Have to agree ... keeping the lights turned on, food on the table, and sm
Posted By: LTMT on 2008-09-22
In Reply to: I stay motivated because - fatcat
a roof over my head is pretty good motivation! Plus, I do not want to exist. I am single, but I want the same things my married friends have with 2 incomes. Since I haven't found the seeds for my money tree yet, I work. As I mentioned below, I have been an MT for 30+ years, but I have worked the last 10 years or so at home, and it is MUCH different than having to get dressed up and drive over town. Working on a Saturday or evenings or anything is not so bad when you can sit wearing a t-shirt and shorts and have your doggie curled up under the desk. 
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Praying doesn't put food on the table.
I'm back in school getting the degree that will get me out of this crappy business.
Complaining doesn't change anything, but neither does putting your future in someone else's hands and "praying things just work out."
Gotta take the bull by the horns and take action or the world will run you over like a steamroller.
Does credibility put food on our table, gas in our cars, and
clothes on our backs?
We must have been credible at some point in time. After all, we made good incomes because we were paid higher wages, we started MTSOs that were later bought out by the big boys with the big bucks, and we loved what we did and the product we produced. When did we lose credibility? Maybe when the big boys started offshoring? Do you think credibility will be brought back when the big boys bring our jobs back into our own country? Huh? Huh? Huh?
The company is not putting food on her table,
SHE is putting the food on the table?
The company is not putting food on her table,
SHE is putting the food on the table?
Praying most certainly DOES put food on the table! I am extremely offended by your post.
t
I have to agree. I had previously turned down 8 cpl but now...
I see where I went wrong. I passed on 8 cpl on an account with NO ESL because I thought 9.5 cpl sounded better. What I did not realize was that 70% of my account would be ESL so I now see that I could have made a lot more taking the 8 cpl. You are slowed down so much with ESL so I agree that you should factor all of that in before you turn down a job.
I agree, I turned 40, hubbie got clipped. sm
Never had any kids, guess it was not meant to be. I sure as heck did not want to be 60 raising a 20 year old. Good luck.
I'd have to agree with the testing of 6 voice files. Turned me off. Who has time to spend doing a
of those tests... I need a job not a day of testing.
I agree. Transcriptionists have turned into a big whiny mess who have inflated egos. sm
Look at the economy. There are very few jobs out there that have not seen wages go down. Costs are up, wages are down, jobs are not as plentiful as in the early 80's. IT people have seen their salaries cut to less than half of what they were 15 years ago and they need more knowledge than back then. Nurses, physician assistants and CNA's fight to have jobs because everyone thinks they can do away with them. Teachers are at the poverty level in many states.
Get over yourselves. I personally chose to send work offshore because it is less expense and guess what? The people WANT to work. I don't have to pay for insurance or take out taxes. I don't worry that deadlines will be missed because they know that I will replace them and they need their jobs.
When all U.S. jobs are gone, you will all wonder why and the reason is that YOU let it happen.
I am not making excuses, simply stating facts. Greedy MT's who want the world force MTSO's to look for alternative solutions.
I'm imaging a siren and lights going off
everytime someone takes a break. Code takingabreak. LOL
Would the last one at FutureNet turn out the lights?
anyone else getting no job available?
Can type you under the table though.
nm
Well, I'd like to get paid under the table
and not report the income, so does that make it okay? Because some people think it's okay? It's illegal and they should be reported. It is of no benefit to any MT to work a set schedule when you're an IC. Period.
No need to turn the table to innocent MTs
You obviously weren't employed at OSi when the offshoring mess went down, causing the former QA manager to lose her job because she mistakenly let the cat out of the bag about the offshoring - which was a big secret until that happened. Then the current so-called manager threatened to quit and/or blackmail if she was not given the job promotion.
Pray tell me, what MTSO in their right mind would give a quality management position to a person who can't construct a sentence or even spell Douglasville, for goodness' sake? Not only that, but constantly harass the best MTs over insignificant crap until they leave? OSi, that's who.
OSi is a dirty company doing dirty business.
BTW, they have to train the newbies on the harder accounts because MT's with experience are so threatnening to the QA manager that she makes their lives so miserable they have to quit. Then she hires newbies to do QA to boot. What a scam, this OSi.
