Well, MY experience with unions is the exact opposite...
Posted By: MTinNC on 2008-12-25
In Reply to: I know of many Teamster union workers who retired at an early age, i.e. 57 yo and have a HUGE - Union supporter
My dad was in a textile worker's union for 35 years. He had to go through a strike when he had 3 small kids. For six weeks, he received $20 a week and only two bags of groceries for the whole duration. He lost his job at 35 years from the plant closing. That is not to mention that his union wages had us always barely making it, and the union never once did a thing about the conditions they had to work in. He has struggled with a form of bladder cancer for 19 years from working in those conditions and the chemicals used there.
Ask the auto manufacturers what the union has done for them. Yes, the workers are making it fine laid off, but the companies are near death. Those companies feed our nation. We're 1000 miles from Detroit and our livelihood depends on those car companies staying up and running. My husband's company does not make a thing related to cars, but the company that OWNS his company does.
Bottom line is that if this industry has come to the point that we are discussing needing a union, then maybe we need to either get government intervention to standardize the industry, set regulations about ONLY US work for US medical records, and use only certified workers, OR we need to go back to college for our next career choice.
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I have the exact opposite experience
I did have to tell them approximately when I would be working (mornings, afternoons, etc.) so they know who is on when stats come through. I did not have to give them an exact schedule that I am required to stick to.
They do require Messenger, but I have only be IM'd once in the 6 months I have worked for them and that was for request to do a STAT report. I don't feel I am monitored.
I have missed several days of work and been a no show due to my kid being sick, but it has never been an issue. They have never even mentioned the days I have missed.
I guess the lack of work may be an account thing. My account has only ran out of work 2 days out of the 6 months I have worked on it. I have plenty of work and only work on 1 account for them, but I could easily get a secondary if needed as I have received several emails announcing openings on otherr accounts.
I do agree that the Iscriptor can be slow, but it is comparable to other platforms I have worked on. I like it better than Inscribe and Extext. Just personal preference I guess.
I have worked with many companies and Advanced is one of the better ones in my opinion. I feel I am left alone to do my work, but when I need help, someone is only an IM away and is always ready to help.
Just goes to show how people can have completely different experiences with the same company.
I had the exact opposite experience!
I was recently contacted by a SoftScript recruiter as a result of my resume posted on this site. She informed me that I seemed perfectly suited for an acute care (Big 4) position, even though my resume makes it clear that my experience and interest lies in clinical transcription and editing, not acute care!
My experience exact opposite- Me willing work 6 days, regular sched, 100% QA last review- Company: N
Me: Ready, willing and able to work 6 days a week, regular schedule, 100% QA my last review, on all ESL's doctors.
Companies: No work. All ESL work. All the worst dictators. No work, did I mention that. Don't want to buy new software or any software to help the MT. Ridiculous formatting rules to decrease my line count. Low line count rate. No holiday pay. Have to work holidays.
Your post was way, way out of line. Maybe you work for a great company, SO tell us who it is.
I've tried 10 companies in 10 years, and they were all the same. Pick my brain and make me work hard, hard, hard for ? 150 lines an hour with ALL ESL, poor sound quality, and then don't really want to pay for the 150 lines, want to jiggle and wiggle it down to 120 or less with rules.
It;s the exact opposite where I work
We are flooded with work and are being asked to work extra.
and I had just the opposite experience with him.
x
completely opposite experience here sm
I've received direct deposit, a day before the official pay day of Friday for each and every check, including my first one (which is extremely rare in my experience).
I have plenty of work available on my account, but I have been trained on 2 different accounts (1 on eScription, the other on ExTEXT). They've been very friendly and helpful the few times I've had to call them. The rest of the time, they leave you alone. As long as you work your shift and meet productivity requirements, they seem pretty hands off.
It's like any place, I'm sure, what works for some doesn't work for others. Each person has different needs/requirements.
Sorry you had trouble. Hope you found a better place for you.
I have the opposite experience.. I have a lot of communication
I don't feel like a number there, I really feel like a part of the family.
Unions exist to make money for unions.
That's the truth. They don't care if companies close because they can't afford to pay union wages, and then the workers have nothing.
Same exact experience here nm
nm
This was my exact experience so I didn't
x
They're a joke! I had almost the same exact experience.
That's what happens when you have a token store front office in the U.S., but everything is really ran out of India!
The exact same experience I had. Had the worst ESL dictation I've had in my life, was in tears NM
NM
Unions are on the side of the Unions!
