If they invented a food pedal, we would never be allowed to take a lunch break, lol.
Posted By: paints on 2005-11-16
In Reply to: Can you use a food pedal with on-line tests, or do - you have to control the Real Player manually? nm
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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..
I use my own foot pedal. It isn't an EMDAT pedal either, just a regular WAV pedal. nm
nm
Only difference I've noticed is the DVI vs non-DVI pedal. Otherwise, regular Infinity pedal shoul
s
You're allowed your opinion and I am allowed to
nm
To lunch?
A
I owe you a lunch or ...
at least a THANK YOU  for your post, this one and the *bright spot* post. The comment you made before about angels watching over, also struck a cord with me. If you don't mind, I would like to email you in the future using the MTStars address. Again, thank you for posting.
They use the StartStop software&pedal, but your own pedal might be compatible. Very
s
Seems like the ESLs will eat you for lunch
I know they had one good account but think that has been filled.
Thanks!! Now I can't wait for lunch.
LOL
'Tis better than the air of chili dogs for lunch.
just kidding...
Link inside to Fed DOL on breaks/lunch
interesting reading, don't know if this varies by state as overtime laws do, but anyway...
I'll play - EZ lunch decisions
I don't have to make the decision the night before or in the morning whether to pack a lunch or buy. Can decide to make rice in the cooker, microwave a meal or just eat a sandwich, or even not eat till I'm famished, all up to me and not a clock.
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. 
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 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 |
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?
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
.
Praying most certainly DOES put food on the table! I am extremely offended by your post.
t
Have to agree ... keeping the lights turned on, food on the table, and sm
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.
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.
How did they break it to you?
Why would they drop direct deposit? Does it cost a company to provide that service? Sorry to hear about your insurance. 
Give me a break.
I doubt 100% that you posted AGAINST Keystrokes and used your real name. Not gonna make me believe that in a minute, cause if you did, it would have been spread all over this board like wildfire, with Lee and the whole gang from KS posting to you, yadda, yadda. Don't believe you one minute. As for posting against Spheris, hmmmm... they have like 12,000 or more employees now? Bigger than MQ. So, boy, you're sure brave if you ever posted as Michelle. Yep, they'd be able to zero right in on you on their radar screen! Please....Transcend watches this board like a hawk, and DOES contact posters. PERIOD. It is scary and it is a hassle, so its a business strategy that does work for them regarding damage control. Doesn't mean any of us are "hiding" or that our negative comments are any less valid than your soap-box stances defending Transcend.
Give me a break!
I understand there are two sides to every story, but there is no excuse for not paying the people who have worked for you. I just hope you are a better business owner than she is.
Give me a break.....
I know a whole lot more hard working, LOYAL, honest, go-the-extra-mile transcriptionists then I do companies who truely appreciate them. It is not the work ethic of the general TX that has caused the rates to go down. It is greed on the part of the company. I have now been with SEVEN different companies in the past 3 years as an IC and have never done the things you suggest. What I get is days without work or days that I am expected to work 24 hours, late/no paycheck, awful and ridiculous platforms, doctor switching games, etc.
I'd gladly still be with the first company I ever worked for if they'd just pay......
Give me a Break!!
Ya know, I must be cranky today, but...some posts below really got my dander up! MTs are asking for referrals about companies, and someone actually posts that the company is GREAT - I believe GREAT is the adjective. Then inside message says something to the effect of: I'm a new hire, too, and I hear the work will be picking up soon. PICKING UP SOON!! This is after several MTs claim no work, which is what we all-too-often hear with these companies. Hiring and WORK SHOULD BE PICKING UP SOON!! And the poster closes by saying how NICE everyone is. That he/she doesn't mind lack of work cause they are NICE. Grrrrrrrrrrrr...
