I understand what you're up against, but....
Posted By: IC with no set hours on 2007-03-07
In Reply to: So whata do, turn them in and lose - Junebug
When they set your hours, they are supposed to make you an employee and withhold taxes. If you are paying your own taxes as an IC, then they could be held responsible for all the time they have not withheld your taxes in so far as they have made you set a schedule. It is a shame that companies do this, but it is against the law according to the IRS. There is a fine line, however. Read up on it and you'll see on the IRS site that they can tell you that they want the work back in a certain amount of time, but cannot for example tell you to do it between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., etc. If they are doing this and putting you on a time clock, then you are not an IC, you are an employee. I guess if you wanted to you could fight it or else just stick to your schedule. I would, however, raise the question to your company that since you have to work a set schedule is there any way to make you an employee in according with the IRS standards. If you love your job and this doesn't bother you then let it go. They'll get caught up with eventually because they'll try this with the wrong IC. 
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I think I understand what you're (sm)
asking, but I'm not sure you understand the terminology. FTP means file transfer protocol. It just refers to a particular method of transfer. It has nothing to do with platforms or anything else, it's just one way to transfer files from computer to computer. It has nothing to do with when or on what schedule you might get sent work. Think of it like picking up tapes. Your "tape" is transferred to the FTP server. When you get around to logging on to the FTP server, your "tape" is there waiting for you. You download it and log off. Then you do whatever it is you have to do during the day while you get your "tape" done. Then you transfer the finished product back to the FTP server. It's not like a platform where you have to log on and stay logged on while you do your work. Hope this helps.
I understand what you're saying.
Hope I didn't come across as being nasty. But what I meant was IT'S ALL AN ILLUSION. Just because the AAMT says that someone is a CMT, doesn't mean they are. Yes, I know it's their test and their credential.......because they have called it so. But we don't have to accept that as our reality. They don't make the rules for us all. You know what we should do? We should ALL call ourselves CMTs! That would take the sizzle out the AAMT so fast, they wouldn't know what hit them! We can call ourselves anything we want--and there's not a darned thing the AAMT can do about it. It's a free country, and they don't OWN those three words. Just a thought.
I understand what you're saying,
but if I couldn't see it, I couldn't use it to pay my bills (but wound up feeling stressed, knowing that I would have to come up with the money at some point to pay my taxes). Either way, once I saw what I cleared when working for them, I couldn't afford to pay my bills. I didn't stay with them very long. I found a good company (not one of the ones that are always advertising for MTs). They pay a good line rate and take out all my taxes. I can actually earn a decent living again, and I have no problem paying my bills.
From some of the posts on this board, though, I'm very glad I got out when I did. 
I think you're right. I never did understand why -
hospitals scream bloody murder at the mere thought of setting up MTs at home...('Too expensive!' 'Too much software to purchase'! etc.) Yet they're willing to pay through the nose for VR equipment. It seems like the suits always fall for the shiny new gadgets that they think carry a 'wow' factor, that they can boast to their colleagues about at that next big medical conference.
I understand. I don't think you're understanding
the thread from below that I am referring to. We are all new hires and understand that we can only transcribe 5 jobs a day. I agree and understand completely. But several of the MTs posting below are very upset, as they do not have the work to even complete the 5 jobs a day. They are apparently being told there is no work on various accounts. That is what is freaking me out. I understand the logic and reasoning behind 5 jobs maximum while training, but I do not understand that those in training have no work to get just 5 jobs. That does not bode well for the future.
Don't understand your post. I hope you're not sm
faulting the MTs who are stuck with dialup because DSL/broadband is not offered in their areas.
Sorry - I guess we're getting to be like the Indians - we don't understand what we read
or type.
Hope you're enjoying those slave wages you're earning.
.
So you guys feel you're getting paid what you're worth with VR?
I'm not trying to be snarky. I've never done VR, so I'm trying to understand.
You're happy with your paycheck with VR? Do you find the files to be as bad as the original post implied?
So you're telling me, basically, they're bad news?
