vocabulary.
Besides,Olga Muukkonen at Youpret is in charge of informing the interpreters about the events or courses that can improve the psychological well–being of interpreters. We understood from our recent satisfaction survey, that almost 89% of our interpreters feel valued for their work. The comments such as “My heart bursts with happiness when I was able to be useful to Finnish society" or “My work helps to minimize challenges and mistakes for immigrants and the authorities.” indicate a sense of meaningfulness at work which is one of the factors of psychological well-being.
Social well-being
Social capital builds up positive interactions among an organization's members. Good social interactions lower the chance of being sick and raise the possibility of staying motivated at work and accomplishing objectives. The relationships that people build with one another and with groups in the workplace are known as social capital. Social and friendly interactions with coworkers are essential for social work well-being during the working day. It should be easy to approach coworkers, and conversations about work-related issues should be open.
When considering interpreting work, we notice that most of the interpreters work independently and remotely. Statistics show that a high percentage of interpreters are usually freelancers. Working independently and as a freelancer can sometimes be difficult as social capital which is considered one of the pillars of work well-being is lacking. Working alone makes it more difficult to dedicate time to finding co-workers and communicating with them. Besides, the nature of interpreting also leads to less communication compared to other occupations. For example, the confidentiality of interpreting sessions, not being allowed to express and show your personal opinion and feelings, and the fact that interpreting requires a quiet and confidential space are some of the inseparable features of interpreting.
However, difficult necessarily doesn't mean impossible. Freelance interpreters still need to make their own communities and build bonds with other interpreters. They need to find their fellow interpreters, make connections, and make an effort to meet them. In the previously mentioned survey, many interpreters wished to have group interactions and discussions. They emphasized the significance of peer engagement, highlighting the benefits of hearing the opinions of fellow interpreters and their collective problem-solving skills. This sense of community and knowledge-sharing is vital in a field that often requires adaptability and continuous learning.
Here at Youpret, the interpreters are invited to online group discussions four times a year. Youpret interpreters from all over Finland can participate and discuss their ideas. Unfortunately, despite the demand for group discussions, most of the participants are new interpreters who are eager to know more about Youpret, however, these sessions are basically for every interpreter who is working with Youpret. As social well-being must be taken seriously such sessions are a good chance to meet new people and expand connections.
Youpret aims to continue and help the interpreters' community to find each other. For example, in the recent on-site training in Helsinki, we organized a training session for our interpreters on stress management and work supervision. As we noticed the interpreters only participated in the training but were also eager to network with each other. Although there was limited time in the training, the interpreters made the most of the breaks with lively discussions. Considering the grateful feedback from interpreters we are planning to organize such on-site meetings more. While we make an effort for interpreters' networking, no one can deny the main role of interpreters in their social well-being. It is helpful to find fellow interpreters through social media or participate in conferences related to interpreters and translators. You can read more about ideas to socialize as a freelancer.
Conclusion
To sum up, we reviewed three aspects of physical, psychological, and social well-being regarding interpreting jobs. We noticed that doing office exercises, sticking to a healthy eating habit and enough sleep are crucial for ensuring physical well-being; taking short breaks, reading more about mental health, finding a balance between work and leisure time, and talking to an expert can improve interpreters’ psychological well-being; and participating in forums and conferences about interpreting, finding fellow interpreters through social media and participating in the events for interpreters can improve interpreters’ social well-being.
In conclusion, for interpreters, taking care of well-being can sometimes be more challenging than some other jobs and it may need more dedication and effort. Given that many interpreters operate as freelancers or are self-employed, there is no organization responsible for their welfare. So, it’s true that with freedom comes responsibility.
While freelance interpreters enjoy the flexibility of setting their own work hours and avoiding exclusive commitments to a single employer, they must also prioritize their health. This might mean putting in a bit more effort, but at the end of the day, the rewarding sense of autonomy and satisfaction coming from being in control and taking charge of your own life makes it all worthwhile!
Author:
Aida Jodeiri
Aida works at Youpret. She studies environmental policy and law at the University of Eastern Finland, her first master's degree is in human rights law. She has been focusing on survey projects and interpreters’ well-being-related topics at Youpret. In her free time, Aida likes to dance and play badminton.
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Sources
1. Tian Chen, The interplay between psychological well-being, stress, and burnout: Implications for translators and interpreters <The interplay between psychological well-being, stress, and burnout: Implications for translators and interpreters: Heliyon (cell.com)>
2. Self-care for Interpreters in challenging situations https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/self-care-for-interpreters-challenging-situations.pdf
3. Miro Teräväinen, Tulkkien työhyvinvoinnin kehittäminen alustataloudessa, Amk-opinnäytetyö 2022 Myyntityön koulutusohjelman tutkinto, Haaga-Helia. https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/750512/Opinnäytetyö - Miro Teräväinen PDF.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y
4. Geiling, Angelika & Knaevelsrud, Christine & Böttche, Maria & Stammel, Nadine, Psychological distress, exhaustion, and work-related correlates among interpreters working in refugee care: results of a nationwide online survey in Germany’ (2022) European Journal of Psychotraumatology. 13. 10.1080/20008198.2022.2046954
5. Angelika Geiling, Maria Böttche, Christine Knaevelsrud, and Nadine Stammel, ‘A comparison of interpreters’ wellbeing and work-related characteristics in the care of refugees across different work settings’ Geiling et al. BMC Public Health (2022) 22:1635