I have worked in another industry and made twice the amount - but it
Posted By: penny on 2005-11-09
In Reply to: ever wish you could work at Walmart or somewhere and make enough?? - frustrated with it all
didn't last long, about two years. sssiiiiggghhh!
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I worked for a company that sent us something made
in China with their logo on it every year, most of which I've Freecycled or tossed. I'd rather not get something at all than get something like that.
KS pays me very well and while they aren't perfect, they are a very good company and have lots and lots and lots of work. That is worth a lot more than a $25 GC at Christmas. I wouldn't send it back if I were to get one, but a decent pay for the other 11 months is a much better gift.
I worked that way once, best money I ever made.
.
When I worked with her, she made calls
to people when there were backlogs to get more help. She used to ask me what she could do/offer me to get me to come onboard full-time, so I always figured she was in upper management in order to be able to offer that.
I've made $35,000 for the years I worked there. SM
I would have to kill myself for $50,000 and I don't choose to do that. I give you credit if you were able to achieve it.
The pay rate has been lowered there now, due to SR. The rate of pay at MQ has always been higher, but this field is dying out where ever one goes.
Worked shift/made requirements
I would email them with just what you said, see what they come up with. This means essentially your kept your requirement to work you shift and made your line count, but it seems then you must MEET YOUR SHIFT AND LINE REQUIREMENT --- BEFORE the actual shift ends.
Post back what was said back, this stinks as usual with what is happening to MTs
This is true..Put it this way. I made $45,000 this year but worked 3 jobs and at least 60
hours a week and sometimes up to 80. I have no desire to do that anymore. I'd be happy with $35,000 working 40 hours a week. What a dream job.
I made 8 cpl when I worked for them 3 years ago. The ESLs were really horrendous, though.
Even the English speaking docs were bad. I just couldn't make any money with those accounts. Maybe things have changed in 3 years, but it was not a pleasant experience for me. It was my very first MT job.
I agree. I was with MQ and made fabulous money and worked for
large universities. Finally, I had enough and left 2 years ago and never looked back. It wasnt easy at first learning new hospitals but I am still at that place and am fine. Actually, I like learning new hospitals every now and then, takes care of the boredom. Now dont get me wrong, the money isnt as great, but I cant take the boredom. I lose my focus when I get like that and get sloppy I think. You just dont watch as closely so every now and then you need a reality check and get pulled back into shape, at least I do. I focus much more closely on new accounts.
I worked there for abour 4-1/2 years and made excellent money.
I hated to leave but I was only scheduled PT but allowed to work up to 40 hours a week as I wanted. Certain family obligations made me have to choose between FT at Spheris or my local accounts and I chose my local accounts.
I was pulling in about $40,000 a year.
Just the right amount here...sm
I get the hours I am scheduled for. I've been there a few months now. Going fine. Off of OT finally but not running out.
Way of industry
I guess what is considered a good salary has gone down since the last time I changed jobs. Sounds like you are talking about the same company I just left, only I don't consider anything less than 10 cents a line to be good after as many years as I have been MTing (and that is a cut for me). I guess its back to soliciting doctors and not working for a company anymore from the looks of things.
What is the top pay in the industry (sm)
today? In other words, if you have many years experience, CMT status, high quality QA review, work your schedule, and do high quality work, what per line can you make? What is the top right now? I presently make 8 cents a line and have for many years. I am curious how much farther companies are paying - or not? I thought it might be fun to see what others are making/expecting to make? Thanks for the input!
Only in this industry...
I'm wondering how it is that a whole group of SR editors allowed JLG to breach their original contract? This just goes to show you that a company can change the rules any time they want. All they have to do is threaten to fire you if you don't agree to whatever changes they feel like making. I wonder if any of the SR editors were able to collect unemployment??
BTW, I was hired by JLG in 2007, but quit on the first day of training. Too many RED Flags made my vision suddenly crystal clear.
WELL SAID, THAT GOES FOR ANY INDUSTRY..SM
It's only human nature to care about your work when it's appreciated and halfway decently compensated. When you have to scratch out a living, though, and feel exploited, well, who cares?
It's not just this industry
It's not just this industry that does things like this. I spent many years working the front desk in hotels - front desk and night audit. The executive office staff had paid holidays, etc. Heck, they had LUNCH BREAKS that the front desk rarely got. We did get paid time and a half if we worked a holiday, but depending on how cheap the management company was that ran the hotel, there were usually only 6 of those per year.