They offered me 0.095/line and you know - it sounded too good to be true, but I SWEAR the recruiter told me they do not outsource. Oh brother... I just wish they'd be honest. I really don't know what to do.
Not the OP, but they're supposed to take out all the other taxes as you're an employee with th
s
No, they're not losing money....they're gaining!
If a company charges their clients by the line, I'm sure that line rate does not go down even though the MTs pay does.
ASR pays about 2/3 normal line rate to its MTs. Their ultimate goal is to have the MTs do twice as much work. Therefore, the client is getting their work faster, but paying their normal rate, while corporate gets that money and the MTs get the lower line rate.
Whether the newbies want to realize it or not, MTSOs have not increased MTs' salaries in the past 10 years. They still start out at the same pay as the last century!
This used to be a very lucrative profession. Nowadays, most MTs are considered to be paid at the poverty level. You don't believe me, look it up!
Hey, you're in luck then. They're hiring! (nm)
x
If they're in Nebraska, they're www.medigrafix.com nm
m
If you're an IC, you pay all your taxes. Otherwise you're an SE or employee. nm
s
If you're PT you're required to work
8 of your hours in one weekend day. There's no extra pay for it though.
The face we're wising up is exactly why they're
xxx
We're not 'so scared' of it. We're trying to help
you to not make a huge mistake, but I guess you're determined to learn the hard way, so good luck with that.
If you're in the 37% tax bracket, you're making over
100K per year. Quit complaining.
What I don't understand is this-
But I still don't understand
They never have anything positive to say, except about themselves. I guess we don't need to ask anymore questions after we come to that conclusion.
So, let me understand (sm)
That this is your first career/job out of high school and you are getting 8.5 cpl for clinics and they are mentoring you? Did you hire in at that? How long have you been there to be offered QA with such little background in MT? (no offense) I have 10 years experience and they are talking 8 cpl to me. Hmmm.....
I think we can all understand
The typo police don't have to come out every time. Get a life. We all work with words all day long and when you get on here, you might be a little tired. Give 'em a break.
I don't understand it, either. sm
It'd be great if MTs came here and supported each other. This is NOT a great field to be in, IMO. We should be banding together as sisters (and brothers) in the same boat.
I wish the monitors would institute a zero-tolerance policy toward people who deliberately harass someone here like this person or people were doing to Metrochick.
Don't understand
I couldn't afford to stay in business if I paid people for NOT working. I can understand if the computer is down or if there is a problem, but just because there is no work, a company would go broke. Can I bill the doctors if they do not dictate a day? How can I pay you if I cannot bill a customer for work? This work has always been up and down -- feast or famine my father used to say. But through the years -- now over 20 -- I have learned to save for the lean times. Like I said if the problem was on my end due to machinery malfunction but if docs don't send in the dication how can I pay you for something I cannot bill out to them?
I Understand more now
I understand more now of what you are saying. I agree with you more than when I first read your post. It is so hard to juggle in this job market. There are so many pieces that fit into the cpl you charge the client, the transcriptionist, supplies, QA time, software, etc. that is it very hard for an owner to make much and when an account is down for the day to pay those people that should be on it while it generates no income is double hard. It is really hard to strike that balance of being staffed correctly for both the busy and slow times of the year. A lot of it is out of my control. You are probably with a larger company that can afford to pay you for 8 hours of work and generating income from only one. They count that into their overhead. I have only 5 accounts of 2-3 docs, have 2 part-times and am the QA, owner, Transcriptionist also. But on those accounts that my gals type, I make only 25 to 30% max on what they type which a lot of times generates out to only $7 to $9 an hour for doing pick-up, pick-up, delivery, printing, etc. That is why in 2006 I am going to probably cut back to doing only what will keep me with a decent income to pay my bills and I do not have to worry about having enough work for the gals, doing the running, etc. My guilt is high when the docs are on vacation or it is a slow time and the gals have no work but I cannot cut myself short either. Enough rambling on, - I do understand more and I think that if your company is not paying you for the time, they know they have overstaffed themselves to cover those times when the need is heavy and thus I would probably look for another company that staffs more evenly. Sorry I rambled on so much.
