Language services professionals

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Remote Working – The Language Services Industry Shift

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Language Services Shift to Remote Working

Adapting to a Remote Working Environment 

Around the globe, many office workers are entering their fourth or fifth month with a shift to remote working due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In the language services industry, employers and employees alike have been shifting to this new full-time remote working paradigm faster than they could have ever predicted. However, working from home (WFH)  – particularly in this industry – is not necessarily a new concept. In fact, remote working for language services providers (LSPs) has been somewhat of a mixed bag. While many LSPs have been operating with remote teams for many years, some have primarily operated with traditional office settings – but COVID-19 is changing all of this. 

On-site interpreters and LSPs that have traditionally operated with in-house staff have arguably been hit the hardest since the pandemic began. For these professionals, shifting swiftly to a remote working operation, providing staff with appropriate support and equipment, and ensuring continued effective internal and external communication cannot have been an easy feat – not to mention the sudden loss of revenue that once came from on-site interpreting and translation services. However, LSPs focused on remote interpreting and translation technology, for example (or language services technology in general) have likely seen an increase in business as “clients who typically rely on on-site interpreting (outside of events and conferences) experiment with other setups.”1

That being said, having no physical office epicenter is still new for many project managers, team leads, localization engineers, and other localization professionals who until now have worked in close quarters in an office-centric environment. 

Even though many LSPs had already incorporated a WFH policy in their employee benefit package in an attempt to allure the best talent (or in response to increasing employee demands for flexibility in the workplace and even in some cases, in an effort to save on office space), the pandemic has now forced many to accept permanent remote home offices as a working model for their employees. And yet, there is an important distinction to be made between working from home and working remotely. 

Working in the Office

While working directly in the office requires employees to commute, it also allows for face-to-face socializing and certainly makes it more convenient to conduct regular team meetings. And, by its very nature, working in the office encourages a more structured workday which may or may not be viewed as a positive depending on the individual. Scheduled start, lunch, and end times might work for some, but for others who like to start early, work through their lunch, or extend their workday, this might be seen as an inconvenience. 

Remote Working

Up until recently, WFH was generally a temporary arrangement of sorts and for the lucky employee it meant taking a day or two during the week to stay at home with their laptop. However, working remotely as a permanent arrangement requires a different set of abilities and work skills. A full-time remote worker must be first and foremost comfortable with physically working alone all day, be a self-starter, have exemplary time management and communication skills, and carry a proactive attitude. And let’s not assume that everybody loves working remotely. In fact, some employees really miss going to the office, standing around the coffee machine engaging in casual conversation, having a commute to catch up on reading, a finite start and end to their working day, and a degree of separation between home and office. According to researchers from University College London, it takes approximately two months to form a habit, although in some cases it may take up to 250 days, which is significantly longer2. In the current situation, it may behoove you as an employer to take stock of where your employees are in this transition.

Some localization professionals may already be there, enjoying the flexible work hours, taking a quick break to put on the washing machine or a longer one to take the dog out for a walk, and performing productively. But others may still be struggling to adjust to the new realities of virtual work. No matter the current level of adjustment your employees are experiencing, here are some effective  tips that might help them – and you – move forward.

Tips to Get into the Habit of Remote Working

Communication

The lack of face-to-face time in a remote environment can be a major setback, particularly for those in managerial positions. When working from home, whatever your choice of technology, make sure that when you connect with your team it is in front of a camera. Visual contact should be maintained as much as possible. It not only helps keep everyone focused but also allows you to monitor body language. For those who miss being in the office, this is a chance to at least get to see your colleagues via video. When remote working, frequent communication becomes a necessity. Providing and receiving timely feedback, as well as answering and getting your questions addressed is a must so don’t forget to write down a list of topics to discuss or add them to the meeting agenda as you go.

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

If you have regularly scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, try to stick to the planned times as much as possible. The unexpected can happen – everybody can understand that – so if you absolutely have to skip the meeting, try to reschedule it within the same week. It will help everyone to stay on track of what needs to be discussed. 

There is no such thing as overcommunication – in fact, effective communication is one of the pillars of remote work and most definitely applies to your project managers as well. Communication from leadership must flow and continue despite the many months that have already gone by since the onset of the pandemic. Regularly scheduled all-company calls that offer an opportunity for open questions, or even a newsletter from leadership that addresses questions collected anonymously by managers are a couple more communication strategies to consider.