It is hard! They have been back to the table 3 times
where my husband is on strike and nothing still. It is VERY hard, especially with children! I pray all works out perfect for your family and my family. Hang in there
Food for thought. What if...SM
I think helping to clarify the pay rate in this scenario was important for others to understand. It does show that the company is willing to try and compensate fairly for this transition, or at least it appears that way on the surface. But, what if there's more to it than meets the eye. What I would like to see us do as a profession is look at the bigger picture. Where does this all end? I see the potiential for it to end in our eventual professional deaths.
What if, for example, a significant enough number of MTs start doing the VR editing and do realize a reasonable increase in their base pay for their efforts. What I see is that, for an extra $200 bucks a pay period, they're getting us to help put them in the driver's seat. Small price to pay to ensure one's ability to eventually be able to cut out the "middle man" and have the whole profit margin to yourself. And once their feet are firmly planted on our ground and we have no where else to turn and no leg to stand on, what do you see happening to that extra $200 bucks a pay period then? I see it potentially turning into a scenario of: "We'll pay you whatever we like, and if you don't like it, hit the door. There are plenty of other hungry ex-MTs out there who would welcome a chance to come back at these lower wages just to have a job." Not a pretty picture of our collective future, but it could be an accurate one if we don't stand up now while we still have some ability to make a difference. What if?
Really, are the long-term results worth the minimal short-term gains in pay? At this rate, they're not only getting us to help them kill us off, they seem to be getting us dirt cheap to boot. From their perspective, the idea is to give us a couple hundred extra bucks dangling out there like the proverbial carrot while we help them work out the kinks, and all the while were really just lambs being led to the slaughter.
What if the way this particular company seems to have just sprung this whole deal on everyone was a glimpse of the boldness and in-your-face attitude to come? What if?
Food to munch on
Thank you guys so much for all your input. Yes, we do have the advantage of knowing our docs, etc. We are now using tapes, so we are not familiar at all with the service's platform. There were four of us in-house transcriptionists. One has already been deleted due to not having DSL in her area. One is doing the unemployment route and going back to school, as she said she did not feel secure with going with the service, and this would be a perfect opportunity for her to advance her education. So, there are 2 of us left and we are undecided due to the issues discussed. Our CMO, who is Indian, would just throw a fit if we do not go with the service. He has refused over and over again through the years to outsource transcription. He only wants us doing it. My doctors have been told that we are going with the service, even though nothing is set in concrete. The docs have only been okay with this transition knowing this. If the two remaining transcriptionists do not get onboard with the service, I think my company will have mutiny on their hands - - IT WILL NOT BE A PRETTY PICTURE THAT IS FOR SURE.
The MT who wrote the newspapers and such - - YOU ARE MY HERO!!! Way to go.
You get to a point where you are tired of being #%#@@#. That's where I am.
I would take it. That would pay for food for the week
and maybe something better than the usual mac and cheese and hot dogs we have been eating. Uggg. I would perhaps even try to buy meat like chicken or steak for a change. LOL.
Why have cable and little food. You don't say
internet. But like you said you get your priorities straight.
Transcender who doesn't want to go on food stamps
How is Spheris as an employer? Are they hiring? Are they fair? Do they have benefits? Can someone make a decent living there? If their employees give them everything they've got, is Spheris loyal to them? TIA.
Can you use a food pedal with on-line tests, or do
nm
Oh yeah! A food pedal would be great..just think..
Supper time would be so easy..just hit the left pedal for the microwave, the right for the fridge..just push that pedal to the medal and whip up some potato salad and green beans..
Does that $0.9/65 Independent Contractor job come with food stamps?/sm
Does that $0.9/65 Independent Contractor job come with food stamps?
INDEPENDANT CONTRACTOR |
|
EXPENSES |
$0.09/65 |
|
$0.11/65 |
lines/8 hr day/40 hr wk |
1200 |
|
1200 |
$/day |
|
$108.00 |
|
$132.00 |
$/wk |
|
$540.00 |
|
$660.00 |
$/yr |
|
$28,080.00 |
|
$34,320.00 |
Health Ins @ 60+ |
$12,000.00 |
$16,080.00 |
|
$22,320.00 |
2 wk off/pd vac/PDO |
$1,080.00 |
$15,000.00 |
|
$21,240.00 |
op costs |
$1,200.00 |
$13,800.00 |
|
$20,040.00 |
minus taxes |
$2,760.00 |
$2,760.00 |
|
$4,008.00 |
|
$17,040.00 |
$11,040.00 |
NET |
$16,032.00 |
Sadly, I make $300 too much to get Food Stamps
I was going to bite the bullet and get them. So obviously I'm overpaid. Time to switch companies.
