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It's unfair to say it's only people with children.

Posted By: SM on 2006-01-06
In Reply to: MT illusions - MTness

I think the above poster is correct that it's the perception that you can work when you want to that has caused this, not just people who have kids. I have a transcription service and some of the worst offenders don't have any children at all. Even in the real world I always saved my vacation days, etc. to use for my children's school events or whatever and took time off for my kids because they are my no. 1 priority. That has never interfered with my fulfillment of my job duties, even when I worked outside of the home.

I've hired anywhere from someone straight out of school to older people nearing retirement age and some of my best ICs were mothers. Some of my worst included one gal who wanted to party every night of the week and couldn't work the next day with a hangover, an older lady who got tired earlier in the day than she thought she would so she had to stop work early, and yet another lady who had marital problems and used an argument with her hubby as her excuse not to work on any given day. I can give more examples, none of which involve kids. Most of the women with kids did well because they knew how to organize their time, worked when kids were asleep or at school since they knew it was their only chance to get it done, and they were adept at multitasking.

What you are really seeing is a lack of work ethic in general, in all different professions. So many want to get rich right now but they don't want to have to work to do so. We live in a drive-thru, high-speed society and everyone wants everything RIGHT NOW with the least amount of effort possible.


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Another example of how unfair they are.

It is definitely unfair if someone has been
there for 8 or 9 months, has to wait until 12 months before even accruing 1 minute of PTO and a new employee hired today gets PTO immediately.  How is that not unfair?
How is it unfair?
Constantly assuring someone their check has been mailed and still has not been recieved is not good business ethics period. Then to have the threats on top of it...that is just plain bs. She STILL has not gotten her check and if he has any decency he will stop payment on this supposedly mailed check and just overnight her a cashier's check for her full pay. I dont know about anyone else, but Im not rich and need my checks in a timely manner, and as far as I know there arent MTs out there just doing this for the fun of it alone. Not being paid is what is UNfair.
It is unfair because those of us

who have put in 10, 20, 30 years or more should not make what a newbie does period!  It doesn't matter if it's production or not.  Someone with 10 years or more experience should NEVER make what someone just coming out of school or with 1, 2, 3 years in MT.  We have put in our time, learned a lot in those years, and absolutely should be rewarded with higher line rates for that!   When the newbies get in their years and years of experience, they too should be rewarded. 


It used to be we all had to start small and work our way up.  Now it seems that everyone makes the same, and it's not right at all! 


SPi unfair!

The new comp plan looks wonderful but when you start typing you notice it takes almost double to get your line counts.  Sure, they lowered their line counts, but they don't pay for headers, footers, spaces, returns, tabs, and the patient info area!  We get audits and have never been provided with the policy on them. 


So much is changing in that company!  Something is wrong!  Everytime you turn around there are new MQ managers and less United States MTs and Editors.  What is going on?  I've went though 5 managers in the past 6 months!  The director of ops is running though the company trying to model it after MQ.  Well look where MQ is now!  Why don't people see that the higher-ups are NOT getting the job done correctly and everything is falling apart!  A change has to happen or this company is going down faster than Leroy Brown.  They need to start changing their upper OP managment team ~starting with the director and all of her MQ followers!


unfair practices
I would like people to be aware of a company called Advantec MT, to let people know that at least at the beginning they pay 1/2 cent per line but don't let you know until your first paycheck is due and then you find out and you have to pay for their equipemnt which I believe is very deceptive.  Thought everyone should know.
not really unfair, a lot of other companies do that too
At my last office position I had to wait a year for vacation.
That seems unfair. I have no reason to think sm

they do anything unfair.  I did a little over 3000 lines last Sunday.  If they were manipulating things in any way, that wouldn't seem likely. 


Granted, I would like to be able to use the Ctrl/I function, but because I cannot, I do not automatically assume something underhanded is going on.  The company has treated me well, and I have no reason to suspect they would cheat me in any way, and it is unfair for you to imply they do unless you have proof to back it up.


