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knew something was up after the paycheck fiasco this summer . . . sm

Posted By: knew it on 2008-09-18
In Reply to: JLG - Former SR

this DOES not surprise me, and I am sure there is more coming in the future.


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Before this fiasco occurred...
they found out that one of the counselors at Grady was stealing the belongings of the patients. Stole a beautiful wedding ring off the finger of a young mother and wife who later died. Once this story hit the news, people came out of the woodwork about their missing belongings. The counselor was arrested.
Don't forget the "certified" MT fiasco

Is it that what they called it?  Anyhow, they tell you that you have become one of their elite...which means jack squat, except they expect you to give up as much knowledge as you're willing to part with (on your own unpaid time, of course) sending in templates and tips so that they can pass that along to the India MTs and help them do a better job.  They assume that in the spirit of worldly brotherhood you will gladly do this, even though it hastens your demise as an american MT and an employee of Spheris.


Before someone hops on and say "why are you living paycheck to paycheck (inside)
I had a great saving account this time last year when the company I had been with 2 years took me off my primary (never would tell me why, just said me being shut out was a glitch in the hospital's system) floated me around (not telling me anything of course) because they were getting a Meditech account and wanted me on it (you wouldn't put someone not very experienced on it would you?). It did not take a rocket scientist to realize as soon as I got the C-phone what had happened. Also 80% ESLs. I spent the whole year supplementing my salary until it was gone and have been trying to find a decent company since. That is why I am living paycheck to paycheck and I hate it. I have 20 years in this business and it is getting worse. Speech is great but not for the money. It just does not justify being paid half. You cannot retrain doctors and I don't think management telling them they need to be considerate to us is going to work. Telling them we are making half just does not move them. They still rumble through files, change sentences, have long pauses we are not paid for, speech leaves out words or sentences so tell me why we are paid half? Also, I usually seach a company before I come on and ask for opinions, it saves a lot of space. I know I sound grouchy but I am tired and scared.
I'm just SO tired of living from paycheck to paycheck, and always (nm)
.
Personally, I live paycheck to paycheck because...
I enjoy the constant worry about how to pay my bills and always getting to say I have some lines to make up so I won't be there. Social lives are overrated. I like getting up at 3:00 a.m. and jumping online so I can wrestle a few more jobs out of the system. I don't mind hearing that my supervisor is on vacation again because I know I will be able to use my PTO to make up for my downtime. It's kind of the same thing. I think Ramen noodles aren't just for college students, and one pair of jeans is all you really need for 3 years. I believe very strongly that all the recruiters and managers in the transcription business are taking wage cuts every year, too, so I don't want to feel like I am asking for more than my share.

Living paycheck to paycheck...it's my right darn it.

omg-heat of summer

I meant heat of summer!! not head--sorry


Last summer? see inside
They do not keep anything that long due to privacy. Their recruiter was let go a few months back, so it definitely is no longer there. I would send it directly to them at KeystrokesHR@aol.com and let them know that you had sent it before. I know that the process is smooth now, based on talking to a few new MTs, so if you are interested, that is the way to go!
thank you - I'm hoping by summer to

nix the Q alltogether, unless by some miracle things get better. I think my biggest peave with the Q is that stupid time clock. I never wanted FT or benefits, so I don't see why PT with no benefits has to punch a clock. Give me IC any day!


The new company I'm going to only requires me to meet my daily quota on the days I say I'm going to work. If I need off, I just let them know I won't be working that day. No more holidays, no more cesspool and no more TIME CLOCK!


I hope things go well for you at KS. I've heard a lot of wonderful things about them on this board, especially if you want FT and benefits. Good Luck!


There is no summer slump at MDI. Its a
permanent slump situation, as its been going on for a long, long time. Something is way not right about this company, and I'm not sure what's going on, but its not good. Look below, and you'll see more eager new hires ready for training, every single day. I was bored the other day and browsing other MT sites, and I was shocked to see a thread and battle, just like here every day, of MDI-MD MTs with no work, MTs who can't get the 5 training jobs a day, yada, yada, and I saw the EXACT same letter from the recruiter and also from the tech person, whom many claim does not set them up at the agreed upon time, etc, and does not help with tech issues. The shock to me was that all were dated from Spring of 2007. That's how long this exact scenario has been happening, and it was creepy to read what looked like sincere posts here, as they were copied verbatim from a year earlier, and probably more before that had I wasted my time looking. There is something WEIRD and wrong about this company, and why anyone would waste 1 minute of their time with them is beyond me. And it was so hurtful and hateful a few months ago when those who posted that they had no work and something wasn't right were bashed and flamed for it being their fault somehow. Inferior MTs or whatever. There is a boatload of BS going on at MDI-MD, and I have personally experienced that boat, and its not gonna float for anyone. I truly believe they have their original staffers who get work, but forget the rest, and they are always, always hiring more and more, and with no work. If I were with them now, I would be MAJOR pissed and demand work. But there isn't any? I would also be demanding to know why they keep hiring. They have no answers, and they have no work either.
I was mid summer this year.
I used IType.
TTS - When I applied last summer
nothing more than an insulting subcontractor rate for 30 years' experience. Are you making at least more than 6.25 cpl?
Here's a review from last summer.
http://forum.mtstars.com/company/v/1/74751.html
Anyone else running out of work this summer?SM
I have been with this company for quite some time, and this is the first time I have run out of work.  It has been slow since June, but pretty much the whole month of July has been hunting for work and getting lucky if there's any there.  We've been told it's just an unusually slow summer.  Anyone else with this problem? 
I was with MQ for 11 years and left last summer.
The changes after 1/1/06 were not to my taste. And from what I can see over on the MQ forum, it hasn't gotten better. I started with TT last October and have really liked it. I've only run out of work a few times, and have had work in my backup. The office staff is wonderful. It was a very good move for me.
They added several new accounts this summer
so I don't know which one you are talking about, but I have been out of work for 2 days too and despite asking for a back-up account I have yet to get one.   I do know that another account is coming on-line next month, though they have hired people for it and those people are probably working on the other accounts in the meantime, taking work from the estabilshed MTs. 
How do you know new accounts are coming on in the summer?