If poisoned pet food and toys doesn't keep people (sm)
out of Wal-Mart (and it doesn't seem to, read the blog Behind the Counter), I can't see it stopping offshoring.
Not to excuse it, but I've watched the trend over the last decade, and I honestly think a lot of companies offshore only because of the bottom line; transcription is one area that hospitals are always trying to cut and the pressure to drop line rates is tremendous. I used to take several calls a month at the small MTSO where I used to work requesting us to drop our per line rate. It ranged from whining and pleading to outright threats of losing the account if we didn't comply. It was a constant aggravation and stress.
I think some companies dipped a toe into offshoring just to try to keep up and then it trapped them into continuing so as to meet expenses and the TAT. JMO on the mid-size MTSOs; not sure how it worked in the big ones.
There are, Food Shelf, Goodwill, Salvation Army. LOL! nm
.
who tried keeping me down....sm
First, I got rid of the husband who consistently tried keeping me down and shooting me down, and my sanity comes first, in 1991, and then in 1997 I made up business cards, and every Thursday (my only day off) I solicited another medical center. I sold myself and only walked into the offices of which work I wanted to do. I got 5 doctors and surgeons that first year. I went down to 2 MDs/ surgeons (one went into receivership which is a form of bankruptcy and 2 witches I dumped) , and so in 2000 started *moonlighting for MQ*......and still working for MQ and have 4 surgeons.
But every single Thursday I went and solicited another center in my area(s). And if I ran out of work again today? I'd do the exact same thing. *S*
Best of luck to you......*S*
I'm keeping it...sm
But I won't use their uninstall software. I'm computer saavy enough to figure out what to uninstall on my own and that will leave on everything I need. They aren't getting off that easy.
just one more way of keeping us all
and make sure nobody's work is worth giving them a raise. rather ingenious when U think about it, albeit unethical.
Actually they are keeping
companies are offshoring and laying off or cutting pay, Transcend continues to grow it's US MT workforce and retain pay rates. There is a reason they are in the ranking they are.
If they invented a food pedal, we would never be allowed to take a lunch break, lol.
Thank you. I have been keeping a notebook
but have to email jobs, not fax, daily so thought it would be easier to do in a word document. Did not know about the Alt+tab, that should be of great help! Thanks again!
I had trouble keeping up with my
The QA department wants to proof everything before you get paid, therefore what you typed may not be what you get paid for. I couldn't ever figure out how much I was going to receive. People were real nice, accounts good, but there was room for dishonesty in line counting in my mind.
TT time keeping?
Do you punch in and out during the day for breaks, lunch, etc. Do they have a built in time clock on their system or do you keep a manual log and if so how exact do you need to be. Do you make a note of every potty break, etc.? Do they use these minutes against lines to figure your LPH rate like MQ does?
IMO, MTSO may do this as way of keeping MT in
x
You are right!!! thanks for keeping it real
KK
I have been keeping a list ... SM
I am sure these are not all the Escription companies, but this is what I have noted over the last couple of years.
Transcend, TTS, MVTS, Superior Global, Deventure, Proveros, Focus, DeVenture, AlphaMed, Sten-Tel, Medical Ink, Chase, Lee Perfect, Spryance, Milner, Central Transcription Services, On Point Medical Transcription.
Keeping it fresh
Okay, now don't everyone jump on me here. I've read the posts and I know the hardships we all face every day, BUT how do some of you keep it going after all of these years. I mean sometimes I think that if I have to type one more report I'm going to go nuts. Some of you have been in this longer than me at 15+ years. I have to do this another 15 years! I live in a remote area so I can't just go get a job anywhere. Some of you have done this 30 years. What keeps you going?
Have you considered keeping the job you have
while working for a new company, that way you can decide if you like the new one before jumping all the way in. Your old job can be your safety net. Just a suggestion. Good luck to you!
