Leaving a Call Early

Please make sure that whenever you take a call, you have sufficient time for it. You should allow for at least 30 minutes for all calls.

Remember, as a professional interpreter, you should be aware of your own limitations and environment. If your ability to continue to assist the client is compromised, it’s your duty to politely excuse yourself from the call.

Here are some examples:

• Fatigue is beginning to affect the quality of your work, such as your ability to concentrate or retain information in working memory, slurred speech, or delayed responses.

   

• Unexpected environmental factors such as construction noise, a loud neighbor, or someone entering your space (making it no longer HIPAA compliant). 
• An emergency that requires you to step away. 
  
  

How to tell the client you need to leave

If you must leave a customer call before the customer is finished, it’s important that you,

1. Politely interject, apologizing for the interruption.

2. Let them know you need to leave the session and why.

3. Advise them to call back to continue with a different interpreter.

For example, “Excuse me, this is your interpreter speaking. The duration of the call is affecting my ability to accurately interpret, and I need to exit this session. Please call back so another interpreter can assist you.”