Sponsored Personality Tests

Help managers and employees to get to know their teams better by offering to sponsor personality tests, particularly those that can help reveal dynamics between coworkers, such as the Keirsey Test, the DiSC model, Belbin Team Roles, or the more traditional Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Getting to know each team member individually would still be a priority, but these tests help get a much better understanding of the people working in your team and can help avoid possible misunderstandings and conflict stemming from this new work environment.

Dedicated Working Space

In a remote working environment, the ideal is to set up a separate room at your home where you can have a virtual office. The physical separation helps create distinct work and home spaces. When you work in a separate office you can close, and hopefully also lock, the door when your partner, family, and even house mates feel the urge to interrupt or pop in for a chat.

Proper Equipment and Clearly Defined Rules

What can you do if you don’t have a spare room in your home to dedicate to an office? Find a space to claim as your own, a corner in your bedroom or living room, and invest in some comfortable office furniture and decor. A good comfortable chair, a wide enough monitor, or monitors if you can make that work in the space, a quality webcam and earphones, and plenty of natural light will work wonders. If you have kids set some rules around access to the office space, a cutely designed “do not disturb” sign on the door may work for some.

It all Boils Down to Effective Communication

If you have shifted to remote working, you should make it clear to others when you will and will not be available. There is nothing more frustrating than looking for somebody and being unable to connect, especially if time was already set aside. At the same time, LSPs should actively discourage their employees from sending and responding to email requests after work hours. We know it is tempting – it is after all a very hard-working industry – but our mental and physical wellbeing have never been more important to combat this virus.

What strategies have you and your team implemented in order to successfully work from home? Reach out to GIM Writing Services to share your company’s unique approach to managing remote teams. We’d love to hear from you!

Written by Ronait Tynan, Project Manager, Translator, Life Sciences

 

REFERENCES

1 Industry News · by Seyma Albarino On March 13, et al. “The State of the Language Industry as Coronavirus Goes Global.” Slator, 13 Mar. 2020, slator.com/industry-news/the-state-of-the-language-industry-as-coronavirus-goes-global/.

2 How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejsp.674

 

Basque Country

Euskal Herria

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Euskal Herria

Basque

Did you know that Basque is one of the oldest languages in Western Europe? For centuries, linguists and historians have analyzed, deconstructed, studied, and tried to trace the Basque language back to its roots. Yet to this day, nobody has been able to pinpoint its exact origin. In the linguistics field, Basque is known as a language isolate, or what we call an “orphan” in the world of family language trees. And, although all scholars seem to have agreed that Basque (or Euskara) is not of Indo-European origin like Spanish, French or English for example, there are more differences in opinion than there are similarities.

Some scholars claim the language of Euskara resembles Berber, a language spoken in Northern Africa. Others find linguistic similarities with the Georgian language spoken in the Caucasus, a possible but very distant cousin. Many say it is a language of prehistoric origins, and a small few have even suggested that it comes from outer space! Nothing like a bit of linguistic mystery to get the imagination going.

The Mysterious Basques

In Basque, Euskal Herria literally means “the land or country where Basque is spoken.” It is an area of approximately 3,900 square miles (10,000 square kilometers) straddling the Western Pyrenees in what is modern-day Spain and France. Most Basques are usually bilingual, speaking Basque and either Spanish or French, and according to EKE (Basque Cultural Institute) there are approximately 750,000 speakers in the world. When speaking about the Basque Country and its borders it is almost impossible to avoid politics, particularly given its very recent violent past for the claim of independence. Luckily, the still ever-present independence conflict has now turned mostly peaceful so let’s just avoid that topic altogether and focus on the wonderful culturally distinct area that it is.

Vitoria-Gasteiz

Christmas 2019 was the last time I travelled to the Basque Country to visit family. You have probably heard about the city of Bilbao, the twentieth century industrial town today turned modern-hip city housing the Guggenheim museum. Or perhaps you have heard about San Sebastian with its glitzy International Film Festival, fine sand beaches full of surfers, and bars displaying their gastronomical delights. Both cities have much to offer, however, I will virtually take you to the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the de-facto capital of the Basque Country and the lesser known of these three larger cities south of the Pyrenees. 

