I'm an IC and I won't accept contracts that have line
Posted By: requirements. That is control and it's employee on 2008-09-24
In Reply to: According to the IRS - you're contracting for a job to be done. sm
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.
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Why do you accept line rates like this? nm
X
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.
contracts
Everyone should keep in mind contracts work both ways. If the company voids the contract in anyway - nonpayment, late pay if stated in the contract a date it is to be - then the entire contract is void. If you have a problem, go through the yellow pages for a free consult with an attorney - but the contract is not just for them it is for you too - so if it states you are to do 1000 lines a day and they do not offer it up, if the wording is proper - they voided the contract not you. If a company says the payday if Friday and you do not recieve it within a standard mail delivery date, they have voided the contract. So yes please everyone review what they sign to see if you can get what you deserve. So many of us just take it, I say get some legal advice - Lawyers hand it out like candy. If we dont - they will continue to bounce checks, pay late, decrease workloads, etc.
contracts
Tried to email you privately but it would not go through. can you send to my email and let me know company name you mean. I would like to know if it is the same one. thank you.
contracts
Anybody have this experience? I was just offered work from a company that sounded wonderful, just what I needed. No set schedule, work anytime, just set number of lines. Then I got the contract which stated basically paid on the 15th and 30th assuming payment received from client. What? I should do the work for their business and then they don't have to pay me until their client pays, if their client pays. I don't think so. The contract obviously precludes the MT from contacting the client so how do I know if the MTSO got paid or not or when they got paid. Just looking for other people's thoughts on this. Am I being paranoid? Have you ever been asked to sign such a contract? I have seen many postings on this board about people not being paid, and I do not want to be in that situation. I do the work for XXX Company. Doesn't XXX company owe me that money either way. I feel it is their responsibility to pay for work done for their company and THEN deal with the client for any nonpayment issues. What do you think? I politely told them I could not sign the contract with that statement included and asked them to reconsider their position, explaining my feelings on the subject.
contracts
Without reading the contracts, I would say that they need to give notice to change it, unless there is a clause in the original contract that they can change it at will. If you see a clause like that don't sign it.
RE: CONTRACTS
Right ... employees, IC or employee status, should have some type of contract with their employer. But who usually writes the contract? How many contracts presented by the MTSO actually allow for input from the MT? For the most part, they are WORTHLESS, often detrimental, to the MT, since they are almost always one-sided favoring you know who.
contracts
Do you then sign a contract you disagree with? I don't understand doing that.
When I'm given a contract, I surely do take my pen and cross out what I do not agree to, add in what I want agreed to, and sign it.
This at the very least opens the door to negotiation of what I see as issues I can't work with. I've turned down contracts where the MTSO wasnt willing to negotiate to meet my terms. And more often than not, the MTSOs have been willing to work with me.
contracts
You can give direction to a contractor. You can tell the plumber you work until noon so he needs to fix your bathtub between 1 and 5. You can tell him you can only have a plumber there on Monday.
Most ICs do not ever bother SUBMITTING a contract to a service, which is just insanity. Instead, they kowtow to the demands of a service (treating them as employees), then kvetch when they aren't treated as ICs.
Education and knowing how to conduct BUSINESS is seemingly lost among way too many MTs.
You need to negotiate better contracts.
.
Depends on Contracts
I do not know whether the contract specifies only that the work be done in US, or that the provider not outsource at all. If so, that could void contracts. But at any rate, they will still need us US employees to do the work.
Some union contracts have more pay for certification. sm
At a facility I worked at for about 11 years, we had that benefit - $1.00 an hour for certification. You would have to find a unionized hospital and see how their contract reads.
Beware of contracts that state
you get paid when we do... run, run as fast as you can...! Do not sign it.
MTSO HOSPITAL CONTRACTS
What duration of time is a contract with a hospital, one year? It is now April, meaning 50+ transcriptionists needed a year ago, means 50+ now fighting for work. ??
They don't go up b/c hospitals have contracts with MTSOs, sm
saying this is the rate for 2 yrs or whatever. The company may want to pay you more, but they aren't getting reimbursed a high rate from hospitals or clinics.
FUNNY THING ABOUT MT CONTRACTS - SM
They're about as LOPSIDED as a 3-legged dog/horse/donkey - take your pick. WHO GETS TO WRITE THESE CONTRACTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?? Who has the most to say on what does or doesn't go into it? Certainly not the MT. They're almost all written by THEM - with the help of their attorney or in-house legal department - and I can guarantee you they didn't miss a trick.
Case in point: Ever look at your apartment/house lease, for example - you know the tiny print on the back with about 200 clauses - favoring, guess whom?? IC status might have its merits for the MT - CERTAINLY for the MTSO - no taxes, no SS to pay for you ... no worry about lawsuit for wrongful termination or worry about you applying for Unemployment - but they STILL b---- and moan ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. 