100% QASeems VERY unfair for..sm
Unfair to QA the whole group for work THAT'S UNPAID to begin with, such as demographics garbage, etc. bookkeeping that their OWN clerical staff is supposed to be doing...not the  MT for GRATIS...If the client really is so demandinging and picky about the demographic work, you know full well that he is paying the MTSO for it, while we get to do it for nothing for the sheer privilege of working for them.  What the heck does this have to do with transcription?? That's what we were hired for and paid for....let them do their own bookkeeping.
Don't you feel this is the least bit unfair? sm
Unfair to each one of these companies who has to spend quite a large sum of money to recruit and train and ship your equipment? And unfair to yourself, as how can you expect to truly learn all the different operating systems and dictators and accounts if you can't concentrate on just learning a single thing at one time?

I think you give us all a bad name.
You're right - it is unfair

My company actually put it in the employee manual - that employees are required to use PTO for periods of low work volume and computer downtime - and the company reserves the right to INSIST upon the use of PTO.  Obviously if a company needs to put that language in their manual, they are deliberately planning to overhire, run out of work, and have computer downtime.  It is completely unfair - especially since there are rules about requesting it in advance when we want to use it for OUR reasons, but of course those rules are waived when forced to use it for the company's advantage!


Companies SHOULD live up to their end of employment and pay when you show up to work as agreed - and most do in other industries!  What is the point in EARNING something they can snatch away whenever they please?  PTO is not really a benefit when you are forced to use at the company's whim and for their benefit instead of your own.  This ensures you never get to plan an actual vacation, and the company doesn't have to have much concern when work volumes are low - they can just force us all to go on vacation - although instead of CALLING it that and letting us WALK AWAY from the job and go do something else - they force us to sit there and TRY to work, then take the vacation after the fact when it turns out there was none!  That is a double whammy because you never got to actually LEAVE the workstation - and it snatches away a future time when you actually planned to!  So of course we get burnt out and miserable without hope of a REAL vacation spent away from the keyboard!


It stinks that every chance they get, some suit (who gets salary and NEVER gets forced to take PTO himself) finds a way to steal an employee's benefit and turn it into a benefit for the company instead.  PTO under these circumstances is NOT a benefit - it is just another term for slave labor.  How DARE they act like unpaid time off is a priveledge that THEY may choose for us, but WE may not.  Its unbelievable the lack of respect we receive, and the crap we are supposed to put up with, for the luxury of working at home.


That's pretty unfair.
Just because the patient returns for multiple hem/onc visits is not a good enough reason to pay lower scale to type a few lines.  
Unfair and no work
I have worked for them for about a year now and they are always running out of work.  They are sweet as pie to you if they need you to help with overflow, but when work runs out they get ugly.  JMO
You must not have children. sm
Would you actually turn down a job that paid $14 an hour and have your family starve. Some people think $14 an hour is really good. I do, however, think this is a low wage for QA; I just think one should really think about what they are saying before posting it. If someone is incapable of transcribing anymore and has a family to feed, then they may have to take $14.00; especially, where I live, there are not many jobs that pay that!!! even hard labor, factory, shift jobs The average wage in my town is about $12.00

as unfair as it sounds, I have never heard sm
of a company that lets you see a contract until you are ready to sign. If when you read it you don't like it, you don't have to sign it. A hassle yes, but companies are not going to just arbitrarily send out their contracts for folks to see.
Payback is what comes after notification that your sup is being unfair.
I have lost 1/3 of my income, lost ability to work OT and am having less than desirable work siphoned to me since I finally found the courage to go above my sup's head. So, know the risk if you stay in the job.
I think you are being a bit unfair. We all say we want MTSOs to be upfront sm

about what they will pay, what they expect, and not to waste OUR time testing if the wages or whatever do not meet our expectations, then when someone does that, she gets blasted.  I just started doing some part-time work for her, and the work is clinic work, which is super easy, and the pay is on time and it is weekly, which is a nice little extra. 