What is the problem? Are you having trouble keeping up?
nm
Thanks so much for the info, Fran, keeping it under my hat!! NM
nm
Keeping TT benefits question
TT says that we must work 80 hours in two weeks to keep our benefits. Obviously I know this and am scheduled to work 80 hours in two weeks. However, when running out of work is an every other day thing now, can they take away your benefits if you work say 72 to 75 hours? I know they tell us there is always work at night or on your one weekend day off, but I picked my Tue-Sat schedule for a reason - because I have a life outside of work and don't have time to work nights or my days off!
It's not you. It's the Universe keeping you safe
My mom always said, If it's for you, you will get it. There is something better right around the corner. Good luck to you!
Transtech no work situation putting me in the Salvation Army food line?
This is utterly ridiculous -- NO WORK/LOW WORK. It is not even the holidays yet. D. giving the title of an email Census does not make that the reason for the low/no work situation at Transtech! There are other reasons OTHER THAN CENSUS. That is so sickening all the time. The greatest need of us MT's is honesty from their employer --- from the very beginning of employment to the end!
Even a child could see through their excuses for NO WORK.
Good Luck Keeping Your Job at Heartland!!
I think I have had enough! Yes, I admit, I currently work for Heartland and truly thought they wanted a domestic team. I didn't think much of the managment changes and truly thought we (domestic MT team) would be okay even if HIS was sold, well think AGAIN!
We are being fed a load of crap from the new President (Dennis Paulik)!! The below was sent to me annoynomously. I think that all US-based MTs for HIS should up and leave! Why wait, obviously, he has "other" intentions that don't include us - the USA TEAM!!!!!!
Heartland Information Services, Toledo, Ohio, which employs 1,400 to 1,500 foreign transcriptionists in three cities of India, may help explain why. Dennis Paulik, Heartland's vice president of sales and marketing, says that HIPAA standards are applied to all transactions, including anything outsourced. The company leases private, transoceanic lines, so all transactions are encrypted from the time the information leaves the hospital, to the moment it is dispatched from Heartland's U.S. offices to a transcription center in India, until processing is complete and the medical transcript goes back to the hospital.
Paulik says he hears time and again that there aren't enough U.S. transcriptionists, and that those who do still work here are an aging population--the average trained American transcriptionist's age, he says, is about 59 years. It's one reason his company was formed, he says.
"You're going to have a growing need, and fewer transcriptionists," Paulik says. "It reinforces that point that people have just got to go overseas."
I can understand keeping tabs- but I work for them
and if I take a bathroom break, get a drink of water, etc., etc. I don’t hear about it. I can only think if you are gone from the computer for a period of time, say 30 minutes and leave a report on, sure they can know. I don’t worry about the foot pedal coming up and down and them counting because I always try to have it on and fast forward. I know they know what you have worked on, your line counts, and like that, but if you take a bathroom break, come on now!
Not many..but I got mine for the satisfaction of having it. Keeping it current is my pleasure..
nm
sounds like Medquist keeping track of all times
my company does not do that
Anyone know whether Transcend is keeping the same insurance this year or changing?
thanks
Then we ALL need to start keeping track of our hours and anything that falls
below minimum wage - we need to start reporting these companies - don't care if this is caused only because of a decrease in starting VR or whatever causes it, no work, downtime if not paid, EVERYTHING included. I do believe that might get the MTSOs attention. They can't fire us all. Looks like India MT situation might be in trouble so the MTSOs should be very cautious that perhaps they can't rely on offshore forever in the future.
My 1 cent (keeping it low so opinion doesn't get offshored).
I agree with a lot of the other people. I will say, though, that I would be A-OK just working on Word since I'm assuming getting a the DocQScribe set up for a bunch of people might be cost prohibitive, at least at first.
Also, since you are talking hospital transcription, that is going to mean 7 day a week coverage. If the need arises, I would rather see rotating weekend coverage rather than requiring everybody to work every weekend.
Also, while cross-training is great for vacations, sick days, heavy work, it would be terrific to be able to get an account and not have to chase the work across 6 different accounts in a crazy MT version of musical chairs. I guess that would mean not over-hiring.
It may be unpopular, and it's probably easy for me to say because I've been at this for so long, but since we don't really establish seniority at a company, I would love to see some sort of reward for years on the job. I think I bring more to the table than someone with 2 years, and it would be great to be rewarded for that.
I'm sure I'll think of more...it's been so long since anybody asked what could make my job great that I had given up even thinking about it!
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