This Code of Conduct establishes the professional standards and ethical expectations for all interpreters working with JHBridge Translation Services ("JHBridge," "we," "us," or "our"). Adherence to this code is a condition of engagement and applies to every assignment, regardless of setting, subject matter, or duration. All interpreters, whether new or experienced, are expected to familiarize themselves thoroughly with these standards before accepting their first assignment.

JHBridge is committed to delivering high-quality interpretation services that clients can trust. This Code of Conduct exists to protect the interests of clients, the integrity of the interpretation process, and the professional reputation of every interpreter in our network. By accepting assignments through JHBridge, interpreters acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to comply with every provision of this code.

This code applies to all forms of interpretation facilitated by JHBridge, including but not limited to in-person consecutive and simultaneous interpretation, telephonic interpretation, video remote interpretation, and any other modality used in the course of service delivery. It applies equally across all industries and settings, including legal, medical, business, educational, and community interpretation.

Interpreters must maintain strict confidentiality of all information encountered during assignments. This includes client identities, case details, medical information, legal proceedings, business discussions, and any other sensitive content. Confidential information must not be disclosed to any unauthorized party, discussed outside the assignment context, or used for personal benefit. The duty of confidentiality continues indefinitely, even after the assignment has concluded and even if the interpreter's engagement with JHBridge has ended.

Interpreters may not discuss the details of any assignment with family members, friends, colleagues, other interpreters, or any third party. Even seemingly innocuous details, such as the location of an assignment or the language pair involved, may be sufficient to identify a client or case and therefore must be treated as confidential. Social media posts, blog entries, forum discussions, and any other public or semi-public communications about assignment details are strictly prohibited.

If an interpreter is compelled by law or legal process (such as a subpoena or court order) to disclose confidential information, the interpreter must notify JHBridge immediately before making any disclosure. JHBridge will provide guidance on how to respond to such legal demands. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information is a serious violation of this code and may result in immediate termination of the interpreter's engagement, as well as potential legal liability.

Interpreters must remain neutral at all times. Interpreters do not advocate for any party, express personal opinions on the subject matter, or take sides in disputes or proceedings. The interpreter's role is to facilitate communication accurately, not to influence outcomes. This obligation applies regardless of the interpreter's personal beliefs, sympathies, or views about the subject matter or the parties involved.

Neutrality extends to body language, tone of voice, facial expressions, and all other forms of nonverbal communication. Interpreters must convey the speaker's tone and intent faithfully without adding their own emotional emphasis, disapproval, surprise, or sympathy. An interpreter who finds it difficult to maintain neutrality due to the nature of the content or personal connection to the subject matter should decline the assignment or request reassignment.

Interpreters must not offer advice, suggestions, or recommendations to any party during or after an assignment, even if a party directly requests guidance. If a party asks the interpreter for an opinion or recommendation, the interpreter should politely explain that their role is limited to interpretation and suggest that the party consult an appropriate professional. Maintaining strict impartiality is essential to preserving the trust and integrity of the interpretation process.

Interpreters must convey all spoken content as faithfully and completely as possible, without additions, omissions, or editorial changes. Every statement, question, response, aside, and expression made by any party must be interpreted in its entirety. Interpreters may not summarize, paraphrase, soften, or embellish what is said. The goal is to enable each party to understand exactly what the other party has communicated, as if there were no language barrier.

If something is unclear, interpreters should request clarification rather than guess or paraphrase. It is far better to pause the conversation briefly to ask a speaker to repeat or rephrase a statement than to convey an inaccurate or incomplete interpretation. Interpreters should use transparent language when requesting clarification, such as stating that the interpreter needs clarification, so that all parties understand what is happening and why.

Interpreters must also interpret everything that is said, including statements that may be offensive, inappropriate, uncomfortable, or legally sensitive. The interpreter does not serve as a filter or censor. If a party makes a remark that is rude, threatening, or otherwise objectionable, the interpreter must convey it faithfully. The interpreter may note in the third person that the interpreter is conveying the speaker's exact words if doing so is necessary to avoid confusion about the source of the statement.