I wish we could have some coding system where MTs gave job referrals based on LIFE SITUATIONS. Like how many of us really need the income?? Versus those who obviously don't really need the $$ and don't mind being hired for a job with NO WORK. But the people are nice...Can you imagine? I used to hire people in-house for hospitals - all depts. I can just imagine me HIRING people for work that wasn't really there... Give me a BREAK. Nice...
How about giving me a break?
I am the MT who seemed to upset a lot of you with my post below about MDI and the lack of work for some. Unlike what many of you surmised, I also need a regular income, a daily line count that I can depend on and I work far more than 1-2 hours per day and always have. I am also an MT who has been kicked to the curb by enough MTSO's to make me want to quit this profession at times and work at just about anything else. What I was saying below is that MDI, at least for me, is trying to get me more work and guess what? I have more now! Yes, everyone, they are being helpful and NICE! When compared to others I have worked for, who have also been low in work at times, and who have told me and other MTs who ask for more work, to basically get over it and wait it out or go elsewhere, I think I prefer the treatment I have received with MDI far above the others. If a nice company doesn't cut it for you, then go to the many out there who don't give a rat's behind how they treat you. They are not hard to find. When the work is there, you will be worked to death and when it isn't, they could not care less. Heck, you can make good money these days working on a garbage truck, so if nice isn't important,what's stopping you?
It is just a different field to break into now...
I have only been an MT for 4-1/2 years, and I am happy to hear that you found a job that you are happy with and making a good wage at.
However, to say that because MTs are not happy has something to do with their skills does an injustice to hardworking MTs. There are some of us who do 12-hour days, too.
The field is totally different that what it used to be. You can ask a majority of seasoned MTs, and they will tell you that wages are going down and the cost of benefits is becoming outrageous. It can take you almost 2 weeks to earn enough money to pay for family insurance. Couple that MTSOs who are making contracts with companies for acute care work when they have only hired transcriptionists with clinic experience, and you have some very overstressed MTs just trying to make a living. I have felt since starting I am being pushed to gain 10 years experience for each year I work. Some days you just wake up, go to work, and you are on a totally different account, totally different work type, and totally different part of the country with no warning.
Since starting in this profession, I have worked on over 20 different accounts in all areas of the country. Not only have I been required to learn medical transcription (and I have done all report types right through the OP notes), I have had to learn umpteen physician groups, hospitals in those areas, nursing homes, drug stores, county social service units...you name it.
I have consistently good quality scores, and I usually work at least 1-1/2 times my required production. I have been with my company close to 3 years, work nights and holidays, and have given up more family time than I care to consider. However, I just saw an ad where my employer is offering 10 cpl to do discharge summaries while I am doing consults for a clinic no one in the company wants to touch because of the difficulty factor, and they will not raise me above 7.5 CPL.
On top of that, I had to darn near beg today to have a technical problem taken care of that was preventing me from working. It was a 2-minute fix that took almost 40 minutes to resolve because our customer service kept telling me I wasn't even working as I had no jobs checked out and my boss kept switching her MSN messenger to say she was busy or away.
Do I feel disrespected and underpaid? YUP!
That is my reality.
Hate to break it to ya, but
*Isn't this just good business sense on their part in an environment where it is hard enough to feel connected and part of a team?*
Good business and reality are galaxies apart. During my final time at the last company I left, it was commented to me that for as long as I had been there and as good an MT as I was, they were surprised I had not asked for a raise. I had been with them 9 months. I was covering 12 different accounts and doing mostly ESL dictation. They thought when I turned in my resignation it was about money. It wasn't. It was about a having a level playing field and I didn't like their level of *honesty.* My work route was being manipulated and they couldn't admit what they were doing. Gravy was being given to lesser experienced MTs and I was getting nothing but crap and it was being touted that everyone was paid the same cpl. (okay, this example shows they were lying to me on that level! If they were willing to give me more money to keep me, then they were surely doing that to other people, right?) I wanted an honest work environment and the money. That is what I have now. I've already gotten one raise at the new MTSO with the promise of a second when I hit a new lpd average (two months).
