Don't accept anything less than $50K and be prepared
Posted By: to give them your first born. nm on 2006-07-24
In Reply to: MT supervisor salary, how much do you make? nm - MT x14
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Prepared
You sound like one savvy person. I think any hope that either MDI or Transcend might have for getting trust from MTs would be evaporated with the way this merger was handled. It is obvious that MTs are only things like pieces of equipment. Who knows, someone will invent a faux human with a USB port and they can do away with us altogether. I am still disillusioned that America's most patriotic company could have done this.
Prepared to be bored and much more. sm
I did legal for 9 years. I even went on to get my paralegal degree too. I loved the research, client interviews, etc., but the transcription is boring with a capital B. Tons and tons of formatting and forms as everything is different for each area of law and has to be done just so.
I was good at it, but ended up moving and couldn't find legal. I love MT so much more than legal. So much more interesting and a lot more money.
If you think healthcare is a tough field, wait until you deal with lawyers. If you want to stay at home and If you're going to go legal, study court reporting. That's where the interesting stuff is and the big bucks. Most legal transcription is inhouse so that the lawyers can have you schedule, answer phones, greet clients, take care of their trailing dockets AND do the transcription which they generally crab about if it's not done in a timely fashion even though the phone rings off the hook all day.
And if you work for a lawyer inhouse, buy suits, nice shoes and a briefcase (with an extra pair of nylons in case you get a run) and make sure your car doesn't look bad next to their caddy. They generally don't like that. :)
I did have one really great lawyer I worked for that didn't really care about all of that, but he also didn't really care about paying all that much.
Good luck!
and p.s. be prepared to hear from
*supposed* employees who will tell you it isn't so. They are lying and they are getting paid to lie. They know that American MTs are getting wise to being used by them.
Be prepared to be let go if you don't comply.
/
How hard is it to be prepared if
your check isn't there for one day? Wow, payday is Monday; if you get it early, great; if not, maybe don't over extend yourself....flame away if you must, but if you are truly living that tightly, maybe another job or backup plan?
Be prepared to run out of work
a lot. Feast or famine. If you're planning to get that $1500 signon bonus, forget it. The indians get all the jobs at night, nary a report left for an American to do.
Be prepared to find
another job. I don't believe this can be done anonymously, and it will probably also have tax implications for you on past tax returns.
I am prepared not to break the law
Among other things.
Will I need to file past taxes? Yeah. But I've only worked for this company for a year, so it's not that big of a deal for me.
Will it mean I have to pay MORE in taxes? VERY HIGHLY unlikely. However, even if I do, it's worth it to me.
Why? Because I would prefer to stay inside the law.
There are several reasons why it's a Very Bad Thing for companies to willfully misclassify employees as independent contractors. The least of which is that misclassification - on average - costs taxpayers money.
Second, and most importantly, because so many companies are willing to dramatically uneven the playing field ILLEGALLY, it leaves VERY little room for success for an honest company willing to provide quality service and pay their employees accordingly.
Being complicit in the cheating of one company SCREWS the majority of all other transcriptionists.
Are you really so selfish to be a cog in this machine? For what cannot be much more than a few dollars a paycheck, when you start figuring in the tax issue and the lack of benefits?
If we're going to have rules, EVERYONE should have to play by them. Or we should get rid of the rules ... and then see what happens.
Be prepared to go on welfare. (SM)
Most of the regions for Transcend are fairly good but there are a couple that the managers consistently overhire and leave us with no work. My manager and team leads do not care whether I eat or not or whether I have insurance because we have no work, but some of my friends tell me they have more work than they can do, so I guess it is just the luck of the draw. Too bad they keep a couple of bad eggs to make things stinky for some of us. One thing I learned a long time ago - do not complain or you get labeled as a complainer and then the next step is out the door. They are heartless.
If you go to the docs, be prepared to lose your job.
Although how much can that matter if you are not being paid anyway!!! I personally have never had this happen to me, but I can see where it could cause major problems on many levels (especially if you have automatic bank withdrawals). I would have to consider - Is it the client's fault? Is the company not managing money correctly? Does this happen often?
It is your employer's place to investigate this problem with the client, not you. I would strongly suggest that you not go directly to the client unless you have reached your limit with the company and no longer wish to be employed by them. Have they actually broken their contract agreement with you. If so, then I say it is every man for himself so to speak.
Be prepared to give a schedule and stick to it.
In my personal experirence, I was titled IC but let me tell you, if I was not signed on DURING THE SET HOURS I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE, EMAILS AND CALLS ENSUED.
IC? Not so much. More like employee without employees, IMO.
Sincerely, I do hope you're prepared to work for 8 cpl now
Apparently MDI was one of the companies that paid their experienced MTs pretty well.
With the merge, you'll be making less eventually. If you quit and look for a new job, you'll be making less, way less, than you were making at MDI.
I'm another one who's BTDT, too. I went from making 11 cpl to now making 8 cpl. I tried HARD to find any company, obscure to well known, that will start off more than that. Couldn't find 'em. Probably won't ever go up, either.