Just my thoughts


Yes I have children that I raised alone
and the last one grew up and left in 1994. Back then people did not take junk pay for work. They refused it and back then we got what we asked. Maybe you were not a QA person then (neither was I BTW), but when I decided to go for it, I got still only half what I earned as an MT with over 25 years of acute care experience, any work type. It's not the average wage in your town. It is national and I find that no matter who you work for, you can get a decent wage...well almost...if it weren't for you who take less money. It was easier two years ago.

It's all in how you learn to negotiate.

Please rethink that $14 and not a penny less than $15 bottom cuz if you do take $14, that makes them think the wage is ok.

I am on your side, but please think hard about this.
what do you do for insurance with 3 children?
Nm
Say what you will...our children will be running
that nursing home you'll be in some day. Better to treat them well and take care of them now than to wish you did later. By the way...I'm guessing you have a dog or cat instead of kids?
If you're old, have no SO, and have no children go

for it.  If you have children, are married or hope to be one day no way.   You can probably manage for a few weeks before everything starts falling apart, your house is a mess, you're eating at your desk, you start yelling at anyone who dares speak to you because you're working.


Also, taxes will kill you.   I've worked lots of OT, 2 jobs, and taxes took a big chunk and for what I went through I didn't have much to show for it.  


You could do second job as a trial and maybe you'd like to quit job #1 or maybe you decide you don't like job #2 and you've BTDT and got it out of your system. 


I hope you don't have any children - you

certainly set a bad example for their future.


Unless you have small children SM
at home and really don't want to put them in daycare, PLEASE consider a different field. Transcription is drying up in the US. There is no future in it. Find a career that cannot be outsourced.
Are you really mother to 6 children?
nm
Go for it! Children love being with

other children if you have to put them in day care. I raised 3 boys but only 1 went to daycare. He turned out to be the most social person I have ever met. The other 2, well, they are nice kids, but don't really know how to socialize that well. I worked from home for 20 years and it was tought. It will also give you some free time from the kids that is desperately needed nowadays.


You have to think about the future, not the present. Don't listen to the naysayers in these messages.  Think about the future of your family.


That is crazy!! I do QA too - how unfair to be docked points!
//
Geez, nothing like that for me. I have employee+children
nm
I love my children but having a child does not mean
everything is honey and sunshine. I really think nothing anymore about people who say they do not want. I think they are being realistic about a job you give yourself to for 18+ years, sometimes with not the most pleasant of outcomes in a relationship when a person who wants other things strives to have what they want and what they need. I used to think people who said no children were selfish- I understand their statements now. Motherhood is very much played up as far as I am concerned. Most of these posts are speaking from having young babies, toddlers before teen years and grown- those are the really good years. No pity needed nor wanted. My children had a very priviledged upbringing.
How many foster children are living with you?
The two comments made after my initial post left me so frustrated that I debated on responding. In the real world, most consider me to be kind hearted and easy going. For that reason, I usually avoid controversial issues for the sake of arguing.

This particular subject matter just hits very close to home and I have zero tolerance when misinformed people offer unwarranted advice. I feel it's very inconsiderate. The OP just asked about companies with insurance plans that covered IVF. She didn't come here asking for opinions or the blessing of MT Stars. What she is going through is difficult enough without complete strangers (probably sitting home with their 2-3 kids)telling her that wanting to start a family with her husband is completely unnecessary. I'm still amazed at how cold people can actually be.

Now to respond to your post.
First of all, if you did any research at all on the foster care and adoption systems in this country, you would not only be saddened, but you would not have posted. I'm not trying to be mean at all, but you are truly so misinformed that I don't know where to start.