You have a very glorified view of unions. For many years, unions have been associated with graft, corruption, and greed, and for good reason. The unions are in business for the unions, period. Unions will twist the truth to whatever extent necessary to pit workers against management. That is how they stay in business. Have you ever seen info about the salaries that union bosses make? They are atrocious. Unions are a BUSINESS. They are in business for themselves. They are NOT charitable organizations out to help workers, although that is what they say. They will only help the worker to the extent that it lines their pockets.
Unions
Yeah. Unions have worked really well for the auto workers.
I don't see where unions have done anything for anybody.
My brother was in the aircraft mechanics union. He paid BIG dues. He worked 3 years without a contract with a major airline. When they were negotiating, the airline told them that they would give them their raises on paper but that they were going belly up and would use the mechanics as their scapegoat because they demanded more money. That is exactly what happened. The airline went belly up and the mechanics were the scapegoats. They never saw one penny of any raise.
Unions are just another big business. They take the workers' money, and the workers are just puppets doing what they're told, striking when they're told, unable to feed their family because of unions.
Unions
 WE CAN'T WIN!! So I guess I'm just going to shut up and type some more!
Unions not the answer
I strongly disagree that unions will solve the problems afflicting the MT field. As long as there is outsourcing and other alternatives to traditional transcription, such as voice recognition, there will continue to be downward pressure on MT wages. Years ago when I worked in Human Resources for health care facilities, I sat on the other side of the negotiating table negotiating union contracts (our nurses were unionized), and I am appalled to this day at the underhanded tactics used by the unions. And talk about overinflated salaries - it is truly shocking what union officials make, and it all comes out of the pockets of union members who get a rather dubious return on their union dues. I just don't believe unionization will solve our problems. I think the only thing that will stop the downward pressure on MT pay is if an end is put to outsourcing (and I don't think its unrealistic to think that could happen at some point).
I've been in unions and know what
they can do for you. Without unions there would be no vacation pay, sick days, 40 hour week (for some).
I would very definitely love to be part of a union and also would be willing to strike if necessasry to make this happen.
Like all unions, strength is in the numbers so let's hope people support the idea.
Unions would help us get some recognition
Currently it's lacking 100%. Look at AAMT/AHDI -- they don't represent us, they're killing us. They need to be investigated and put on a short leash ASAP.
obama and unions
link The big money companies would not allow and would fight it big time. I know one southern California hospital sure did fight unionization
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/us/politics/09labor.html
It is too late for unions. It never would have worked.
bebe
If IC's can't join EXISTING unions, then maybe
it's time for MTs to form a union that DOES include IC's, especially since they are a large part of this industry. They deserve better wages, too.
Completely agree. Before unions,
people were forced to work 7 days a week, 12 hour days, no benefits, no overtime, no minimum wage, no safety standards, etc etc etc.... THANK YOU UNIONS.
You know, there are unions in place already. Here is their payscales....
Full-time and part-time employee hospital positions payscales are as follows:
MT Level 1 to Level 3=
$23.68 to $28.70 per hour plus benefits which include 401b, health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, Wellness Programs, 24 PTO days, plus paid holidays and a few other perks.
Did you not do your homework?
The payscales you have in this post are way too low.
Unions haven't helped much in years
Sadly, they've become more of a corporation themselves. You pay dues and if a conpany wants to bail or relocate or outsource, they still can and do.
Truth about unions - good for employees
My huband is a union member. Union membership is voluntary, with it you pay dues, in exchange your union officials bargain with the company for fair wages, benefits, and pensions. A union signs a contract and during that time, the employees have job security. If there is low work because the offshore companies messed up or shipments didn't come in, it is their union that pays them subpay to compensate the difference between average earnings and unemployment if he has a week off. Also, we pay nada for health insurance premiums, only $10 for office visit, and $5/$15 for Rx, 0 for dental 50% for orthodontics, and $20 for glasses. Without the union supporting these workers they would have no ground to stand on with regard to pay and benefits and working conditions. Thanks to the union, if my husband works Saturdays its time and a half, Sunday are double-time and heaven forbid a holiday he gets paid triple time. When he retires, we keep the benefits and a nice pension. Unions are not all about the mob - I have family in chicago and it is not as you describe it. Chicago is a high crime area and it's not the unions that are causing the problem, it is the quality of people who work in SOME of the factories which are lower paying and the socioeconomic drive that results in shady business and your so called mobter and gangster life.
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Unions in Canada, MTs make $23 hour plus Yep
I communicate with an MT in Canada and that is what she relayed.
I do just the opposite
I live alone. I brush my teeth, may or may not get out of my PJs, comb my hair maybe once a week. I am totally pathetic. But...I love it!