Just sayin' that you should be prepared to budget your living costs for the amount of money you'll be missing each month compared to what you were making at MDI. It's awful, I know, been through it. Going to school now to do something else, getting out.
who would even accept a job for $10-15
anon
About to accept...
I've spoken to a couple of current employees who are totally happy with the company, and I'm hoping for a good fit for me, too!
How do you accept
without knowing the cost of benefits and the coverage provided? If that was an important part of my decision I would know those answers before I accepted. It should have at least been a part of the interview. Just my 2c.
would not accept 0
Yes, I tried to leave a 0 but it would not accept that either, has to be at least a 1 or I cannot even continue.
I have asked the lady that I subcontract for to find out the user ID for me of the clinic's Olympus DSS software, although she is thinking that I will need the ID # of her Olympus software. I do not know, but I would think it would have to be the # from the clinics since the dictation originally comes from them?? Anyone shed any more light on any of this for me. I would really rather not have to purchase Olympus software if possible, as well as another subcontactor in the same boat. Thanks. Bon
Do not accept that pay
It works out to be more like 0.0575 cents per line. They may not be billing their client for them, but they are getting paid, probably billing company 0.20 per VBC and paying you 0.08.
and before you correct me, it's ACCEPT
haha
yes I could but if I already said I would accept work, I don't
with no work. As they say, your word is your bond.
They offered me 6 cpl for IC. I did not accept. nm
.
Some newbies have to accept 6 cpl unfortunately - any sm
other experiences with Shapin? Thanx.
Did you accept a position? (nm)
nm
don't accept the wage, but I would!!!!
nm
Only if you accept it. Put your foot down
.
When you accept so little, you not only ruin it for
.
...and how do you accept criticism now
Reality: MTs are usually working to support themselves, with bill collectors right on their backs.
If the quality of newer MTs as you say not caring what kind of work they put out, thank the hospitals and insurance companies, the greedy people who demand 100% accuracy, but who do not care about patients or employees because they want us to compete with other countries where their cost of living is probably half of what ours is. They are setting the trend and attitudes in this industry.
As QA you had the luxury of going over a report that was already transcribed by someone else - who sat through the screaming in the background, or struggling to understand the dictator, all while trying to make the lines needed on a time schedule.
The MT is under time constraints - you must type so many lines, you must work so many hours, you must type so many lines per hour...or you will lose your benefits, not be able to pay your bills, etc.
What would QA do without us - it bothers me the way you are judging MTs in categories.
We are losing benefits more and more all the time, told to work longer, work harder, for LESS than we actually made years ago.
Then you have people going over our reports with a magnifying glass sadistically sometimes, almost happy when they find errors you have made.
A company tests MTs, has the choice whether to hire them or not, then starts slamming them with how lousy they are because they are making errors, which is going to happen whenever you work with humans?
Errors are made mostly from older MTs in my opinion because we are now working piecemeal, we are not hourly anymore, we only make what we type, and we have to type a lot of difficult work because the easier work goes overseas. To expect great quality is unrealistic. Something is going to be sacrificed when the compensation is not appropriate.
I did not accept position
I did not accept offer. Too many negatives........
Has the pay come up to average at least? 1-1/2 yrs ago it was too low to accept. nm
s
Just wondering - did you accept the job?
I was offered the same 7 cpl with one company, but 8.5 with another, 12+ years exp.
She could tell him but probably wouldnt accept.
x
You have the right to accept no more jobs or if
x
They use more than one platform. If you accept, (sm)
stay clear of the Mongoose platform. I found it very slow and clunky.
So what happens after accept offer? sm
I have accepted a position with Keystrokes but haven't heard back after leaving message for recruiter. Just wondering what next step is. Should I expect paperwork via snail mail or E-mail, etc? Thanks!
Then don't accept the offer...
There are many companies who pay much higher than that. But, what you quoted are not Third-World wages...low, yes, but not Third World.
Anyone accept job with SmartMed, LP?
If so, can you tell me a little bit about it, i.e., dictators, mostly hard, mostly easy, etc.
And we were SO WORRIED you'd accept... nm
.
yep saw 1 ad 2.5, 4 and 4 VR pitiful don't accept
.
What questions should I ask an employer before I accept the job?
I am new in this business and have already been screwed by empty promises. I want to try and get it right this time. I would like to know what I should ask before accepting this position.
Thanks
Newbies who accept that extremely
LOW amount of pay are the reason companies offshore!! I refuse to baby them.
Why do you accept line rates like this? nm
X
Job Offer I couldn't accept
Got an offer from them last week, but had to turn it down due to other priorities and the amount of hours they needed work to be done. Sent them a professional letter refusing the job and didn't not hear one thing back from them. I would like to know if they got my e-mail, but no response. Not too concerned about this company.
Accept it, and be happy to have work! nm
x
Do NOT accept production pay for editing. That's
why they do it because people accept it. I will NOT work on production and never will. If it comes to production for editing for me, I will transcribe as I could still earn more even if the back were killing me. I will just have to go on permanent disability if I can't do that anymore. I refuse and won't take production for editing. These companies that offer it should all go out of business because you get what you pay for. Anyone with any worth would not accept it and I don't care whether you have to eat or not. I have to eat too but they are not getting me for a pittance. I won't do it because I have many years in the field and well, I guess I would starve first. Eventually all these people will get folks that can't do the job and will eventually go under and I say they deserve it.