The winter holiday is a nice time of the year to visit Vitoria if you don’t mind cold weather. In fact, any time of the year is a good time as you will easily avoid the swarms of tourists further up north. While I am likely biased, Vitoria is actually picturesque and well worth the visit. The city and surrounding areas are great for hiking and biking, there are museums, palaces, and churches to see, as well as many restaurants and bars. Plus Napoleon’s armies were defeated there, so plenty of history to explore if that’s your thing. 

One of the first things we always do when we arrive, after dumping our bags at grandpa’s, is take the tram to Sancho el Sabio street and start our pintxos tour. The timing of our arrival is generally planned to coincide with the evening pintxo fare, around 7 or 8 pm, but don’t fret – you can find pintxos earlier in the day in many bars.

The Basque “Pintxo” Culture

A pintxo is a piece of bread with a small bit of food on top held together by a toothpick. Normally you can eat a pintxo in a bite or two, making this the main distinguishing feature between a pintxo and a Spanish tapa for which you generally need a fork to eat. My kids love pintxos! The variety of toppings make it easy to find something they will actually eat, and I assure you my two are quite picky. For them, having something to eat while not being forced to sit down and listen to the adults go “blah blah blah” is heaven. And for us, well… pintxo culture makes it totally acceptable to take the kids bar hopping, enjoy little bites to eat while tasting local tempranillo wines from the nearby Rioja Alavesa or the fresh and little acidic txakoli, a Basque white wine. What is there not to love? We like to make our way up the hill from bar to bar to the medieval center of the town before strolling back with a full belly to catch the tram.

The medieval part of town dates back more than 8 centuries and it is gorgeous – an almond-shaped quarter with pedestrian streets, a mix of centennial palaces, spectacular old churches, modern urban sculptures, and a ton of activity around the holiday time. At any bar you will be hard-pressed to find a seat as they are usually packed with friends catching up, chatting and eating, especially during weekends. Submit to the culture and take in all the hustle and bustle – you will be glad you did. Even though Basque people are sometimes reserved, overall, they are good humored and friendly.

Languages in the Basque Country

What I have noticed over the years when I go back is the increasing number of people that I hear speaking Basque in the street, particularly younger people. The most recent estimate is that 1 in every 6 people in the Spanish side of the Basque country now speak Euskara. Otherwise, you will hear Spanish spoken and nobody will look at you strangely either if that’s all you speak.

According to Hella Basque, “bilingual Euskara speakers increased by 6% from 1991 to 2016.”1 

Although this is quite hopeful, on the French side the number of Basque speakers is dwindling, and now only 1 in every 10 inhabitants speaks it. Despite the efforts to revive the language on the Spanish side, which I bear witness are being fruitful, UNESCO has declared Euskara as an endangered language which makes me sad.

Won’t You Join Me in Basque Country?

I feel very lucky to have been born and raised in such a culturally different part of Europe. I feel honored to have had the chance to learn and speak (even if at a rather basic level) a very unique and ancient language, and even more honored to now be able to share all of it with my family and friends – and of course, all of you. 

I definitely can’t wait for the next time I go to the place I still call home. Won’t you join me there?

 

Written by Ronait Tynan

 

A Heart Made with Hands

COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE – Part ONE

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COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE – Part ONE

While we wish to impress upon our readers the critical importance of ensuring the delivery of timely, accurate, and relevant information regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic, we also wish to share with you, our “rapid response” to this global crisis. It is our hope that our best practices ease your stress level, if even just a little. We’re all in this together.

– The delsurtranslations team

Partnering With Language Services In Times of Crisis

While it is true that humans have survived countless global health crises throughout the years, none have had as wide a reach nor as devastating an effect as COVID-19. At the time that this article was written, there were nearly 1.9 million cases of this novel virus around the globe but this number continues to rise at an alarming rate.* 

Not only do businesses, government agencies, and healthcare providers need to act swiftly and responsibly in order to stop the spread of this deadly virus, they also require strategic  partnerships – and Language Services Providers (LSPs) play a pivotal role in this equation. LSPs bridge the communication gap between all sectors of global communities and the critical information that will stop this pandemic in its tracks. With our “Rapid Response” initiative, delsurtranslations is one such LSP that immediately took necessary measures to keep our staff safe while collaborating with our clients to ensure the continuation of uninterrupted services.  

*Worldometer (updates COVID-19 statistics every 24 hours) 

Paving the Way in Times of Crises 

If you follow us, you likely already know that delsurtranslations has nearly two decades of experience delivering professional healthcare translation services and that we are strategically located in Argentina. As such, we are uniquely qualified to offer professional language services in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, as well as in several Native Latin American languages. However, what you might not realize is how well prepared we are to deal head on with global crises.