The way I understand it . . .
they are instituting what they're calling a pilot program to sort of test the waters of offshoring work by starting to send a small percentage of work overseas in order to be competetive with their contract fees. No, I don't think they're doing it yet, but it is obviously going to happen at least to a small extent in the near future. We have to accept this as the trend of the future because it's happening everywhere, like it or not.
What does this mean for MTs? I don't understand.
?
Understand. Thank you!
x
I understand!
That is why I love it when they post unqualified applicants need not apply!
I can understand...
I worked for an Iranian doc in office and there was a woman there that'd worked for him for about 13 years. He would call her at 3 am because he thought of something he wanted to tell her (she was also an MT). He did this all the time. As far as I know she's still there because he pays so well.
I understand all that.
The point is that besides the tons of different work types there are VERY different account specifics from hospitals all over the country. I am well versed in different work types; that was not the issue. The issue was all the different account specifics that changed on a weekly basis to boot. It became where we had no primary account. How is that productive for them or for me?
I understand that...
That is my exact point that the PTO accrues so slowly that how do they expect you to use this for your maternity leave!! Actually right now I earn less than 4 hours every two weeks and I can't accrue any because I have to use it for holidays and when there is no work unless I want to work all through the night after I have just sat all day waiting for work!! Do this make more sense... I was just told I wanted to be a maternity rider when that is not the case. All I came on here to do was to try to find a better job with more PTO then maybe when I do have a baby I can take two weeks off with it at least...at this rate I will have to come right back to work like two days after I pop a kid out! I never wanted to get into a XXXX match with anyone over maternity leave, but that is what it has turned out to be!!!
I know, don't understand it either!
there really is no proofing while you type. Proofing is going back and proofreading a document after it's done. Doesn't everyone technically read the words as they type??? And with all that going on at once, you miss things. On the other hand, I do not blame MTs who do not proofread the documents at the end, definitely less production and hence less money. I'm going to tell you a secret...lol..I just started skimping a bit on that myself. If I have a small mistake, oh well. I need to make a living here! :)
No, you don't understand.
My account with them DID pay for headers and footers and I always randomly check my line count against the ESCRIPTION (not Editscript) metrics of the company. This week it is off consistently and in talking with the company was told the client does not want to pay for headers any longer ???? so without letting us know, we are suddenly not paid for completing demographics. I simply wanted to make sure others were aware of this as this evidently can happen anywhere at anytime and no one at the company may feel compelled to share this info with the MTs.
I understand what you are trying to say, or what
is bothering you. I have been in this industry my entire adult life - a LONG time - and I agree that most companies have changed in that they just don't share info that is really pertinent - like not getting paid for headers anymore. Its sneaky to me, or underhanded, and just breeds contempt or suspicion in the MTs. Or, the company can have an uppity attitude, like why on earth is it the MTs business what they are getting paid for or not? Which also makes me feel bitter. I remember the old days of honest communication - the news might not have been good, but I handled it well. They treated me with respect, and I felt like a professional. Gone are those days, and it is a shame. 
This is what I don't understand........
Wouldn't it have been more beneficial to everyone involved to sell the company rather than just let it die a painful death?
I don't understand...
why they yell at the MTs when it is not their fault? The MTs get blamed for everything!!!!!!!!! Grrrrr
I don't understand
how you can say they ALWAYS pay on time when just this past Friday they were late with direct deposit
I don't understand something sm
How do you have any contact with anyone in upper management? I work there; I never even hear from upper management. I talk to my manager and that's it. What morale problems are your referring to, because I couldn't be happier here?
I really don't understand all of what you just said
but I do know that not everyone has had a bad experience with OSi. I never run out of work, have great coordinators, am always paid on time, am making more than I did when I first started, and have expanded my abilities greatly. All of the things that are important to me in a company, I have at OSi, and I've had them for the past 3 years. I understand some people didn't have a good experience there, and that this is their place to hang out and vent. I just think it's too bad when OSi has been a good fit for many people, and then there are these people who hang out at this board who have made it their life's mission to carp on OSi. It doesn't really affect me at all...it's just very, very tiring.