Just the opposite for me. The first
2 weeks I had 80% ESLs and a lot of bad sound quality, and since then I've had days like that interspersed with easy days. But I've built up my normals so even the ESLs are fine for me now. The only reports I hate are the long ones with the long pauses that put me to sleep, and some long cardiac cath reports by a slurrer.
just the opposite
I'm drowning! Are you acute care or clinic?
opposite for me
i left MQ, interviewed with KS and decided to go with MDI instead, and for me, am so happy i did. there's a good fit for everyone i guess!!
Or...they think the opposite
...they will say, Oh, so you do data entry. lol I could probably earn more money doing 'data entry'.
No, it has been just the opposite. They've been
I just have a hard time with their platform and the account that I'm on is very difficult. They don't harrass me at all about not meeting the quota. I'm just worried about it myself because I need the benefits and I'm not sure if it's just me or if the other people below were having the same problem.
Actually the opposite is more true
You wrote: The problem is that they (MTs) seem nice and normal when being hired and then their true self shines through within days or weeks.
My experience is the opposite with Mom and Pop MTSOs: They tend to be overworked - or - they don't want to be bothered with actually running a business properly.
Ask for clarification, or point out an error and some of these nice and normal sounding MTSOs turn snarky, defensive, and dismissive. Or as in the case of this company, they alternate that with totally ignoring you.
You are correct - there are MTs from h___ however, it's clear from reading the trend of complaints on this board that people aren't looking for extraordinary treatment - just general respect. Like being paid on time. Disclose up front if you tie payment to payment by your client! Like being properly trained. Like answering questions promptly and politely, and taking responsibility for when the MTSO is at fault.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T! find out what it means to me. Hey! giveit2megiveit2me. uh huh!
RUN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION!
nm
I am soooo the opposite
If I were making this posting, I would be asking if anybody knew who made a 'clicky' keyboard, because to my ear, they're all too quiet. I need to be able to 'hear' what my fingers are doing, which may make sense to some of the people on here. I don't know if it's some kind of subconscious thing or what, like instantaneous letter counting or something, but I can almost 'hear' a typo and God only knows what I would be typing if I didn't get that immediate feedback. I just turn up my volume and, if it's really tough, type really gently through the bad section (and hopefully it's just a sentence or so).
I am soooo the opposite
If I were making this posting, I would be asking if anybody knew who made a 'clicky' keyboard, because to my ear, they're all too quiet. I need to be able to 'hear' what my fingers are doing, which may make sense to some of the people on here. I don't know if it's some kind of subconscious thing or what, like instantaneous letter counting or something, but I can almost 'hear' a typo and God only knows what I would be typing if I didn't get that immediate feedback. I just turn up my volume and, if it's really tough, type really gently through the bad section (and hopefully it's just a sentence or so).
But in answer to your question, it seems to me that a lot of the black Microsoft keyboards are pretty darn quiet, both the straight and ergonomic ones.
I had the opposite response.
Actually I think the opposite happened from the "attacks"
I hope they compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges.
Too funny! I hear just the opposite.sm
I still speak to the records director at the hospital I used to work at. A certain unmentionable company lost a several million dollar account with them when it was discovered they were outsourcing work to Indians. Another large practice has several lawsuits pending from US QA editors Americanizing dictation done by Indians. I've seen the work and it is atrocious.
Looking from the opposite side of the fence
Remember QA person, you are getting paid by the HOUR to research blanks, MTs do not, they work on PRODUCTIVITY. Now, I don't leave any blanks because I have personal pride, but when can't understand it and I spend 5 minutes on ONE WORD I figure my job is done. You QA people can research it from there, because the last I knew no one works for FREE, or maybe you would like to? I can't buy groceries or pay the bills with all that free gratis work the company and you QA hourly folks would WISH I did.
I found just the opposite is true (sm)
With most companies (outside of medical transcription), being an IC means that you work when you want, for as long as you want, with no set schedule. In medical transcription, these companies use IC status to get around having to pay benefits and deduct taxes, and they STILL require you to work a set schedule, even as an IC. I can't speak for all transcription companies, but that has been my experience. They want you to be classified as an IC, so they don't have to do taxes and pay benefits, but they still want to treat you like an employee.
In response to "just the opposite....."
Well, HATS OFF to that MT who got that account! About time someone gave up and stood up to do something for herself to survive this mess.
Quote: ...cannot even get 0.13 per line and most clients want 0.12. Rediculous!
Honey, I'm an MT and I am salivating. From annuals in or around the 70Ks, to living out my savings, I am now on the credit cards because the services are in a tizzy. Got Valium?
Obviously, because the way things are for you services, we MTs feel the need for protection in working for same, regarding overall integrity and how that damages us.
The workers did not ruin it for the companies; we did not make it so damn competative out there. That one is between all you organizers and the VR creators. The only thing we are guilty of is doing good job that made you shine when this profession was, in fact, a profession.
