Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
homme et femme toutes mains
English translation:
Handyperson
Added to glossary by
Jess Shepherd
Jul 9, 2023 04:26
10 mos ago
49 viewers *
French term
Homme et femme toutes mains
Not for points
French to English
Other
Human Resources
In an employment contract
Term present in an open-ended employment contract for employees of private individuals.
Listed as an option under 'nature of work'.
How would you translate this into English (Australia)?
Listed as an option under 'nature of work'.
How would you translate this into English (Australia)?
Proposed translations
(English)
3 +4 | Handyperson | AllegroTrans |
4 | Jack of all Trades | Andrew Bramhall |
4 | unskilled general worker | Tony M |
4 | handyman and handywoman | Bourth |
3 | multiskilled tradesperson | Mpoma |
3 -2 | Janitor | ormiston |
Change log
Jul 9, 2023 16:57: writeaway changed "Field" from "Law/Patents" to "Other" , "Field (write-in)" from "Employment contract" to "In an employment contract"
Jul 20, 2023 12:18: Jess Shepherd Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
8 hrs
Selected
Handyperson
HOMME / FEMME TOUTES MAINS
L’homme / femme toutes mains exerce son activité dans les locaux, bureaux de professionnels, des collectivités territoriales, des
associations… Cette profession exige de l’autonomie, de l’organisation et de la rigueur.
Présentation du métier
Ce professionnel réalise des petits travaux de bricolage à domicile consiste à effectuer des tâches occasionnelles
simples et de courte durée de manutention, de nettoyage, d’entretien, de réparation, de maintenance, de rénovation,
d’installation: travaux d’entretien courants d’intérieur comme la maintenance, la réparation, la rénovation simple…
Polyvalent, sérieux et discret, il effectue toutes ces activités en utilisant le matériel et les produits mis à disposition par le client.
L’homme / femme toutes mains possède souvent les clés de l’entreprise, commerce… du client qui lui fait entièrement
confiance.
Les activités principales
• Nettoyer, entretenir les espaces professionnels
• Réparer, rénover
• Maintenir des petits équipements
Le bon profil
Des compétences sont requises pour l’entretien des sols, des vitres et les règles d’hygiène sanitaire.
Le professionnel doit connaître les produits et les outils adaptés à leur entretien. Il respecte les consignes données par le client
et peut le conseiller sur des produits respectueux de l’environnement.
Une personne sérieuse, efficace, en qui l’on peut avoir une totale confiance.
Consciencieux, autonome et rapide, le poste demande d’être flexible dans les horaires (en dehors des horaires d’ouverture du
client).
A handyperson carries out minor repairs and small jobs in people's homes and businesses.
Handyperson | Explore careers - National Careers Service
L’homme / femme toutes mains exerce son activité dans les locaux, bureaux de professionnels, des collectivités territoriales, des
associations… Cette profession exige de l’autonomie, de l’organisation et de la rigueur.
Présentation du métier
Ce professionnel réalise des petits travaux de bricolage à domicile consiste à effectuer des tâches occasionnelles
simples et de courte durée de manutention, de nettoyage, d’entretien, de réparation, de maintenance, de rénovation,
d’installation: travaux d’entretien courants d’intérieur comme la maintenance, la réparation, la rénovation simple…
Polyvalent, sérieux et discret, il effectue toutes ces activités en utilisant le matériel et les produits mis à disposition par le client.
L’homme / femme toutes mains possède souvent les clés de l’entreprise, commerce… du client qui lui fait entièrement
confiance.
Les activités principales
• Nettoyer, entretenir les espaces professionnels
• Réparer, rénover
• Maintenir des petits équipements
Le bon profil
Des compétences sont requises pour l’entretien des sols, des vitres et les règles d’hygiène sanitaire.
Le professionnel doit connaître les produits et les outils adaptés à leur entretien. Il respecte les consignes données par le client
et peut le conseiller sur des produits respectueux de l’environnement.
Une personne sérieuse, efficace, en qui l’on peut avoir une totale confiance.
Consciencieux, autonome et rapide, le poste demande d’être flexible dans les horaires (en dehors des horaires d’ouverture du
client).
A handyperson carries out minor repairs and small jobs in people's homes and businesses.
Handyperson | Explore careers - National Careers Service
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
ormiston
: Neutral only because 'male/female handyman'https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjf... sounds better
2 hrs
|
"Handyperson" gets zillions of ghits and I regularly see job ads using this term
|
|
agree |
Tomasso
: HandyPerson, used to be Post Man, now postal person? "A mail carrier, also referred to as a mailman, mailwoman, postal carrier, Australia POSTIE, I like that.
3 hrs
|
Thanks but I don't think this is anything to do with post delivery
|
|
agree |
writeaway
4 hrs
|
Thanks
|
|
agree |
philgoddard
: Male/female handyMAN? No way!
6 hrs
|
I totally agree
|
|
neutral |
Tony M
: 'handy-anything' has a connotation of an odd-job person ('bricoleur') which again is a bit too narrow for the all-embracing context here. / Oh not at all: they might do any manner of other things as well!