There are better line rates out there, just have to look and not accept less sm
I currently work for 2 different companies.
My FT employee-status job I make 9.5 cpl, I started at 8.5 cpl and after 6 years worked my way up to 9.5 cpl. I also get an incentive if I type a certain amount over the minimum.
My PT IC job I started at 9 cpl (lower line rate but better system to work on - so lines come easy) Been there 3 months.
There are jobs out there. I have 9.5 years experience and don't know why people who have been in the business for 25 years or more are getting low offers. Perhaps your education isn't what you thought it was. If you have a solid background of A&P, pharmacology, college composition, and a strong work ethic, you should make more than 6-7 cpl. Honestly, you can't get a good education taking a home-based MT course, you need to go to a real college with real teachers and do an internship before you graduate. A good education can almost double your money after 5 years in the industry compared to those who didn't get the training or classes they needed to understand the stuff they type.
Do they accept an abbreviation program?
Seems like that used to be a complaint - not sure if it still is - it would concern me though. I have heard IT works sometimes with it - but not very dependable.
I guess the people who will accept it.
nm
Milner, accept satellite? nm
nm
Are there any companies that accept satellite? sm..
What are you supposed to do if your only choices are satellite or dial-up?? Thanks.
I'm an IC and I won't accept contracts that have line
IC. Those of you who agree to working a certain amount of lines are being taken advantage of, and you also make it harder for us true ICs who know that line quotas should not be enforced.
If these companies worry about keeping the client happy, then hire more people. The company I work for does just that. If I can't work for some reason, then someone else picks it up. If they can't work, then I pick up the slack.
Those of you who want steady work put up with the rules and accept IC status because you want to work every day. Well in response to your lazy post, then don't come on here crying when you run out of work because as an IC these companies do not have to promise you any work or provide it all.
So it doesn't work both ways. Most ICs, by definition, should really be employees especially with set schedules and set hours.
As soon I see that I have to work set days or type a certain amount of lines I bypass that crookery of a company. Sorry, that's how it is and I do fine in the salary and job department, and I am a true IC that makes my own rules. I am by no means lazy but I will not tolerate set rules when none should be set unless they want to offer me employee status.
P/S: You all cry when these companies run out of work and when you're an IC, they don't owe you any work; so the joke is on you for not looking out for yourself and instead trying to make excuses for these companies who are getting away with paying ICs and controlling ICs when it's against the law.
i refused to accept a position
based upon their equipment, just for reasons like you stated. Not only cannot make money, but it makes your work-life miserable trying to cope with it. I'd rather take less-quality accounts and have easier days...
Why I didn't accept the offer....sm
I tested with them, passed everything great, was made the job offer that sounded too good to be true, with the first 10 days paid at an hourly rate to help with the learning curve, etc. Then they didn't send the foot pedal although they said they did and then told me I didn't need it anyway to do the training, which they then put off for yet another day or so, etc.
After all that, I finally get the training which consisted of an hour with one of the only 2 QA people and she wasn't familiar with the platform she was training on. She told me she has been with the company for 12 years, but has always worked on the other word-based platform and had been thrown into training just recently on this one. She kept telling us how to do something, then realized it was wrong and went back and back and back until nothing was all that clear. Then she said to Really watch the spellchecker because there were MANY misspelled words and it wasn't really a medical spellchecker! I asked if we could use an outside one on our computer, such as my Stedman's, and she said no, it wouldn't work with this platform. I asked if they were going to fix that at some point and she said they couldn't because the platform actually belongs to a different company and they just use it, and this other company usually won't take the calls when they see it's Chronicle calling, so it was just up to us to be very careful with it.
She then went on to tell us that we'd also have to keep a close eye on our line counts because they weren't always accurate either. She said the 2 women in the office who I dealt with aren't MTs and had never been MTs, one was fairly new and one had been a receptionist that they just promoted. She said the man in the company, I believe she said he owned the company (I may be wrong about that), was often cranky with them and yelled a lot!!! She also told me that she had Never heard anything about any type of paid training for that period of time and she thought that was an error in the job posting. No one in the office would give me clear details about the paid training either. She also said that there was something going on in the office area that she couldn't talk about, but if they were slow to respond to questions, etc., it was because they were dealing with this!
I asked if there wasn't room for someone to work on the more user-friendly word-based platform they have and she said no, because they just lost a huge account that used that platform and they had to find another account before they could hire anyone for that platform now. After this very informative training with her it sounded to me like a company to get away from fast...it seemed as though it would be one thing after another.
I hope for those of you who posted good things here about the Apex platform and the company itself continue to have a good position and continue to like working there, but there were way too many red flags for me to spend even more time and energy trying to work on a clunky at best platform with people who had no first-hand knowledge of MT work, and people who seemed to be fighting amongst themselves. For a trainer, she really threw the company under the bus when talking with us. I declined to start with them and even though I really need a job, I surely don't need what was to come with them.
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