As a global company, delsurtranslations remains current with global news. To that end, as early as December of 2019, we already began to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and anticipated how this might impact our industry. Here are just a few of the immediate measures we implemented to keep our employees safe while continuing to offer uninterrupted services to you, our esteemed customers.

Technology Preparation and Maintenance

Well before our own government mandated a national lockdown, we made sure our cloud-based services and our TMS system were updated, maintained, and in good standing. We purchased laptop computers for some of our team members to prepare for a likely work-from-home transition. We also advised our third-party collaborators on the importance of investing in reliable operating systems (OS), CAT licenses, and of regularly running antivirus and spyware scans. This advice comes from our own professional experience – delsurtranslations practices what we preach.

In addition to our advanced translation and localization technology, delsurtranslations uses shared online collaborative platforms and accessible communication tools for both internal and cross-company communication. We have regularly-scheduled meetings which allow us to seamlessly share updates and work collaboratively on ongoing projects with our remote teams. In fact, with our built-in infrastructure for remote working, we haven’t skipped a beat.

When the situation started getting worse, delsurtranslations was ready.

Office Preparation and Work-from-home Transition

We lost no time strengthening our sanitation practices and even color-coded our cloths to avoid cross-contamination. We ensured that all employee spaces were added to the regular list of items to be disinfected, and we stressed appropriate handwashing practices as well as safety precautions at home and in public. However, with our employees’ safety as our top priority, we didn’t wait. We immediately began transitioning everyone to a remote working environment even before the total lockdown was declared by the national government. 

But after 10 days of total lockdown, it was time to implement further practices.

Caring For Our Staff 

Although a great many of our staff already work from home, and although we have years of experience working with remote teams, some of our staff have been accustomed to working physically within our offices. So, after 10 days of total lockdown, we were concerned about our staff’s physical and mental wellbeing. In collaboration with our human resources department which is managed by a board-certified psychologist, we quickly mobilized, helping all of our employees adjust to this new ecosystem. We provided our staff with guidance and tips on how to follow a well-balanced work-from-home routine. In fact, we speak often about the need to take frequent breaks, drink plenty of water, stretch and exercise, breathe fresh air and, of course, relax, laugh, and support one another through this difficult time. 

Caring For Our Clients

At this same time we also noticed a sharp increase in translation requests. We further noticed that some of our clients were becoming overwhelmed by a sudden spike in work volume coupled with the growing urgency in turnaround time. They were also clearly concerned about their own safety, as well as the safety of their employees and loved ones. So, our response was immediate and effective. We not only offered our own words of encouragement but also kicked into high gear, offering to help our clients with project management and technology support.

We even counseled some of our clients, sharing professional advice, especially for those whose main source of revenue focuses on onsite interpreting – a language services sector that has suffered severe setbacks. We have also increased our collaboration with other LSPs invested in the life sciences sector, and have been actively working on translations for clinical trials as well as protocols directly related to COVID-19. We sincerely hope that one of these studies will eventually lead to a successful vaccine. In some small way, we’ll then feel that we made an impact in the fight against this devastating disease. 

Our Compass Rose Shines On 

But probably the most important ingredient to the delsurtranslations’ rapid response to COVID-19, is our passion to keep our spirits high. After all, isn’t laughter the best medicine? Yes, these are trying times indeed, but we all need to pave the way forward in times of crisis. To that end, we’ve encouraged our staff to share pics of working from home in their pajamas and with their favorite flip flops on their feet, playing with their pets or their children. We invite you to follow us on our social media channels so you can join in on the fun. 

Overall, we understand that despite a difference in nationalities, borders, and governments, we are all one human race. We are all suffering. We are all fearful. So, in order to calm our clients’ fears and ease their pain, we’ve decided to work during our national holidays to continuously serve our global clients with uninterrupted communication. As our website so eloquently states, “regardless of the fluctuating global market, our compass rose shines on.”

Please know that you can lean on delsurtranslations throughout this entire ordeal and beyond. Reach out to us today. 

REFERENCES

“Coronavirus Cases:” Worldometer, www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/.

Stathakis, Chris. “Using Color Coded Rags to Provide a Healthy Work Environment.” Janitorial Services in Michigan, www.stathakis.com/blog/bid/344830/using-color-coded-rags-to-provide-a-healthy-work-environment.