Yet, you people (aside from a select few these days) ARE ruining it for us, rendering it useless to continue without ethical boundaries in your attempts to keep the company afloat.
Well, and I'm so, so sorry, but the MTs ARE this business with an -ist.
So, I guess it has finally some to this: Unionize - or pair up and organize. Reclaim self-respect, self-worth by getting hired on for say, 11 cpl, even. It only takes ONE facility for me, just one.
Sometimes you can get completely opposite opinions from
MTs, not just a disgruntled MT versus owner/recruiter/supervisor.
Unfortunately a lot of companies play favorites, even though they may say it cannot or is not being done. The MT who gets the short end of the stick is going to, rightfully, complain about bad situations and bad line counts, hard work, etc. The ones who are spoonfed by their supervisors - get the jobs with all the normals, get the accounts with easy line counts and easy dictators, are going to think it is wonderful.
I have been watching the boards for a long time. I remember 1 company that was touted as being the best in the world (located in Florida and is almost a bad word now), sent flowers to every new employee, etc., but gave the new people all the rotten work to do. Same happens with a lot of other companies, and if work is low, the favorites are allowed to continue to work and the others have to try to make up the time as best they can.
A lot of companies have different platforms to work on, some easy, some not so great. Line counting may be different on different accounts. There are a lot of reasons for the discrepancies in posts.
I get charged the opposite - i have to pay $5 per check for DD. nm
@
Quite the opposite. I have found mostly positives. sm
I started 4 months ago and so far, so good. When I was doing research, it seemed that all the negative posts were from the same 2 or 3 people, one in particular that harps on no raises and no OT pay. Everyone I have talked to at KS and other MT's that I know at KS all say the opposite is true; they do give raises and do not expect you to work OT. When the do ask you to, they often say holiday pay, which means 1-1/2 times your regular rate, just like OT pay. I did get my raise at 90 days, as promised. I do have the work I need to get the lines I need to make the checks that I need, so I am happy. The training was excellent, and the QA feedback helpful not spiteful.
This is just the opposite for me..plenty on weekends. (nm)
Just the opposite. The rates we charge have gone down too because of offshore sm
and several other reasons, including MTs that go in and get accounts for the amount that they are paid by a company. I had a potential customer decide against us at the last minute because a new Transcriptionist offered to do their work for 0.08 per line. They said that they could work with her being new.
I also see times where newer companies willl go in and underbid everyone just to get their foot in the door. Then other doctors or clinics or hospitals that are looking call around to their friends at other offices and find out that they got that low rate and no way are they going to pay 0.14 per line.
When I started 16 years ago with my own accounts, I charged .18 per line. Now I cannot even get 0.13. Most want 0.12 or under. Ridiculous!
I do NOT feel that I am treated disrespectfully! Quite the opposite, really. sm
ALL of the support people I have dealt with have been extremely polite and helpful. I hear please and thank you all of the time. You do not get that too much anywhere nowadays, it seems.
Granted, I would have been happy if I had been like the one poster and had been paid this Saturday, which is what the original post was abuot, it seems, but I always know that I WILL be paid. It is not like some of these MTSOs I read about who write bad checks, give excuses about paying late, cheat you on your pay, etc. They are very honest people and I never worry about that end. In fact, they have shown me kindness in the past where others would not have cared at all.
There are problems with all companies, and this company is not perfect, but then again I have not found any company that IS perfect. Admittedly, when I was first told that the company was in India, I was a bit taken aback as I had always viewed them as the enemy. However, all of the transcription is done in the US, and the work is sent to India to be pasted into the GEMMS platform. How it works out to be cost effective for them I do not know, but anything that saves me having to type directly into that nasty platform (GEMMS) is a blessing. I now have a couple of other jobs, but that is only because I wanted to be an employee with benefits.
I feel bad that this whole thing has turned into a bashing of the company and especially Tonya. It is true that she has gotten busy, but I always know that I can email her or call her and she will get back with me. There are times that the work dried up for me and I was not happy, especially when I saw ads for more MTs, but I also blame myself for not talking to the right people about it. Most issues can be worked out if you just deal directly with the people who can help you and not just come anonymously on a message board and complain. In fact, I wrote to Tonya about the paycheck issue, and she confirmed for me that they had my invoice and the funds had been issued, so that was that.
Bottom line, the pay is decent, the work is easy, and the people are great. People could find far worse places to work.
I apologize for the long post, but when I saw that post, it really annoyed me. Thanks for letting me vent.
We are opposite, not as stressful for me and the money is fine
I make at least $20 or more per hour and that is ok with me, plus the fact that the ESLs that are on there (which there are many!) I am happy because it will get those a lot easier than I need to rack my brain for.
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