I worked for 4.5 years for a small, family owned insurance agency. It was amazing to me what the owners/family did that cost the company $$, but god forbid I actually take a day off sick.............
There's always a sort of a double standard between the line employees and people who are considered back office or management, etc. It's just the way the world works. It doesn't bug me. I don't have anyone looking over my shoulder making sure that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing or interrupting me every 5 minutes to ask me to do something else that is an emergency because of their bad planning. I don't have to stop what I'm doing every 5 minutes to answer yet another phone call from a client. I never have to worry that at the end of the day I have 57 things started, but NONE of them are done. I don't have to work till 9 pm at night (having been there since 7 am) in a salaried position because the workday is so frenetic that's the only way to actually get something completed. I don't have to lay in bed at night wondering what is on my desk that I didn't get done that is going to get me and the company sued. I can have my TV on or not as the mood strikes. I can work in a T shirt and pajama pants, or I can get dressed like a real person again as the mood strikes. I don't have to pretend to be sociable to coworkers who make my life a living he!!. I don't have to deal with hotel guests who are unhappy because of incompetent management and complete lack of communication with the front desk staff. I can sit and have my coffee and play with my cats and then just go into the next room and go to work. On my lunch break I can take a walk around the block to clear my head and wave at my neighbors.
Life is pretty good, as far as I'm concerned. It could be and (for me, at least) has been a lot worse.
For those of us who have been in other industry.
Things are the same all over. Nobody gets recognized for the work they do until it's time for the retirement party. I suspect that since I work at home, I probably won't even get a retirement party.
I don't expect anything from my employer other than a paycheck. That is my reward. This Christmas, I am very happy I have a job. There are many people out there who don't have a job and would take mine in a second. It is 2 below outside, and I am grateful I have a roof over my head. Again, there are lots of folks who don't have that. I have food on the table and I could buy gifts for my kids. In my mind, I really don't have anything to complain about.
Besides, is a $25 gift card really going to make a big difference in your life? I wouldn't think so.
All W2s, regardless what industry,
company, etc., have to mail them by 1/31. This is the law, not just for MTs but everyone.
The industry would never have gotten as far as they have -
when it comes to screwing their employees if MT had been a male-dominated field. And what put it over the top was when the internet made it possible for MTs to work at home. Once we were isolated from each other, and the outside world, they just started a feeding-frenzy of rewarding themselves by siphoning off whatever profit and benefits was in it for us. Today, we pretty much work only for the so-called benefit of working at home. For me, the novelty of working at home wore off years ago, as I began to tire of the constant poverty level. Why women as a whole won't join together and stand up for themselves is beyond me, but that's how it's always been, and it's why sweatshops around the globe continue to thrive.
Could you disclose the amount....sm
you were paid? How long ago was this that you didn't have enough work? Also, were you full or part time and what were your report total requirements per pay period? TIA
For ANY amount of money
nm
Not only do they pay late, the amount of the
checks are incorrect and it takes forever to resolve the issue with accounting. I even talked with the owner of the company a couple of times because of incorrect and/or late paychecks. Nothing ever changed, so I left. Beware!
The amount of tax you withhold should
be what tax bracket you are in. If you are in the 15% bracket only hold back 15%.
There are pros and cons on both sides. You just have to find the fit that works for you.
Sorry, but would not put up with that crap for any amount of $$$
nm
Well that's a decent amount of $
NOT to walk away from. Depending on how much you need it though I would still consider not taking it... and not signing.
Then you are completely free to do anything u want without any worry.
If you need the money, however, you appear to have little risk with this contract being prevailed upon in court.
I'd say you don't really need to 'panic' anymore - :) you'll be OK with either choice.
Good luck.
I also just registered the amount of
$1K to $3K is not worth it to give up your career. Forget about it! File for unemployment, which I'm sure you did, and hang in there for a few weeks until you get your first check. But to sell out your potential future career for a few grand? No way! And its still something I would not want to mess with in a million years, as there is a lot of -- stuff -- going on with your ex-company, accounts/clients, etc.
Maybe someone who knows a fair amount about
x
It is a taxable amount.
nm
What amount are you talking
about?
You got a reasonable amount sm
from what I've seen for raises - a full half-cent would be great, but it's hard to give that to deserving MTs when companies can't get hospitals or clients to pay more.
