The Politics and Ethics of Interpreting, Part I

I call this "Part I" because I'm supposed to be studying, and I know I don't have the time to organize my thoughts sufficiently in one blog session to deal sufficiently with the ins and outs of this weird field.

Here's a little background: most of my interpreting opportunities come to me as a contract interpreter.  (For some, I am listed as an employee of the entity requiring the interpretation services.  An example of one of the employer requesters is a local school system; they find it more economical to call us interpreters part-time employees, similar to the way they track and pay their substitute teachers.)  Of the entities for which I provide contract interpreter services, almost all are interpreting agencies.

Now, these interpreting agencies vary widely in the training requirements for interpreters, in their need for a signed contract, in the existence of a non-compete agreement, and in the way they do business out and about in the community.  For example, one agency required that I take (and pass) a language assessment in English and Spanish before I could submit an application with proof of medical interpreter training and then take (and pass) their own interpreter entrance exam.  After that, I was required to undergo hours of interpreter and agency-specific training before being assigned any jobs.  On the other side of the spectrum, one agency found out about me through a friend who did interpreting on the side; he couldn't help them out, so in a pinch they called me.  Ever since, when they need interpreting services, they send me a text message asking about my availability.  No W-9, photo ID, nothing.  Most of the other agencies fall somewhere in the middle.

So, depending on the situation, it's quite possible that I interpret in one setting - say, the local hospital - but could be sent there by one of several different agencies.  It depends on if the hospital itself called me in directly as a contractor with them, to help with the in-house interpreters' overload; or if the local interpreting agency was contacted to help the hospital with the in-house interpreters' overload; or if the visit is related to a workers compensation claim; or if there is a state-funded insurance company who is covering the cost of the interpreting services.  I have a small makeup bag in my purse with my nametags.  There are about 8 of them.

Sometimes, after the interpreting session, the doctor/social worker/school administrator/whoever I'm interpreting for asks me, "If we want to get hold of you directly for interpreting in the future, how can we do that?"  That is a good question.  They might be able to use my services under like three different vendors.  Some might pay me way better than others.  I have signed non-compete agreements with some.  Or even if there's no non-compete agreement, I might be shooting myself in the foot with one agency if I suggest that the clinic/school/etc. switch to a different one while still interpreting for the same client.  But would they ever know?  What sort of contracts have these organizations signed with interpreting agencies?  I am aware of one interpreting agency whose manager believes that their contracts with some schools/clinics/etc. are exclusive, but I know this to be not true, as I myself often show up wearing ID badges from agencies other this manager's agency.  I don't have the heart to tell the manager about this, especially because I can't possibly think of what good it would do to stir the pot and mention that the exclusivity clause is being blatantly ignored.

There's also another interpreting agency that keeps sending me far, far away (over an hour from my home) for pretty simple appointments.  They pay handsomely.  My only issue is that these appointments are being paid for out of a state-funded insurance company.  And these appointments often take place in the middle of the nest of one of the biggest, most highly developed, and best interpreting networks in the region: the city of ___.  I often travel to ___ to receive interpreter continuing education and to network with fellow interpreters; and yes, it does bother me that our state is spending oodles on my transportation and time for a service that five more people just down the road can probably perform better than I can. 

So, as a good businesswoman (which I'm not, but it's a nice goal to have), I need to stop and think, "How can I earn more money and get more assignments, without compromising my ethics and values?"

This seems like a great place to stop Part I of "The Politics and Ethics of Interpreting" - especially because I have no idea how to answer the above question.