Let’s stop pretending.

I keep seeing the same emails, the same posts, the same story from interpreters working with major LSPs, and rates are being cut. Again. And again. And again.

And every single time, the excuse is identical:

“It’s the market and a review of our operating cost.”

No, it’s not.

Because if this were really about the market or operating cost, then the workload would reflect it. Less demand, fewer calls, slower days.

But that’s not what’s happening.

The calls don’t stop. They come back to back. Queues are full. Clients are waiting. Interpreters are exhausted.

So let’s be honest, this is not a market problem.

This is a pricing decision.

A deliberate one.

You have constant demand, you rely on interpreters to keep operations running, and yet the decision is to pay them less?

That’s not economics.

That’s exploitation.

And let’s say it clearly:

This is happening because they believe we will accept it.

Because someone always does.

Because we stay silent.

Because we keep logging in.

Because we keep saying yes.

So here’s where this needs to change.

Not tomorrow. Not eventually.

Now.

We need to stop normalizing this.

We need to stop accepting rates that don’t even meet basic professional standards.

We need to stop pretending that “having more certifications” will magically fix this, when the reality is, the system is choosing to ignore them.

This is not just an individual problem anymore.

This is an industry-wide issue.

And it requires an industry response.

That means:

Start talking about your rates openly. The silence only benefits them.
Call out unacceptable offers. Not privately, publicly.
Support interpreters who refuse low-paying work instead of undercutting them.
Push back on LSPs that continuously lower rates while increasing demand.
Know your value, and act like it.

Because if we don’t draw the line, they will keep moving it and the audacity to ask if we would be open to discussing or trialing a lower rate?

Lower. And lower. And lower.

Until this profession becomes unsustainable.

We are not just voices on a call.

We are professionals handling real people, real situations, real consequences.

And if we don’t stand up for the value of our work, no one else will.

So the question is no longer:

“Why are they lowering rates?”

The real question is:

How much longer are we going to let them?