FUNNY THING ABOUT MT CONTRACTS - SM
They're about as LOPSIDED as a 3-legged dog/horse/donkey - take your pick. WHO GETS TO WRITE THESE CONTRACTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?? Who has the most to say on what does or doesn't go into it? Certainly not the MT. They're almost all written by THEM - with the help of their attorney or in-house legal department - and I can guarantee you they didn't miss a trick.
Case in point: Ever look at your apartment/house lease, for example - you know the tiny print on the back with about 200 clauses - favoring, guess whom?? IC status might have its merits for the MT - CERTAINLY for the MTSO - no taxes, no SS to pay for you ... no worry about lawsuit for wrongful termination or worry about you applying for Unemployment - but they STILL b---- and moan ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
Yes, the hospital contracts out to the MTSO who is an IC...sm
and has to hire people to fullfill that contract. They have the option of hiring independent contractors with some sort of line quota in a period of time or hire employees who work a schedule enabling them to meet turnaround times more precisely but having to pay employment taxes and give benefits. A company can have of mix of these employees but there is definitely a difference by law. I myself prefer flexible part-time, but so far those jobs have been hard to find.
Our contracts will expire at the end of 2009
at which point we will have to sign all that HIPAA confidentiality stuff and probably noncompete agreements with Transcend too. While the 2009 MDI contract says they have to pay us a certain line rate for 12 months (and this would be binding on Transcend as well) I bet what we signed says we cannot compete for at least couple of years (and this would be binding on us as it pertains to what would now be Transcend accounts.) Don't have time to hunt up and read my contract right now but I would be very surprised if the noncompete agreement expired at the end of 2009. Way to easy to walk off with accounts that way.
I'm not posting contracts. You're insane!
I don't care if they don't believe me. I'm the one getting paid. What do I care if they don't believe me? I can understand the problem with others getting hired in at higher rates, but truly that is their situation, not mine.
You're real sharp but not I'm not dull enough to bite that! LMAO
Good Point, But Contracts One-Sided
Sorry for duplication, I now see both your posts. You bring up a good point, though sometimes these contracts are one-sided and allow a lot of manipulation of job pool by client. But fact remains that US-only work remains and someone has to do it, preferably those of us already trained. Hopefully one way or another we will remain working for those clients. ???
Sten-Tel contract, anyone with any info on their contracts? more inside
I received their contract and had my attorney look at it and some red flags came up. One of the things that is in it is an indemnity clause stating that I an as an IC hold them harmless for ANY liability even if it's THEIR fault. And there is no guarantee of any certain amount of work or amount of hours in it. Please help and advise if you can. I would like to hear from any previous Sten-Tel workers or present ones. Thanks.
As a service, I do not carry liability insurance...on contracts,
I line out that clause. The liability for MT work is extremely low. I personally have never heard of any MT being brought into court on a transcription. Has anyone else? Therefore, liability insurance is either a) not necessary or b) if purchased, would be really really cheap as the liability is practically nonexistent. None of my clients has ever been offended that I don't carry liability. I simply tell 'em that no body does.
Non-compete clauses in contracts. Has anyone refused to sign this and still got the job? nm
nm
Companies close old and gain new contracts all the time. (SM)
Stop rumoring.
If you have information, share with the Administrator or myself. Otherwise, leave rumoring off the board.
Goldbird
I've got a question about contracts. How legally binding are they?
I was reading the MDI discussion below and a couple of ex-MDI MTs have said that their contracts were changed while they were still employed forcing them to work different days, different schedules, etc. I worked for JLG not too long ago and they basically did the same thing. I signed a contract stating a certain wage and then they basically breached the contract and completely changed my wage.
So what are the deal with contracts anyway?!?!??!?!?! Why do we bother to sign them if the companies aren't honoring their side of it? And shouldn't the MT be able to take legal action against an MTSO that has breached their contract? Shouldn't there be legal ramifications? The MTSOs make sure to put in noncompete clauses in the contracts so we don't steal any of their clients and try to scare us into believing that if we try to steal their clients, they'll sue, but then they completely disregard the fact that they signed the contract and they could be sued for not meeting their end of the deal!
I HAVE HAD IT!!!! These MTSOs are getting away with too much! I have a file folder the size of a freaking PDR with nothing but contracts I've received throughout my career as an MT and I'd bet that if I sit down and go through them, not one of the MTSOs honored them.
When the hospital contracts an MTSO they are abiding by contract
and the hospital CAN ask that the work be done at certain times. That does not make the MTSO an employee now does it?
They CAN contract a person out to do work at certain times with certain turn around times, and that is NOT called an employee. It is called CONTRACTING someone out to do the job they need done when they need it done.
Most contracts said either party can quit or fire at any time. Would be unusual to get locked into
s
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.
A line is a line is a line. Doesn't matter if we are talking about radiology or acute care.
1600 is not a fair minimum requirement. Sure you can achieve 1600, it shouldn't be the required minimum.
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
.
Don't accept anything less than $50K and be prepared
,,,
...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!
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