Interpreters must NOT provide legal advice, medical advice, immigration guidance, financial advice, or any other form of professional counsel. Even if asked by a client or other party, interpreters must decline and recommend that the party consult an appropriate licensed professional. Providing professional advice is outside the scope of the interpreter's role and could expose the interpreter and JHBridge to significant legal liability.

This prohibition applies before, during, and after assignments. Interpreters must not recommend specific attorneys, doctors, immigration consultants, or other professionals to clients. Interpreters must not comment on the merits of a legal case, the appropriateness of a medical treatment, the likelihood of an immigration outcome, or any other matter requiring professional expertise. If a client asks for such guidance, the interpreter should clearly state that providing advice is not part of their role.

Interpreters should also be cautious about sharing general information that could be construed as advice. Even well-intentioned comments about common procedures, typical outcomes, or general processes may be misinterpreted as professional guidance. The safest course is to limit all communications with clients strictly to matters related to the interpretation itself and to refer all other questions to JHBridge or to an appropriate professional.

Interpreters must arrive on time, be prepared for assignments, dress appropriately for the setting, and maintain a professional demeanor throughout. Punctuality is critical because late arrival can disrupt proceedings, delay appointments, and undermine client confidence in JHBridge services. Interpreters should plan to arrive at least ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time to allow for security checks, introductions, and equipment setup.

Interpreters must complete assignments as scheduled and notify JHBridge immediately if unable to attend due to illness, emergency, or any other reason. Last-minute cancellations should be avoided whenever possible. If an interpreter must cancel, as much advance notice as possible must be given so that JHBridge can arrange a replacement. Repeated last-minute cancellations or no-shows may result in reduced assignment opportunities or termination of engagement.

Professional conduct includes maintaining composure under pressure, treating all parties with courtesy and respect, silencing personal mobile devices during assignments, and refraining from personal conversations during breaks that could be overheard by parties involved in the assignment. Interpreters represent JHBridge in the field, and their conduct directly reflects on the company's reputation and the quality of its services.

Interpreters must disclose any potential conflict of interest before accepting an assignment. This includes personal relationships with any party, financial interests in the outcome, prior involvement with the case or matter, or any circumstance that could compromise impartiality. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest can undermine trust in the interpretation process, so interpreters should err on the side of disclosure.

Examples of conflicts of interest include situations where the interpreter knows one of the parties personally or professionally, where the interpreter has previously worked on the same case in a different capacity, where the interpreter has a financial stake in the outcome of a proceeding or transaction, or where the interpreter has strong personal feelings about the subject matter that could affect their ability to remain neutral. If in doubt about whether a situation constitutes a conflict, the interpreter should contact JHBridge for guidance.

If a conflict of interest is discovered during an assignment, the interpreter must immediately notify JHBridge and pause the assignment if possible. JHBridge will determine whether the assignment can continue with the same interpreter or whether a replacement is needed. Failure to disclose a known conflict of interest is a serious violation of this code and may result in termination of the interpreter's engagement.

Interpreters must not solicit JHBridge clients directly, enter into separate agreements with clients, or attempt to bypass JHBridge for future engagements. All client relationships facilitated through JHBridge belong to JHBridge. Interpreters are engaged as independent contractors through JHBridge and must not use JHBridge assignments as opportunities to recruit clients for their own private practice or for competing services.

This prohibition includes distributing personal business cards to clients during JHBridge assignments, providing personal contact information for the purpose of arranging private engagements, offering to provide services directly to clients at a lower rate, and any other conduct designed to divert business away from JHBridge. This restriction applies during the term of the interpreter's engagement with JHBridge and for a reasonable period thereafter, as specified in the interpreter's agreement.