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Human Resources Translation Services

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Human Resources Translation Services

Latin American Translation Solutions For Your Company

When most people hear the term, “human resources”, they immediately think of that intimidating department within an organization that recruits, hires, and fires employees. And while HR departments are indeed charged with the hiring (and terminating) of employees, their responsibilities extend to a great many other areas as well.

Some might describe human resources as the virtual lifeblood of their organization. After all, HR professionals are responsible for managing employee performance and maintaining employee satisfaction. They oversee payroll, benefits, and training, and are responsible for creating, communicating, distributing, and enforcing company-wide policies. And that means documentation – lots and lots of documentation.

Common Translation Challenges Of Managing A Global Workforce 

HR managers, talent experts, and on-site training specialists work diligently to ensure all employees are well informed and fully prepared to carry out the duties of their job. To that end, HR departments develop complex documents, including audio, video, and online training materials, but for companies with a multilingual workforce, HR documentation also requires translation into additional languages (and possibly even localization) in order to meet their staff’s linguistically- and culturally-diverse needs.

Sometimes HR departments demand quick delivery of translated internal messages in emergency situations (such as the 2020 COVID-19 emerging pandemic) or when time-sensitive issues arise. Many also require a flawless translation system that integrates well with their CMS. HR departments also require translation services that clearly communicate their corporate culture for every member to understand and embrace. From employment contracts, e-learning platforms, and training manuals, to company protocols, policies, and procedures, HR departments that manage a global workforce have come to rely heavily on professional HR translation services.

US-based MNCs Set Their Sights On Latin America

An increasing number of countries throughout Latin America now offer more favorable production and operational costs, improved tax regulations, and new trade agreements – and US-based multinational corporations (MNCs) have taken notice. As Alfredo Rivera, the group president of Coca-Cola in Latin America puts it, although in the past, the region has seen bouts of high inflation and currency depreciation, “stability [is] returning to this part of the world.”1

According to Coca-Cola, their people are as diverse as their communities. With locations in over 200 countries spanning the globe, Coca-Cola employs over 700,000 employees worldwide. In Mexico alone, “Coca-Cola’s sports drink Powerade… is now the market leader, gaining over 39 value share points in the 2007 to 2016 period.”2In 2017, General Motors (GM) reorganized its Latin American regional structure by creating three new divisions. GM Andina now covers business in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, GM Mercosur covers Brazil and Argentina, and GM Central covers Bolivia, Chile,Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.In response to Delta’s 2019 announcement to actively pursue a joint venture with LATAM, the largest airline carrier in South America, American Airlines is now joining forces with GOL, Brazil’s largest airline.

Coca-Cola General Motors American Airlines
According to Coca-Cola, their people are as diverse as their communities. With locations in over 200 countries spanning the globe, Coca-Cola employs over 700,000 employees worldwide. In Mexico alone, “Coca-Cola’s sports drink Powerade… is now the market leader, gaining over 39 value share points in the 2007 to 2016 period.”2 In 2017, General Motors (GM) reorganized its Latin American regional structure by creating three new divisions. GM Andina now covers business in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, GM Mercosur covers Brazil and Argentina, and GM Central covers Bolivia, Chile,Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. In response to Delta’s 2019 announcement to actively pursue a joint venture with LATAM, the largest airline carrier in South America, American Airlines is now joining forces with GOL, Brazil’s largest airline.

 

Outside of these multinational giant corporations, other US-based MNCs in tech, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals, retail and more are grappling for their competitive edge throughout Latin America – but let’s not forget Europe. An increasing number of European-based MNCs are also turning to Latin America for exciting investment and business-growth opportunities

European Growth And Investment Opportunities In LATAM

In Spain and Portugal alone, Latin America represents a growing fertile ground for business opportunities. In fact, according to the Real Instituto Elcano, in 2017, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil accounted for 21.5 percent of Spain’s total investment abroad, an increase of more than 14 percent from the previous year. And, although Brazil remains one of Portugal’s most important international markets, Chile has also risen in the ranks. In 2017, InvestChile reported that as many as 30 Portuguese companies are now “operating in different sectors of the Chilean economy.”3

Companies in Switzerland are also investing in Latin America. Vostok Emerging Finance (VEF) and KiWi, two Swedish-based investment companies have both recently announced significant investments to help Mexican SMEs by extending credit to entrepreneurs. Over the past decade, the UK has also been looking to new markets. Today, Latin America offers a great many opportunities for UK businesses, from mining, oil & gas, agri-tech, and marine sectors to healthcare and life sciences, financial and professional services, infrastructure and more. In the life sciences, renewable energy, and marine sectors alone, “UK companies have developed some of the world’s leading technology”4 , creating exciting growth opportunities within Latin America.