I definitely have sympathy but I'm afraid that you were lucky to get anything at all, unfortunately. I wouldn't feel insulted - I'd be grateful that they were even able to grant a small raise in these tough economic times.
I'd advise you to try again when the economy picks up.
Not that the amount isn't an insult or anything, but
the fact that you got anything more at ALL is pretty unusual, with the current state of affairs in MT. Wages have been steadily declining over the past 10-15 years, and many of us have been getting even further pay cuts recently.
I hear ya on the amount, though. .09 cpl might have been good in 1980, but this is 2009. Although lately, it feels more like 1930.
u made 300 a week? That's more than I made there.
But no work, no pay. Nice ppl, they really are, some of the nicest in the business. Just can't communicate to save their lives and the recruiters are lying dogs.
I'd say if you're looking for part-time work, as in less than 20 hrs a week's worth of work, then this place is for you. Use them as ur backup. Because guaranteed that's all they're using you for.
You don't know much about how the industry works, do ya?!
ROFL
Change your schedule monthly? Oh, so the company should have to readjust and possibly hire more for one month just because you want to work different schedule next month and it leaves them without coverage for their clients (which, by the way, PAYS YOUR CHECKS).
You don't want annoying emails all day but you want communication on your accounts? LOL Which is it?!
Tons of work? Gonna take tons of line counts to get it done with tons of commitment on a set schedule to make sure its covered. ??!?!?
An account liason with a real person on the other end...blah, blah, blah. Can't read? Don't wanna read? Soooo, you think the company should take on more overhead to pay someone to sit at the end of the phone and personally tell you what you can and can't do?! LMAO
If all MTs did their work there shouldn't be any on weekends. Hmmmm....LOL I guess those who dictate on weekends are outta luck, huh?! ROFL Make sure they tell clients, "Uhmm, we hope we'll cover you on the weekends but because the MTs may or may not want to cover weekends we might not be able to." Yeah, that will keep clients (again who pay the company so they can PAY YOUR CHECK).
OMG this is all so rich. Just not enough time to continue on here...but you get my drift.
Get over yourself. This is a business just like any other.
Don't like it? Get out. Dream on with the "fantasy" job. Or, wait, wait -- BETTER YET --- Open an MT business yourself and let's all watch you put all these wonderful things in place and see how much business you really get, how many GREAT MTs you get, and how much profit YOU turn!!!
LMAO!!
The industry needs more new graduates like you ! nm
nm
I think the industry standard is using
independent contractors and you get neither vacation or sick pay.
Another example of how this industry has changed -
that's why many are leaving this profession. After 10 years, that is how you're treated. It's a shame - and very degrading.
I think this is probably the industry standard
.
U R so right! The MT industry gets away with so much unethical
If all MTs were to rise up one day, suddenly become VISIBLE, and make their voices heard, maybe the industry would be put on notice to clean up their act.
It's not just our industry that's affected...sm
Try calling your ISP, cell phone carrier, cable or satellite company, etc for company service and more than likely you'll receive someone who isn't in the US.
Want to buy furniture? Good luck finding it American made.
What about your clothes you're wearing? More than likely not made in America. After all, that's how places like Wal-Mart is able to provide the low prices we want. When I was in high school back in the late 70s a pair of Levi's would cost you around $20. They are still around $20 - and it's almost 30 years later - yet the cost of producing them has gone up so something has to give to keep them cheap.
What about your car? It's hard to find the words American Made Car and Top Quality in the same sentence unless you have $40,000 or more to spend. Most of us can't afford that so we go to cheaper vehicles - that are in part or wholey made out of the US. Kia is building a plant here in Georgia that will open next year - and it cost our state millions to get this deal to provide jobs for Americans. They've already more people asking about jobs with them then they'll have openings for - and they haven't even started hiring yet.
Now look at food. Where does your produce come from? Increasingly from Mexico because of pricing.
Now let's take our situation of healthcare and our jobs as transcriptionists. Hospitals demand lower transcription pricing and get it because of competition. Long gone are the MTSOs getting 20 cpl for a gross line. MTSOs now do good if they get 9-10 cpl for a 65 character line - without headers/footers. The hospitals don't care about the individual Transcriptionist because we don't provide direct patient care that they can bill for - even though if we don't transcribe correctly they can't bill - but they don't view it that way. On the other hand if you're an oncologist or radiologist and want a new play purty you'll probably get it because it'll make them money.
