Should multilingual employees be compensated extra for completing work in their additional language(s)? - eviltoast

If a job posting says “x language speaker required” i think it’s fair that the employee be requested to complete work in that language.

However, there are many times when multilingual employees are asked to translate work or complete special tasks that their teammates cannot because they speak their second language.

I often see these requests in client facing roles such as retail, finance, or law.

Should someone who speaks more than 1 language receive compensation because they are being requested to do work that requires their extra skills? What do you think?

  • JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl
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    1 year ago

    A very American/British problem lol. Here in Belgium everyone is bilingual, many people trilingual, a couple people at my work quadlingual. Here there would be no such compensation.

    That being said, if you have to regularly do work outside of your job description/duties, then ask for more money/benefits/compensation.

    It of course depends on the situation. Asking 1-2 times per year to check over a translated document or communicate with a client? That isn’t a big deal in my opinion. Asking it every day? Then it is a new duty and should be compensated.

  • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Extra compensation simply knowing multiple languages while doing the expected work for their role, no.

    Extra compensation for any responsibilities beyond the scope of their role, yes.

    • Pat12@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Extra compensation for any responsibilities beyond the scope of their role, yes.

      yes this is what i meant

    • Pat12@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      We get an extra dollar an hour for a second language if we pass the test for it.

      !?!? is this real

      • FFbob@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I have a union. It’s really nice. I’m working on studying Spanish so I can get it. It’s on our base pay so 1.50 on overtime; the extra 3k a year would be pretty nice.

        We also can call a translation line and have phones for Google translate.