Multinational Corporations Require HR Translation Services

If you manage branches and subsidiaries anywhere in Latin America, investing in professional HR translation services will ensure your internal documentation is accurately translated and localized to meet the unique linguistic, cultural, and varying literacy needs of your Latin American employees. At the very least, your HR-related documentation should be translated into both the Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese languages. However, some companies might even require translation services for several additional Native American languages, including Haitian Creole, Quechua, and Guarani among others.

delsurtranslations – Answering Your HR Translation Call

With nearly two decades of experience in the language services industry, delsurtranslations offers professional translation services that cater directly to your HR needs. We offer a large team of qualified linguists specialized in HR and corporate translation services for LATAM Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, as well as for several Native American languages. We deliver fast, effective solutions to our customers, and when it comes to translation systems, our technical experts will confidently handle your unique integration needs. But that’s not all. delsurtranslations also specializes in cross-cultural communication. Our HR subject matter experts will accurately translate and localize all of your documentation, keeping your target audience’s mindset and culture at the very center. Place your trust in Latin American HR translation specialists. Place your trust in delsurtranslations.

 

REFERENCES

1 Team, Trefis, and Trefis. “How Has Coca-Cola Turned Around Its Fortunes In Latin America?” Nasdaq, www.nasdaq.com/articles/how-has-coca-cola-turned-around-its-fortunes-latin-america-2017-12-14.

2 “Latin America.” The Coca-Cola Company, investors.coca-colacompany.com/about/segments/latin-america.

3 “InvestChile.” InvestChile, investchile.gob.cl/chile-and-portugal-sign-investment-promotion-collaboration-agreement/.

4 “Overview: UK Business Growth in Latin America.” Biz Latin Hub, 29 Oct. 2019, www.bizlatinhub.com/overview-uk-business-growth-in-latin-america/.

In Addition To:

“The Coca-Cola Company – More than a Beverage Company.” The Coca-Cola Company – More than a Beverage Company, www.coca-colacompany.com/company.

EIU Digital Solutions. “The Economist Intelligence Unit.” General Motors Reorganises Latin American Operations, www.eiu.com/industry/article/605178244/general-motors-reorganises-latin-american-operations/2017-01-20.

Bizjournals.com, www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2020/02/05/american-gol-delta-latam.html.

Fundación Real Instituto Elcano. “Strategic and International Studies.” Inicio, www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_es/zonas_es/economia+internacional/ari46-2018-chislett-spain-main-listed-companies-notch-up-record-revenues-abroad.

Loritz, Mary. “Swiss Microfinance Startup KiWi Raises €2.8 Million to Give Credit to More Mexican Entrepreneurs.” EU, 18 Jan. 2019, www.eu-startups.com/2019/01/kiwi-raises-funds/.“Why UK Companies Should Expand to Latin America?” Biz Latin Hub, 30 Oct. 2019, www.bizlatinhub.com/uk-companies-expand-latam/.

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Global Staffing for the Language Services Industry

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Global Staffing for the Language Services Industry – Hiring for Success

Language Services Industry Outlook

The “global language services industry was worth approximately 46.52 billion U.S. dollars in 2018” and is expected to reach USD 56 billion by 2021.1 As more and more businesses expand into new geographies, the need for language services will continue to grow – and global staffing solutions will continue to play an increasingly significant role, leveraging some of the world’s top talent.

Language services providers (LSPs) offer a plethora of specialized services. Ranging from localization experts and engineers, DTPers, and multimedia specialists, to project managers and coordinators, vendor managers, QA specialists and more, LSPs are regularly on the lookout for professional multilingual talent for their diverse staffing needs. No matter what corner of the globe, LSPs are tasked with finding, vetting, hiring, and retaining the highest caliber of language services professionals. But despite today’s highly digital world, it is still difficult for many LSPs to create successful multicultural connections beyond their own borders.

Common Challenges for Hiring Managers 

The below table highlights some of the most common pain points experienced by LSP hiring managers.

