Employees are exploited, translator rates are really low and in dollars (which are even lower against the Euro, for example).
Salaries are quite low (sorry, but I got a better salary working in a bar).
Employees are forced to penalize translators when client spots a mistake, this penalization comes through a reduction of the PO obviously. Most mistakes are due to the fact that all translations are rush and budget is very limited, which means project managers have to contact the cheapest linguists.
Business representatives (sales people) have no idea about the translation business. They accept any request from the client and estimate absurd budgets and deadlines. Then the Project Managers have to deal with it. Little chance of negotation in order to get a better deadline or budget even if the quality of the translation is at stake.
Project managers are penalized if they don't reach a monthly goal (high number of projects, high income obtained for the company, few errors and positive feedback). Some employees have been fired due to that.
I have seen employees crying, staying until midnight in the office, on sick leave due to stress and even skin diseases (due to stress and scratching). I have even seen employees quitting on the same day because they couldn't stand it anymore.
It's impossible to have a life of your own if you're working for them.
Obviously this is a company that only cares about the money, not about the quality. It's like comparing McDonalds with a cozy family restaurant. We all know which one is bigger, cheaper and faster.
Still, big clients prefer bad translations, otherwise Transperfect wouldn't be that huge.
It's a big concern if we consider we are taking medications and many investigations are being translated by this company.