Don't really understand what she is doing.
I tested for her last year and was hired for this account. Immediately she wanted me on a psych account that I was not interested in. She then tried to give me ANOTHER account. I explained that I would be more than happy to take on the other account AFTER I was established on the one I was hired for. She came back and told me they shifted things around internally and had it covered now. Not sure what kind of game that was but I know it is one I want no parts of. Hope this helps.
What I don't understand is (sm)
If a company does not pay for headers and footers, fine. I get that. But what advantage is it for them to disable the feature so that we can't see the counts of individual reports? I have worked at places not on Ex-Text where some reports just mysteriously never made it to the hospital. No one was cheating, it was just a software glitch. Had to send again and it counted. So what would prevent that from happening with this? I agree, we should be able to verify that every single report is counting, if for no other reason than this one.
I just can't understand why you are saying you need
You can go to whatever school you like and still be considered a newbie in a lot of company's eyes. It all depends on what you want to do as far as your career. Whatever floats your boat. 
What I really don't understand...
is that the account I'm supposed to do has a ton of work, and they are giving incentives.
Seems to me they are really, really disorganized.
Sorry you are facing this. My other job has run out of work this weekend too. All the companies want full-time, but when you do that, you end up short on pay. I'm on my own. Can't afford that.
Lord, I just depressed myself....didn't mean to do that to you too....
As I understand it, it's
because they can only make money if they can get work, and a lot of American companies won't subcontract work to them. Therefore the Indians have to come here to set up their own shop to be able to say they are an American company and be able to get their own work. So then they are based here but can still send all or most of their work back home. Now you would think at least America is getting some tax money for the business, but no. They are probably here on one of those special visas and they get huge tax breaks. Uncle Sam is paying them to come here and do this to us.
Grrr.
i don't understand that...
WHY doesn't control I work? I've used ExText before with different companies, each time using control I to monitor my production accurately. The last report takes a minute or two to be counted, but, sheesh, that's nothing. I KNOW there's nothing fishy going on, btw. I just would like to know WHY control I doesn't work at TT. Is it just program goblins? Now, THAT I understand. LOL! But, as expensive as Dictaphone is, I would think they'd make it right, no matter how they have to do it. I'm just not getting that part of it.
I understand
I feel for all of you, as I said. A paycheck is a paycheck for me. The company was the best company that I have ever worked for, and I am truly sorry things turned out the way they did for so many. I will just look at the cup half full on the positive side and hope that maybe they can be again. I wish you both well and I hope you find another greener pasture. They are out there. Take care.
I Understand
So, you're actually working 7.5 hours during your 8-hour shift, but your company is basing your benefit rate on how much you did during the 8 hours instead of during the actual 7.5 hours worked. Right?
i understand
I'm glad they are going to fix the problem. I wasn't suggesting that running out of work was your fault by any means, I was just wondering if you had crosstrained. I completely understand that others shouldn't take work because they run out, it is par for the course. I am trying to get as much in as I can right now because I'm sure with the holidays things will slow down, (it happened on columbus day, no more work left) and I don't feel right taking from others unless it is simply to help out if it is backlogged. I hope you aren't offended, I wasn't trying to start an argument :)
I understand that, but....
isn't it management's job to manage their MTs? I am not talking about little questions about account specifics or things like that. That is what we have the IM group for. I research before I IM a fellow MT and I IM them before I bother a supervisor. I have emailed about things that could affect patient safety without receiving an answer and there is no provision in the system to make sure that QA is going to pick up on the same problem that I do by listening to the whole report. Also, when you answer an email or IM, how long does it take to type, Thank you for bringing this to my attention or Have a good day? Most of the time I prefer to be left alone, and I understand the volume they deal with, but it is the little things that make us feel valued and not isolated.
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