Being Exploited Continued
Posted By: Totally fed up on 2008-08-06
In Reply to: Maybe I can offer some insight s/m - Gourd Painter
Thank you for your thoughts. I actually had a job offer from Transtech but turned it down because the account they wanted me on was 80% VR. If you have good feelings about the company you will be going to in October and you feel comfortable sharing the name in confidence (if you think they might have something for me full-time), perhaps you could e-mail me. Please let me know if this is possible and I will send you my e-mail. Otherwise, I totally understand and good luck to you also.
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Being Exploited Continued
To MT/Biller: I also have tried cutting back on the garbage, but then I end up just hurting myself because I lose money. Either way I lose: Struggle through the lousy assigned jobs and make some money (but not what I should be making or was making before), or don't do the lousy assigned jobs and lose even more money. Either way they get what they want and I don't. Any suggestions would be very welcome.
Being Exploited
Has anybody worked for a company where you're pulling from a work pool and then suddenly things change and, although management denies it, you can tell that the work is now being assigned to you (the difficult, unproductive, non-money-making jobs that are not like the ones you used to get)? I'm a very fast and accurate Transcriptionist and the only thing I can figure out is: 1. They're saving the easy jobs for the transcriptionists who are not as fast/good. 2. They need the difficult ones done. 3. They want to cut down my productivity to reduce what they pay me (since I'm at the top of their pay scale). Have tried talking to management numerous times, but they strongly deny that they're doing this (and although I know this is happening I have no way to prove it). Working for a company for years, one gets to know the flow of work in the pool and can tell that they're messing with it now. It's impacting my productivity significantly and I feel exploited and with no control over the work, since I no longer have a chance to pull any good jobs. Would like to hear if anyone else has come across this kind of situation.
Being Exploited
No, it doesn't start with a T, but they claim they do not send out of the US. So the only thing I can think of is that the good jobs are going to other MTs that management feels they want to favor for whatever reason. I've never heard of any other job where you get penalized for being too productive. Every morning when I get up for work my stomach is in a knot now, wondering what garbage I'll be given, instead of looking forward to having the chance for pulling some good jobs. It has made me lose my motivation to be productive. The problem is there is one good thing about this job: I don't have to work weekends and most companies now want you to commit to a weekend, which I cannot do at this time. So I feel that I'm stuck since I can't find a comparable job in another company, and boy have I looked!! Also, while I'm making less than I did before they started doing this, I'm probably still making more than I would if I switched and had to start over. It's just the horrible feeling of being taken advantage of and being manipulated that is so intolerable. If it wasn't for that I would be happy as I love the work I do -- just not being assigned the garbage jobs at the whim of management!!! I've even thought of just outright quitting, without lining up another job first, but I'm afraid I would regret that. However, the way things are going in the field, I feel like I'm never going to find something else that can work with my schedule. So, I'm at a loss as to what to do now.
Exploited
Yes, people that work for minimum wage, IMHO, are being exploited. You certainly have the right to agree or disagree. I'm very pleased to hear that you have found a good position for yourself, and I certainly would not debate that.
Feeling exploited
I am feeling so stupid for being a part of this industry. I am envisioning the owners of my company sitting back with their cigars and brandy, and chuckling about what a good scam they have going.
We have all of these faceless entities working their asses off for us, we keep paying them less and less, and they still keep going, like little hamsters going round and round as fast as they can in their little wheels! All for us!! Go faster little hamster, go faster, I want to buy a new boat. Do we have the best gig going or what?
I have finally come to realize that this industry is one of those work-from-home scams that everyone warns us about!
continued.......
once you get overself and the fact that you think you know everything.
continued from above: if you don't think this is
x
IC status, continued
>>>This is what I meant above by how a company is saying work this shift as an IC at this line rate. As an IC, I have the right to work when I choose to work, not when my clients choose. If my clients want to make demands (and yes I have one client that is an MTSO), then I would become an employee at that point and they must pay my taxes.
You’re half correct. What you would become is a statutory employee (SE), not a “regular employee,” like you would be if you worked in an office. In the case of the SE, the company and/or individual they provide service for would be required to pay 7.5% of the social security tax, but that’s as far as it goes. You would still need to withhold your own federal tax in addition to other taxes like Medicare. Furthermore, and the law used to state that anyone who works exclusively for a single company/individual is classified as a SE, by law.
The 20 guidelines I posted here and on the Main Broad are merely a framework. Each individual should speak with a lawyer who specializes in Employer/Employee law or directly with the IRS.
>>>I've seen people post as employees saying they have no work during their shift and are asked to flex, which is also wrong. It's just crazy how this profession continues to be used and abused and now there are MTs convinced it's okay because they need a job. It's just a neverending cycle. JMO
I don’t agree that (all) MTs are convinced it’s okay. They’re simply not fully aware of the laws, or they know the laws but feel they’re stuck “between a rock and a hard place.” Either they “agree to the terms” (of the contract) or they won’t be able to pay their bills. But, it’s still the element of control and the MT *still* has the final say: “I agree to the Tues-Sat shift for 8 cpl.”
There are two other issues that come to mind. First, the line rate. An IC determines what constitutes a line, and informs the client accordingly. Usually, they choose the software they wish to use (i.e. Sylcount), but sometimes the MTSO will tell them, “We use Abacus and count spaces and returns only; no formatting codes” and that’s okay. However, if you have IC status you should NEVER let the MTSO do the line calculation on their end and then tell you how many lines you’ve transcribed. Doing so gives the MTSO “the element of control,” which makes you their employee.
The second issue is a little trickier and it concerns the “application process.” Again, what applies to the IC also applies to the MTSO. When the MTSO approaches a client (i.e. Osh Begosh Hospital) to offer their service, they try their best to sell their service and secure a contract in the process. They do not fill out a job application nor do they take a transcription test. That’s what an employee does, not an IC. The IC provides references, and that’s it.
In the final analysis, knowing the law is one thing and adhering to the law is another. You can tell the service what the law is, and they can just as easily tell you that your services are not needed. And, unfortunately, that’s pretty much where it’s at right now and where it will continue to remain.
I was out of work at Spheris the second day I was there, and it has continued. SM
I'm sure it depends on a lot of things, but I am looking elsewhere.
Continued from above -- and yes I have multiple accounts...nm
nm
last year was the scariest...continued
but this is not the first time the hospital tried to let us go.
Heartland Information Services-to be continued...
I requested this morning at Heartland to send out my article that I wrote in response to this layoff to employees at the company, but I was told no. I was going under the premise of the right of free speech. Hmm, wonder why they don't want me to send it out??!!
They have been reading this board, so keep up the continued support, we could sure use it!!
Thank you,
Mary Kirkpatrick
TransTech has continued this LOW/NO work for more than a year now with
only promises for new accounts, while losing accounts, overhiring. This low/no work situation has been going on TOO long !
We can be sure that if management's/supes/QA/inhouse employees' paychecks were affected by this continuing LOW WORK situation, something would be done IMMEDIATELY by management. But they still get their bonuses, raises, bennies, trips to LV, etc.
So, so, so sad that this excellent company has lost respect for their MT's by NOT providing work for them on a consistent basis, yet demanding a schedule ! 
There would be no Transtech if their MT's were not working to keep accounts. How do you think, mgmt, you would be able to keep your paychecks/jobs without your MT's ? ? ?
The *sweetie* just does not show respect for me. MONEY DOES ! Jobs coming into my queue makes me money !
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