If a client directly approaches an interpreter about working outside of JHBridge, the interpreter must decline and direct the client to contact JHBridge. Interpreters who are found to have engaged in side deals or direct solicitation will face immediate termination of their engagement with JHBridge, and JHBridge reserves the right to pursue legal remedies for any resulting damages, including lost revenue and breach of contract claims.

Interpreters must treat all parties with respect and dignity regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, age, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic. JHBridge is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment in every interaction, and interpreters are expected to uphold this commitment in all of their professional conduct.

Harassment, discrimination, or abusive behavior of any kind is grounds for immediate termination. This includes verbal abuse, offensive comments, unwelcome physical contact, intimidation, stalking, and any conduct that creates a hostile or uncomfortable environment for clients, colleagues, or other parties. Interpreters must also refrain from making disparaging or discriminatory remarks about any party outside of the assignment context.

If an interpreter witnesses or experiences harassment or discrimination during an assignment, from any party, the interpreter should report the incident to JHBridge as soon as possible. JHBridge takes all such reports seriously and will investigate promptly. Interpreters who report concerns in good faith are protected from retaliation.

Interpreters must handle all client documents, files, and information securely. Physical documents provided for assignment preparation must be kept in a secure location, must not be left unattended in public places, and must be returned to JHBridge or securely destroyed (such as by shredding) after the assignment is complete. Interpreters must not make copies of client documents for personal records unless explicitly authorized by JHBridge.

Digital files must not be stored on personal devices beyond what is strictly necessary for the assignment. Any digital materials provided by JHBridge for assignment preparation, such as glossaries, reference documents, or case summaries, must be permanently deleted from the interpreter's devices upon completion of the assignment. Interpreters must not upload client materials to personal cloud storage, share them via personal email, or transmit them through unsecured channels.

Interpreters must take reasonable precautions to protect client information from unauthorized access, including using password-protected devices, avoiding the use of public or shared computers for accessing client materials, and being mindful of their surroundings when reviewing sensitive documents. Any suspected loss, theft, or unauthorized disclosure of client information must be reported to JHBridge immediately.

Interpreters must promptly report to JHBridge any safety concerns, ethical violations, conflicts of interest, security incidents, or situations that compromise the quality or integrity of services. Timely reporting allows JHBridge to address issues quickly, protect clients, and maintain the high standards of service that clients expect. Reports can be made by contacting JHBridge directly via email or phone.

Reportable incidents include but are not limited to situations where an interpreter feels unsafe, encounters threatening or abusive behavior from any party, witnesses another interpreter violating this code, discovers a conflict of interest during an assignment, experiences a data security breach, encounters a situation that exceeds the interpreter's competence or qualifications, or observes any activity that appears illegal or unethical.

JHBridge will investigate all reported incidents and take appropriate action. Interpreters who report concerns in good faith will not face retaliation. However, interpreters who fail to report known violations or incidents may be held accountable for their failure to disclose, particularly if the unreported incident results in harm to a client or compromise of service integrity.

Violation of this Code of Conduct may result in warnings, suspension, or permanent termination of the interpreter's engagement with JHBridge. The specific action taken will depend on the nature and severity of the violation, whether the violation is a first offense or a repeated pattern of behavior, and any mitigating or aggravating circumstances. JHBridge reserves the right to investigate complaints and take appropriate action at its sole discretion.

JHBridge may conduct investigations into alleged violations using any lawful means, including reviewing assignment records, interviewing relevant parties, examining communications, and consulting with legal counsel. Interpreters are expected to cooperate fully with any investigation. Failure to cooperate may itself be treated as a violation of this code.

This Code of Conduct may be updated from time to time. Interpreters will be notified of material changes and are expected to review and comply with the most current version. Continued acceptance of assignments after changes are communicated constitutes acceptance of the updated code. If an interpreter does not agree with any changes, the interpreter should contact JHBridge to discuss their concerns or discontinue accepting assignments.