Common LSP Staffing Pain Points
Too many hours and too many resources invested
Inability to find candidates with specialized skill sets
Stress over negotiating salaries
Everchanging labor laws, especially with contracted workers*


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*California’s new AB5, which went into effect in January, 2020, has caused a great stir within the US language services industry. According to the law, translators and interpreters must now be reclassified as “employees” yet LSPs cannot justify (nor can many afford) onboarding their independent contractors (ICs) into full-time – or even part-time – positions. As a result, LSPs might wish to consider hiring overseas LSP professionals.

 

Other common challenges include the high salary and benefit expectations of candidates and a lack of desire to work during unsocial hours (ex. the night shift or over the weekend). Complicating matters further, employers in the United States and in Europe experience a rather high employee turnover rate. In fact, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Americans will change jobs in a lifetime an average of 12 times.2 By comparison, “a UK worker will change employer[s] every five years on average.”3 How do hiring managers keep up with the continuous staffing demand in light of these challenges?

One viable alternative is to partner with a global staffing agency. Businesses small, medium, and large are outsourcing work and hiring overseas. Once you get by the legal red tape, hiring overseas allows you to find highly sought-after talent with unique skill sets – something very appealing to the language services industry.

 

Staffing Solutions for LSPs – Filling in the Talent Gaps

Customization

Some LSPs strictly need a liaison to help find successful candidates for direct hire. Others, however, require an agency to provide ongoing services, including IC contracts, office space, operational supervision, and salary and benefits management. Look for staffing agencies that are fully committed to your needs and are flexible enough to adapt their solutions just for you. And going the extra mile doesn’t hurt either – keep an eye out for agencies that are able to help you draft job descriptions and create the ideal candidate profile.

Training and Supervision

Some LSPs do not have the time nor the resources to train new hires. If this is the case, look for agencies that not only find experienced candidates but train them for you as well. There are even agencies that are able to offer a workspace within their offices if you are uncomfortable with a work-from-home scenario yet require a remote location for your employee. These specialized agencies not only create an appropriate workspace for your new recruits but will also help with supervision.    

Payroll

Partnering with a global recruitment agency that offers professional payroll services greatly reduces the in-house administrative burden, and for some LSPs, this is just what they’re looking for. Depending on the agency, some administrative services might also include payroll processing, payroll tax administration, invoicing, timekeeping, custom reporting and more. Global payroll services save you money and help to minimize your liability and responsibility to comply with several regulations.* If you require a specialized workforce and are looking to expand your team abroad, partner with a global staffing agency that can help you manage your new hires.

*As a general rule, wages earned by nonresident aliens for services performed outside of the United States for any employer are foreign source income and therefore are not subject to reporting and withholding of U.S. federal income tax. However, it is important that the IC not be deemed an employee under applicable US and foreign labor laws (ex. ideally, ICs should set their own wages and be free from the hiring company’s control in how they perform their work. Additionally, their duties should be “outside” the usual course of business.”

Screening and Testing

Some recruiters have their own human resources department and can carefully screen resumes, check references, interview candidates, confirm academic backgrounds, and evaluate previous experience. Sometimes specific tests are also required, especially in the language services industry. Working with a recruitment agency that specializes in global staffing will ensure your candidates are not only language proficient but also possess the technology skills required for your LSP.

 

Make Every Hire Count – Partner with a Global Staffing Agency

As companies continue to expand operations overseas, the language services industry will continue to be in high demand. For LSPs wishing to compete on the global stage, this means building and maintaining a linguistically and culturally diverse work environment. Global staffing agencies have an excellent command of the language services talent landscape. They listen attentively to their customers’ needs then get to work, finding, vetting, and interviewing high-quality candidates in a timely fashion.

When it comes to hiring for your LSP, make every hire count by partnering with experienced global staffing specialists.

 

REFERENCES

1 Nace, Shaun. “Topic: Language Services Industry in the U.S.” Www.statista.com, www.statista.com/topics/2152/language-services-industry-in-the-us/.

2 “Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, and Earnings Growth: Results From a National Longitudinal Survey.” US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22 Aug. 2019, www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/nlsoy.pdf.

3 Hope, Katie. “How Long Should You Stay in One Job?” BBC News, BBC, 1 Feb. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/business-38828581.

4 “Persons Employed Abroad by a U.S. Person: Internal Revenue Service.” Persons Employed Abroad by a U.S. Person | Internal Revenue Service, www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/persons-employed-abroad-by-a-us-person.

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