My husband and I actually looked into foster parenting and even took the classes. We have a couple of friends as well as my in-laws who are foster parents. First of all, becoming a foster parent IS NOT a permanent situation. The small percentage of adoption that does result from being a foster parent can take up to 5 or 6 years! Plus, a very high number of foster children have special needs, severe behavioral problems, or mental issues caused from abuse. I do have one daughter who was 4 at the time we were taking classes. After spending years being protective parents, researching, and taking classes,we were afraid of exposing our small child to the abuse (physical, mental, sexual, drugs), that put these unfortunate children in foster care to begin with.

Yes you are right about so many beautiful children that need homes. There are literaly 1,000s of childless couples in this country that would love nothing more than to get serious about caring for them. Have you tried to adopt in this country? Good luck if you decide to take your own advice. You are looking at a long waiting list, tons of red tape and buracracy, not to mention a few grand. Oh and there is that chance after you have brought that sweet child home and bonded with him/her, that the crack-head bio-mom will decide she wants to play house and ger her an attorney (that you are paying for with your tax dollars.) After the court hearings are finally over (1-2 years later) you can kiss that little one good-bye. I've seen it happen to people very close to me...not on Lifetime. It does happens.

Seriously, why do you think so many Americans pay obscene amounts of money for international adoptions? Think about it.

Out of curiosity, do you have children?
My children are insured by their father and I purchase my

insurance.  For vacations, I work an extra day a week for a twice a month for a couple months going into the month of my vacation.  As for holidays, I usually work them.  I look at it as being blessed enough to have a job at home where I can be with my girls and so if my usual days off happen to fall on the holiday, I usually volunteer to work 1/2 day, usually in the evening of the holiday so I can have the day with my girls and I work after they are in bed.  Hope this helps!


I believe those were on the test for psych work because a lot of children
nowadays are watching shows such as Spongebob and using the X-Box, Playstation, etc., and they just want to make sure that you know all the new stuff out there that they will be using in their dictation. I've done psych. work before and they use a lot of modern jargon in their dictation.
No worse than screaming children in the background!
When you've done this a while you can block anything out.
What kind of future do our children and grandchildren have? sm
To begin with, they will be burdened by taking care of their elderly parents and grandparents who devoted their lives to working hard to make a living, only to have that living yanked out from under them.

Unfortunately, it seems that the philosphy of our government is to run all over the globe taking care of other countries while allowing our own people to slip further and further into poverty. I wonder how far this will have to go before the powers that be open their eyes and see what is happening to our own country?

I have been in this business for 15 years and am less than 20 years away from retirement age. According to my last Social Security statement, I will have to work until age 66 years 10 months before I can draw full Social Security and, if I can keep the arthritis and the carpal tunnel away and keep my wits about me, I can even earn a couple hundred more at age 70 IF there are even funds left in SS at that point. With the pushing of the retirement accouts by the federal government, my money says there won't be any money when I get ready to draw it.
Children's Health Insurance Program
You didn't say whether you needed the insurance primarily for yourself or for your child.  If the need is primarily for your child, please look into your state's Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP.  This is for children in families that earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid but cannot obtain or afford health insurance for their children.  In Illinois, the program is called All Kids, and the governor is actively trying to get the word out, since many people don't know about the program at all or assume it is part of Medicaid and requires you to be in dire poverty which is not true.
Single mom, homeschool all 4 of my children AND work. it can be done
x
A job is not an afterthought to me. I had a FT MT job before my children and CHOSE to work PT so I

can enjoy them.  I think anyone with children can understand that.  I do take my job seriously and work and am a high producer.  I enjoy my job but I also enjoy my other FT job, which is my children!


There are young children who have hearing issues
from babies on up. Why do you think this is age discrimination and why would you say sue?
As I have stated repeatedly, although very unfair, leads have line counts too.
nm
Wow, expecting a gift. CHILDREN expect gifts. Maybe..
your gift is the fact that you have a job during this current economic crisis. If you get something, fine; if not, are you going to quit? You still have 4 days to wait by your mailbox for your gift, if you should get one.
Curious. Scrolling down yesterday and noted comment about unfair labor practice
suit possibly brought by an MT against a certain company.  I know this company only hires ICs - not employees.  Is this possible?  TIA.
also, the original poster asked how to stay production with small children...
not whether or not MTs are being exploited...
Stop putting up with adults who are children. It is IRRESPONSIBLE to go to a payday loan place. sm
As transcriptionists, we have options. We can take on more work with the company we are with, move to another company, get a second job, get our own accounts.