America has always been a free society with free trade, and as long as that continues our jobs will continue to increasingly leave the borders. Will government care? Not really because the lobbyists line pockets with cash and gifts to keep getting what they want. Here in Georgia the head of an area in the state was recently publicized as being unusual because she refuses to accept even a cup of coffee from anyone wanting to do business with the state. That's the way it should be - instead of the exception to the rule.
God - this industry is populated almost entirely
!
Industry standards
are a 3:1 ratio
4:1 ratio is slow and I'm not trying to diss you, just giving you facts.
Industry standard also uses 1 minute of dictation = 10 lines of transcription, which I've found is more like 8 most often, but that doesn't change the industry standards.
Some interesting links:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Medical-Transcription-Standard&id=1079391
http://www.astm.org/BOOKSTORE/COMPS/127.htm
http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/ftr_05122008p18.shtml
Those links don't give you the specifics you asked for here, but those links will show you where the REAL ADVOCACY for MT is --- IOW you'll notice that ADHI/AAMT is NOT cited
Re-entering the industry sm
Hi. I'm re-entering the industry after 2-years to work with my husband's company, not MT related at all. I had finally gotten a great account with a great company five years into the biz and lost it after 6 months due to the account going in-house. I threw in the towel for 2 years. I have noticed that things have changed a good bit since then, in the fact that these companies don't really need you to actually do the transcription part unless they are seriously interested in you. That has been my experience anyway. I remember one time I was trying to find a great company, and I spent a LOT of time transcribing sample reports.
Thanks for the input. My biggest problem is that I'm customing my cover letter for each application, and I'm making stupid mistakes like referencing this site when I saw the job at another site. Geesh. I even sent out a cover letter the other day and forgot to spell check because my cat was at the door driving me crazy wanting in. I typed, I am very conscientious of my work quality and mispelled conscientious. I'm sure they got a hoot out of that one! Then I signed my email on another one as my kids mother, the signature block I use for the school. GEESH! TGIF!!! :) Thanks for chatting! I've had WAY too much coffee!
Every company is going to have some amount of ESLs
/
Figuring amount for pay per minute
Does anyone know how to charge by the minute of dictation? I only know rates for by the line.
Ty
IC means they cannot tell you WHEN to do the work, only X amount
Otherwise by IRS definition you ARE an employee. I have been seeing a lot of ads lately where companies want ICs for particular hours, and I can't believe people fall for that. The definition of IC versus employee is simple: Who has control? If you have control, you are IC. If the company has control, you are an employee.
Not from me. I need that amount to pay for a bad shopping habit :)
My DH pays the bills, I pay the extras. He's lucky I like a lot of extras and don't like to cook!
Thanks. Do they have good amount of work?
Is the payment on time?
Guaranteed amount of work!
With all of these people complaining about no work at this company and no work at that company, I'd have to say guaranteed work is a load of you know what!!!! Also, you can pay your own social security. The employer is making money off of your withholdings. Hello? Does anyone here think that it is probably better to owe the IRS at the end of the year and keep your money and invest it yourself, rather than let the IRS have your money for a year to make money off of your money just so you can have a refund? Grow up and save your own money!
Are these companies paying for downtime when the dictating physicians are on vacation, and there is not enough work to go around? Doubt it!!!
To the OP: You'd be better off as an IC and pay your own insurance!
1099 Form amount
Isn't the amount $600.00? If you make that amount or more then you must be sent a 1099 form? I do have records of all of my earnings that I made last year. I made a little over $3,000.00 with this company. It was not that much, but enough to report in.
A company might require a certain amount of
lines, but may require a certain amount of minutes, which pretty much equates to the same thing. The last 2 companies I have worked for required 1200 lpd for FT work, but I have seen some companies only require 800 - though I think that is IC and not employee.
There is one thing no amount of money will ever buy ......
But... then again, that pretty much goes without saying.
Did QA for $20 an hour 5 years ago and will never do it again for any amount! sm
For one thing, I can make more transcribing with a LOT less frustration. It gets old fast seeing work that is pure garbage turned out by American MTs day in and day out. It is not only the offshore MTs producing garbage work, trust me. Companies also cycle through people fairly quickly due to them not meeting the QA standards, line requirements, whatever the reason, and correcting reports with dozens of blanks for various reasons is tedious. I found it far more exhausting than I ever did transcribing the worst ESL docs. Just something to keep in mind. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence!
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