Finnish Interpreting Service's Code of Conduct

Guidelines for the interpreting situation:

  1. Arrive on time.
  2. Remember to turn off your mobile phone during the interpretation. It is part of a proper working and telephony culture.
  3. Avoid using strong perfumes in interpreting and dress appropriately.
  4. Attach your Interpretation Centre ID card to your chest in a visible place.
  5. Introduce yourself and say that you are an interpreter sent by Suomen Tulkkauspalvelu Oy.
  6. The interpreter must ensure that the interviewees are aware of the interpreter's professional role and on ethics.
  7. Tell both parties that the interpreter will always be impartial and confidential.
  8. The Interpretation Centre expects you to take care of the agreed orders. If you have a force majeure situation, such as illness, please inform the interpreting service immediately so that we can find another interpreter to replace you.
  9. If you have been booked as an interpreter for a home visit, do not go in without an authority.
  10. Inform the agency in advance of the times when you cannot accept assignments, e.g. holidays, travel, working and study hours, etc., as soon as you know them.
  11. Feel free to contact the Interpretation Centre when you feel the need to discuss matters related to your profession.

Commissioned by
When you accept an interpreting or translation assignment from the Finnish Interpreting Service, you have a personal obligation to perform the work. You also have the right to refuse to accept the interpreting or translation services we offer. When you interpret on behalf of the Finnish Interpreting Service, you represent the Finnish Interpreting Service. You will receive guidance and support from the Finnish Interpreting Service if necessary.

Data protection
The work orders or translations contain matters covered by the Personal Data Protection Act, e.g. personal data, so all material containing personal data of clients must be destroyed, e.g. in a shredder or sent to the Finnish Interpreting Service's office.

Ordering an interpreter
The authority must always order an interpreter through the Finnish Interpreting Service. Exceptions are urgent interpreting outside office hours (e.g. first aid). In these cases, the interpreter will take the billing information and a receipt from the authority on a blank work order form or blank paper.

Obstacles
Check the name of the client to be interpreted in the work order as soon as you receive it. If the client to be interpreted is a close relative, a good friend or a financial dependency (e.g. debt), you are not allowed to accept the interpreting assignment.

If the customer does not show up
If the customer is late, wait 20 minutes, after which you will agree with the authority whether you can leave or wait until the end of the interpretation time. At the request of the authority, the interpreter can, if necessary, make an announcement or telephone call. Ask the authority for an acknowledgement of the work order.
If the authority does not arrive or the agreed telephone interpreting does not take place, contact an interpreting agency. Remember to note this in the work order.

If you are running late
The basic principle is, the interpreter must never be late for interpreting. If, for reasons beyond your control, you are going to be late for an interpretation session, call the interpreting service immediately. This will ensure that the information is passed on to the client as quickly as possible. If you are late in starting the interpreting, please note this on the work order. The interpreter must not be late for the next interpretation because of the previous one.

At the end of the interpretation
When the interpretation is finished, report the actual interpretation time and travel costs in the app.