If everyone would be mature and take responsibility for themselves, there would be no problems.

By the way, for your information, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 WONDERFUL CHILDREN and I have been for many years. Transcription allowed me to buy a house, pay my bills and be able to buy nice things. I knew when I was getting divorced that I either needed to cut corners or earn more. I did both. My kids and I live in a nice home but my girls share a room and my son has his own. I pay cash for cars and drive them until they cannot be driven or are not safe. We eat at home with home-cooked meals rather than eating out, except when celebrating something like a birthday or good report cards or an award one of them receives. They have nice clothese, a clean house and everything they need. I work while they are in school but make every minute of my work day count, and I have an extra job that I work on weekends in the early mornings when they are sleeping and evenings when they are asleep. We have friends, go to church and have a close family. I have never had child support and have never had to be on welfare.

I budget carefully and have a savings account. I only make 35,000 a year on average but I make it work.

Excuses are just that. People need to do for themselves. If they have medical issues or a tragedy, that's one thing, but so many of the people I have worked with just spend all their time whining and none of that time making their lives better.

I am not going to apologize. I am not a mean person, just tired of hearing people complain about EVERYTHING in this profession. Yes, it has changed, but we still have options. Many other fields do not.
People at TT have been paid! People who haven't well, maybe you did not make count and your check
after insurance deduction. Maybe your bank is holding it. Maybe anything! But we GOT PAID. This is NO LIE. And I am sick of this board. Nothing but disgruntled exemployees arguing with employees who like their job. Ugggg. I am working. BTW: THERE IS WORK (clears throat) remember that? Work?
Keystrokes is wonderful!! They are the nicest people and care 150% about their people!!
Excellent company!!!!
I worked for SS and some people were very RUDE and I am talking about the editing people in some
instances.  It ALL depends on the person, as it does with any company.  They paid on time and the lady over me was very nice, but boy the person in QA was mean to EVERYONE!!  Never seen anything like it before.
Are people trying to scare people or just tell them what is happening. I am not scared just seeing
that things are changing very rapidly and not for the better for me. If I have no work and need multiple accounts everyone else is in the same boat now arent they that have my accounts. That is how people know what is going on.
Maybe due to the people that manage Amherst. I think MQ would be a lot better off finding new people
up there with all the problems you hear about that office. Seems like something is very very wrong there.
I doubt it. There are more happy people than unhappy people sm
at Medquist. I've checked out other companies but I liked MQ the best (I kept working at MQ while testing other companies).
SO right! People who get paid to bring people on-board -sm
to these companies (few, if any, are 100% honest, it seems), are going to be honest and tell you anything that isn't rosy and sugar-coated. Having a good prospective MT walk because the company isn't so great means less green dollars in their bank account every month. They're not going to tell us anything that DOESN'T make them more money.
More people will come into VR because the qualifcations to do MT are not the same. Lots of people w
to work at home. It's all relative to what you are used to. The nationals are counting on this. I think MTs will work cheaper rather than reenter the work force with no other skills than MT. The nationals are counting on this.
They named people's names. That is not right. People just sm

need to keep from naming names.  I thought it was an informative bit of information, but when you name names, then posts are way out of line. 


I would really like to see a truly professional way of talking about a company.  I don't care what board you go to, somehow people just do not want to play nice when it comes to talking about people.  If those people could learn to be a little more professional and stop posting names to their wrath or anger, then that will be the day I can say I am proud to be in this profession.  When I see those types of things, it makes my skin crawl.  If it were me being talked about, I would be livid.  I certainly understand why the posts were deleted.