Dear readers, in one of the previous articles we described the policy of our Translation Bureau and dwelt in detail on the form, format of services and our goals. Today we would like to talk about social responsibility in the sense that we put into this concept. We understand that for the overwhelming number of our clients all this is just redundant information, but if you are reading these lines, then you probably want to get to know us a little better. That is why we are writing these articles.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a radical change took place in the minds of Western citizens. Thanks to the successes of “advanced capitalism”, many people began to perceive the state as only one of the providers of services. At the same time, taxes and deductions from citizens began to be perceived as payments in favor of such services. Naturally, in Western countries, where deductions from revenues to the budget sometimes reach 70% or more, both demand and requirements for these very services have sharply increased. The state could not but respond to such requests, as social tension grew. It was simply impossible to use standard market mechanisms of competition in relation to public services, and government leaders came to the conclusion (in different countries in different ways) that it was necessary to outsource these very services.

It was a rather long process that did not always go smoothly; nevertheless, in most developed countries, this was achieved. In Russia, as in most other transitological countries, this process is at the very beginning, but it is most likely simply inevitable. During this transition, in relation to commercial organizations, the concept of social responsibility emerged and strengthened. If initially this term had a rather narrow meaning, now it refers to all companies that somehow affect the social space around them. Not so long ago, social responsibility was a fashionable feature of large corporations, a kind of status element; today it is necessary for everyone who looks to the future and plans to develop their company.

The above is a simplified presentation of information and reasoning regarding social responsibility, but this does not in any way affect the importance of this topic in the modern world, and this is what we wanted to convey to our reader. The main goal of any commercial activity is to make a profit. It is impossible to argue with this, but for any manager there comes a time when business processes are established, supply and sales channels are built, there is a pool of loyal partners and assistants, and there is a clear need to determine the further development of his company. It is at this moment that a decision must be made on the application or use of social responsibility. The fact is that this is a completely tangible thing.

One of the basic rules of the economy: the more money the population (clients) has, the more money can be earned. When a business is successful, it is necessary to invest in improving the general well-being of the people around, clients, neighbors, the whole city or region. Even a small business is able to bring a lot of benefits with small but discrete actions within the framework of their professional and commercial activities.

If we are talking directly about translation activities, then there are a huge number of options for applying that very responsibility. Moreover, the translation activity itself is designed to facilitate mutual understanding and make the process of communication between various groups of individuals and legal entities real, and any communication pursues a specific goal, which makes translators a kind of guides to that very goal. Often, such a goal has a pronounced commercial character, but it can be of a social, political or other orientation. This is the very responsibility that we have said so much about today.

A translator in particular and a translation organization in general can and should contribute to migration policy, at least within the framework of legislative education of citizens. They should help build the credibility of domestic companies in the eyes of foreign partners, which, albeit small, will help strengthen foreign economic ties and have a positive effect on the economy. Thus, a real professional should not only translate the verbal constructions of one language into the verbal constructions of another, but also try to help with something else: advice, experience, our time, contacts – everything that we gladly share with our loved ones, but hide from strangers. Simply put, share the responsibility with them. Of course, this will lead to economic, time and other costs, but this is what contributes to the improvement of the credibility and recognition of the company. Such work is a kind of modern patronage.