10 hrs
|
But "bricolage" is precisely what this person does
|
|
agree |
SafeTex
17 hrs
|
Thanks
|
Comment: "Thank you - given the limited context, 'handyperson' appears to be the most suitable. It is a check mark option alongside other jobs (repasseuse familiale, femme de chambre, valet de chambre, lingère, repasseuse qualifiée, etc.)."
8 hrs
Jack of all Trades
...and " Master of none" could fit;
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
AllegroTrans
: You really think " Master of none" would appear in an employment contract?
5 mins
|
No, but the first part might;
|
|
neutral |
writeaway
: AT beat me to it. Jack of all Trades on an employment contract?
9 mins
|
Why not? or even a 'Jill of All Trades' in these politically correct times!
|
|
neutral |
Tony M
: Really not applicable here!
4 hrs
|
Don't agree, but thanks anyway.
|
-2
11 hrs
Janitor
Not sure this works in Australia or for individual properties but it covers the repairs/caretaking aspect:
janitor
/ˈdʒanɪtə/
nounNORTH AMERICAN
a person employed to look after a building; a caretaker
janitor
/ˈdʒanɪtə/
nounNORTH AMERICAN
a person employed to look after a building; a caretaker
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Tony M
: That's really too specific here, as it very specifically implies some kind of cleaning role, wheras here we have no idea what the context is, so it needs to be more general.
1 hr
|
disagree |
AllegroTrans
: Agree with Tony
5 hrs
|
12 hrs
unskilled general worker
I think this would fit best in the context given, where it probably needs to be kept as general and non-committal as possible.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
writeaway
: unskilled sounds pejorative, basically insulting
5 hrs
|
In everyday language, yes; but this term is used in business to described jobs that don't require some special skills/training/qualification: unskilled labour etc.
|
|
neutral |
SafeTex
: Hello Tony. I think this is like saying "cleaning technician" for a "home cleaner".
13 hrs
|
Hi S/T! It's not really "talking it up" in that way, but is a standard term used in referring to job statuses; a slightly more formal register appears to be suited here.
|
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neutral |
Andrew Bramhall
: Too generic and bland, for me;
1 day 16 hrs
|
But in the absence of more detailed context, it appears that a very general term is exactly what is needed here.
|
|
neutral |
Mpoma
: Hmmm, check this out : https://www.business-direct.fr/que-savoir-dun-homme-ou-femme... ... of course there may be some lack of precise definition of the title...
2 days 2 hrs
|
An 'odd-job man' would be much better — but quite the wrong register here
|
13 hrs
handyman and handywoman
Translating the meaning, not the individual words.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
AllegroTrans
: I suppose it's possible that the job ad is for a husband and wife team of "handypeople" but we haven't sufficient context
2 hrs
|
neutral |
Tony M
: 'handy-anything' has a connotation of a 'bricoleur' which again is a bit too narrow for the all-embracing context here.
5 hrs
|
2 days 15 hrs
multiskilled tradesperson
This is a French explanation of the *range* of things this can mean: https://www.legalplace.fr/guides/auto-entrepreneur-bricolage...
Then check this out:
https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/multi-skilled-tradesman/50804205...
The main issue is that, as so often, the asker hasn't given us enough context. One thing which would be a good clue would be the rate of pay being offered. These "personnes toutes mains" usually seem to have level of skill in more than one "trade" which clearly distinguishes them from someone who just goes and decides to do "a bit of DIY".
At the lowest, it appears to be one step up from DIY, but involving multiple skills. At the highest, it appears to be not in any way a professional in a trade, but considerably above the DIY level.
Then check this out:
https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/multi-skilled-tradesman/50804205...
The main issue is that, as so often, the asker hasn't given us enough context. One thing which would be a good clue would be the rate of pay being offered. These "personnes toutes mains" usually seem to have level of skill in more than one "trade" which clearly distinguishes them from someone who just goes and decides to do "a bit of DIY".
At the lowest, it appears to be one step up from DIY, but involving multiple skills. At the highest, it appears to be not in any way a professional in a trade, but considerably above the DIY level.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Tony M
: The trouble is, the term is specifically used to refer to people who don't have any one particular skill or 'trade' — so they are indeed 'jacks of all trades but masters of none'; whence my suggest of 'unskilled'.
14 mins
|
Yes, I read your answer. But "unskilled" really means precisely that! Plus, job advertisements in English or French can always be expected to be on the optimistic side...
|
Discussion
https://www.nicolasdaubanes.com/quest-ce-quun-homme-ou-une-f... Les hommes/ femmes toutes mains sont des hommes et des femmes qui effectuent des tâches nécessaires à la vie **quotidienne*** à domicile, par exemple des services de bricolage, qui entrent naturellement dans ce champ d’application. En d’autres termes, il s’agit d’un véritable multiservice qui se déroule à domicile. Machine translate... Handymen/women are men and women who carry out tasks necessary for daily life in the home, such as DIY services, which naturally fall within this scope. In other words, it's a genuine multiservice that takes place in the home.