So, it would not hurt to broach the subject if they don't with you. The worse they can do is say no to a raise and explain their review policy. At least you will know where you stand, how you feel, and what your options are.
Give em a break at least -- sm
they are giving US MTs a chance to get started rather than offsourcing to India. At least they are giving back to the USA in one form or another.
They could just send it off and be done with it.
Looks like OSI can't catch a break
Ah, I do agree with you on the break sm
pay. As for sitting in front of the monitor for a certain period, you can work for a company that allows some flexibility (a window of time) in your schedule. That makes it better. I know the MT side of it, our low wages, etc, but the hospital side of it is - we have strict TATs and sick people, whatcha gonna do? There's got to be coverage during certain hours. Anyway, I digress.
give me a break
It's called being courteous to my employers, asking rather than telling them and this is completely irrelevant to this board and rather discourteous on your part.
Give her a break!
Maybe there are reasons she does not want minimum line counts per shift/day. I have a hard time with line counts myself but with good reason. I tore my TFCC in Dec. 06 and had surgery. It is stable now but I have lost some range of motion which has slowed my typing speed a bit. That's why I stay away from minimum line count jobs. I do work for a smaller company though so they are ok with this.
I'm going to break out of the mold (sm)
I'd like to branch out to doing general transcription so I can finally 100% work for myself instead of partly me, partly them. I'd love to have a home-based secretarial service that did a lot of things I enjoy, bookkeeping, typing, etc. Maybe I'll do some research and just do it.
Best way to break into the MT business? SM
A good friend of mine is wanting to learn the trade. I am self-taught from many years back and have no clue what to recommend to her. What is the best way to get training - any online courses? None of our local schools offer anything except maybe a terminology course, etc. Any MT companies have mentor programs for true beginners? Any advice would be helpful. BTW, I truly believe she has the basis for success as she is very computer/English literate and quite the perfectionist - she lacks the medical experience, however. Again, thanks so much for any input! :)
Give me a break
I do answer posts about which companies are good, who pays on time, etc, if I know the answer so I am not a board troll but a participating member. Its okay to have an opininon the same as yours but something different and your a flamer. As for working hours, I was making a general statement as I see it all the time on this board...no one wants to work weekends or past 6 p.m. at the most. More than the OP jumped on this thread with the me too, no work post...and in my opinion if more people were willing to make sacrifices they would have work but everybody wants to work M-F. If that's the case then you need to leave your home and work in an office.
Give me a break
I'm working with 3 companies right now and will weed out the crap just like they weed through the MT's. I do ask the worst case scenario questions and have been lied to over and over again! I'm doing this to make money and put food on the table and if that means weeding out the B.S. that these companies give you - so be it! You sound like your from one of the companies I am now working for. They just started a new account and have NO CLUE what they are doing. The way things are so out of control I bet they never sat down with the hospital to go over how this project was going to be run - and now they are advertising for ANOTHER NEW ACCOUNT! I got 2 words for you sister - and it ain't Merry Christmas!
give me a break
are you saying becausse I am defending the company I work for that I am management and I am lying??? Give me a break. Obviously you are just not up to the high standard that we are held accountable for at this company and you got fired.
Break this down so I can understand
what are you talking about? TTS or this board or ?
GREAT why do THEY get the break!?!?
about the people is nothing new
Give me a break please!!
I am 100% Cherokee and never took that as a racist remark. I think that someone is just trying to stir the pot.
hate to break it to ya, but
the statement about MT being dominated by females is no longer a factor when it comes to wages. The picture is much bigger than that. If you look at the owners of the majority of companies, they are men, or groups of men and women. We call those _Boards of Directors_ Some are even called _Lobbiests_ and _Leaders_ of MT-associated groups.
I do agree with being nauseated over the new era of paid spaces being treated as if it was a benefit. This field is hurting so badly and it has nowhere to go but down.
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