Yes they should hang their heads sm

• laid off sm - MT30+
  • Milner - MC
  • got a job today... sm - MT30+
    • MT30+ - fatcat
      • Thanks Fat Cat. I am looking sm - MT30+
  • Just wondering, what will you do when a job offer - jj
    • One word: KARMA (nm) - X
    • JJ I accidentally sent my last sm - MT30+
  • So sorry about this, yes, they should have been up front with you about what was going on, but (sm) - houndlady
  • All companies lie when it is - nan
  • Well.... - Mrs. M.
    • Yes they should hang their heads sm - MT30+
  • so-o-o-o-o sorry. Rotten way to do it too. - .
    • I already told them that a couple sm - MT30+
  • MT30+ - fatcat
    • MT30+ - fatcat
    • Thanks fatcat!! sm - MT30+
  • I could tell you more about that place - Knowing
  • Same old story. Sorry for you. - Fingers
  • I am so sorry about your job (sm) - Happy MTer
  • I'm so sorry about your job. Please (sm) - MT
    • As long as her post is truthful - And I believe it is
    • I got laid off too,. same scenario. sm - another Milner MT
      • Sorry to hear that. I never understand why - MT

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Tookie Williams

It is hard to adjust to new rules, but you will catch on.  Reading over material/samples provided by the part-time employer is a great way to familiarize yourself with their ways of the trade.  Also, do not argue with QA.  Let it go.  If they let you go because of your QA score, then it was not meant to be.  There are plenty of others who would appreciate your intensity to learn.  Do not beat yourself up about it.  If you have a full-time job, then you know that you are worthy.  Keep trying, you are definitely playing it smart.  Never give up what you have until you find what you want. 

I'd like to address something that's really bothering me as I see it expressed so frequently -- It's what I call THE GRATITUDE TRICK.

First, I am not trying to find fault with what you wrote.  You sound like a fabulous mom and a very dedicated MT.  I really admire you for the sacrifices you've made to accomplish what you have -- and that goes for everyone out there in the MT world who has done the same.  I mean this sincerely.  I am amazed at what some of you have managed to do and how you continue the struggle now.  Hats off to you all!!! 

But I have to question why do MTs have to make such sacrifices in the first place???  It sounds to me like this has been the case for many years now.  If we are the professionals we claim to be, we deserve the same standard of living that any other professional gets to have who works out of their home.  The perks go across the board for everyone who works from home, no matter what profession--gas savings, wardrobe, etc.  We are no different.  This aspect of what our job is worth income-wise is only a small part of the equation.  The difference for us is that we are not fairly compensated for our work as other professionals are for theirs.  THAT is what sets us apart, not the perks.  

I think this is a way the services have used to keep us in submission for years, and it's dirty playing.  I do not feel grateful to my employer to be able to work from home.  My gratitude goes to God for the technology that allows me to do this.  Heck, I'm saving them money in overhead from working from home, buying and maintaining my own equipment and reference materials, paying my own Internet service fee, etc.  No, THEY are making money OFF OF US.  Yes, businesses do that.  They have to earn a profit.  But it is wrong for them to tell us pretty much to go away and be quiet and count our blessings because they are so kind as to let us work from home, thus making us feel that we should be ashamed for wanting to be paid more.  This is nothing but a mind game.  They are using this way of responding to us to shut us up and we're falling for it.  Next, it will be but at least we hired you and didn't send the work to India!  Little by little we are being demeaned by them as they reduce benefits, demand more in production, etc. all the while telling us how lucky we are to be able to work from home and we're falling for it. 

If our profession (and I keep using the word profession because that is what it is) goes down the drain because of technology, etc. then we can't control that.  But let's not help it along by buying into a mindset that says we're not valuable.   Anyone who has the knowledge and skills to do this job well should see their worth reflected in their paychecks, bottom line.  All the other stuff is just icing on the the cake.  

I think we as a body of professionals and as individuals need to have a much greater sense of self-respect, self-worth to begin with.  We are not the cast-offs of the working world!  If you can do this job well, you are no idiot.  And all of us know, this is anything but an easy job.   Many of you have invested most if not all of your working lives doing transcription.  Companies should be grateful to YOU for working for them.  A qualified MT only increases the company's image. 

Now how to become fairly compensated is a whole 'nother can of worms given what we are up against today.  But I think we need to start valuing ourselves more before we expect to be valued by those for whom we work.  This gratitude to our employer trick they use on us has got to be exposed for the dirty trick that it is and it needs to go!! 

I think a lot of our frustration with this profession comes from such mind games.  If you can keep your employees confused, if you can keep them from feeling they have no right to complain, you've got it made as an employer.  They're under your control.  But in the end it weakens employee morale which results in frequent employee turnover which results in loss of production while new people learn the accounts, etc. so it really backfires on them and is a stupid (to put it nicely) way to run a business.   You can run it right into the ground this way.

Even the benefits packages are somewhat of a joke if you can't afford the insurance.  I'm sure the companies have ways to write off those expenses to their own benefit.  That's another trick they use on us.  My dental insurance won't pay the rent.  Pay me a decent enough salary and I'll get my own dental insurance!

If we have any hope of turning our situation around, we need to be able to see the tactics that are being used against us.  Just trying to point out some red flags here as I see them. 

I'm do a different platform/client, but I also hired in this summer, and went through a rough time at first.  I talked to my supe, and after changing my schedule a bit and taking on two secondaries, things have become much better, and there's actually been OT on my accounts for the last few weeks.

Check the backlogs on the community page.  Some accounts regularly have OT approved (its in the little box at the top left, who's approved for OT and for how long).  Maybe you can get trained on some of those.  Are you willing to change your schedule at all?  My accounts consistently have certain heavier days than others, and before I was off during the heavy days.  My supe asked me to shift my schedule and it has made a very positive difference.

I see Breitner is looking for MTs.  This company does not pay on time, pays the incorrect amount, and the first check you recieve is 6 weeks after you start (wrong amt)!  Also, the transcription manger has NEVER done transcription and has no clue what to do if any issues arise. 

I cannot believe companies like this still exist.  They have a horrific track record.

I know there are a couple of you out there that will defend them - and they love people like you.  When they say jump - you say how high.

I'm just so darned frustrated, demeaned, etc., etc., Good Lord, I've been in this biz since IBM Selectrics for God's sake, and my income is going backwards! I want to throw rocks at my hubby because he works for a major aerospace company, works virtual office, and sits in the recliner and attends meetings. Yes...he's put in  his 30 years and his income and retirement attitude reflect that. But what the HECK!!!! I've been doing this for 30 years, work crazy hours, 12, 15 a day, 7 days a week and all I get is a decreasing paycheck, frustration, aching bones and muscles, never eat, never get out of my jammies, never go outside. Geeeezzzzeee. Did I take wrong career path 30 years ago or WHAT???!!!!

But...I must dutifully get off this site and go do the first half of my 12 midnight to 4 a.m. shift, and watch my hubby sleep. hummmmmm. It sucks, but I'm too freaking old to start all over. Thanks guys. I really appreciate your input, and appreciate the commradorie of the handful that stick together here.  Have a blessed, restful night.