I have not received any email saying such to us MT's.  I hope so, because work is really low during the week, a little more on the weekend usually.  More and more of our work is going to voice recognition, leaving low volume of transcribing left to do.


This is an excerpt from a press release by Transtech management that I saw on the internet.  Maybe those 20 MT's love the system, but the other 280 must not.  I know I hate Dictaphone ExSpeech editing platform (and hate the pay that goes alogn with editing on that platform).


We started using the Enterprise Express Speech System in late October of 2007 and have already seen a 500 percent increase in speech-recognized drafted
reports. While just 20 members of our team of 300 transcriptionists
are using the system now, we plan to expand its use significantly. In
only 60 days we've seen dramatic productivity climbs and our team
loves the system.


Info about Wordz from this summer.
Wordz was not the job for me, but I have nothing bad at all to say about them. Here is some recent info from this summer, hope it helps:

Pay on time by DD.

I worked on 2 platforms. (Winscribe and Transnet) Both use your version of Word and your Expander of choice or autocorrect. The platforms were just for management of voice files and attaching/uploading documents, no demographics were filled in.

All demographics were manual, and you download pt lists (some in notepad where you can copy and paste names and some fax copies where you have to retype everything).

Provider/address lists were provided for letters.

Job lists come out 4x per day. On at least one platform you have to check the job list for your work and manually enter the dictator# into the transnet platform to download jobs (you are not routed jobs automatically on the Transnet platform).

Pd training. You get about 4+ hours of phone training your first day, 3 modules. The longest module of training is administrative, paperwork, file management that you are expected to do and the other modules are on the transcribing and audio platforms. The administrative/paperwork/file management is the longest for a good reason, you spend plenty of time wrangling voice files, job lists, and pt lists every day.

QA was outstanding and very helpful. Quick relevant feedback and even a good job here and there.

There are set hours - sort of! They do ask that you set range of hours they can count on you to be there every day (maybe 8:00 to 3:00 for example) in case they need to reach you for stats or whatever, but you do not have to necessarily be working all that time, and you are not monitored. You are just expected to complete your account assignments within TAT.

Pay is low (it was 7.5 cents), but they justify that by the fact that they match transcriptionists to doctors....no pools. (That did not turn out to be the case for me, I was up to 20 dictators with more to be added on, although I know many are assigned to a small # of stable dictators...just get as much specific info during your interviews about exactly what accounts you would be on and how many providers so you can make an informed decision.)

Good luck!

Grandchildren keep me young. I have had 2 FT this summer (sm)
and occasional trips to town for teenaged grandson who has stayed at home this summer. Sometimes it is hectic and I feel stressed getting my hours/lines in, but then I take my mother to the Senior Center and watch all those people with so little to occupy their time and I feel really lucky.

During school year the 2 youngest still catch the bus here and come here after school. I am able to adjust my schedule so I can attend school functions/lunches during the day if their mom can't.

There may be a lot of problems with MT work anymore, but these are the reasons I and many other stay with it.


Well, I left MQ after 8 years last summer to go to Keystrokes (sm)

so I would have to say Keystrokes.  I have plenty of work and love my account and Keystrokes gave me primarily what I asked for as far as what specialty I wanted to type. I work in Meditech but there are other platforms there, it just depends on your account. MedQuist was a great place to work for about the first 7 years.  In January 2006 they introduced what they called the Rewards Plan and after that my work dried up in a hurry and I lost a LOT of money by staying there. But there are still people at MQ who have plenty of work and like it there, the way I felt about it in the old days. Both places have positive qualities but I am happier now at Keystrokes. It also depends on what you are looking for as far as how large of a company you want to work for...MQ is a big national, KS is much smaller and more personalized.  Good Luck!



It was slow on one of my accounts this summer but picked up. sm
If I were you, I would go to Karyn or Becky, not Martha. Both of them will help you. I think Martha is too busy with new hires but the other two are great with back-up accounts or at least getting the names in front of Martha. Just a friendly tip, not meant to offend or cause flames.
Talked to them last summer. Very nice people.
CPL depends on shift worked and how well you do on the test.
They have overhired for the summer. We will ALL be running out of work!

They thought they had a new account and it was not a go, so overhire again.  They are just running this ship TOO TIGHT


 


 


I have not run out of work, except for about 2 or 3 hours late in the summer. sm
While I am NOT management, I do know both sides of this story...that of the MTs and of management. The side I pick? MY SIDE! The side with work in the queue, the side that I get paid for. So, even though I know both perspectives, I am not picking sides or defending management.

I will only observe that those who come here to bash a very nice company could be producing their lines. Given that I have consistently gotten over my minimums each and every day for the year I have been with TT says to me (remember I am on my side) that the work exists. If I can have it, so can you. Of course, every hour you are here spreading your ill-considered opinions could be, should be spent doing your job.

I am here, it is my day OFF!
I have to second that statement. Wish TT would not overhire during the summer months, as we get so
low on work now -- it is frightening to think about the summer months and then the holidays that follow.  Ouch !
Well, mine have even less today than yesterday. I don't know what is going on. I know summer te
to wax and wane, but I've only seen wane this summer, no wax.  Usually it's up and down, not steadily down, in my experience.  I'm becoming very concerned about being able to make ends meet.
It was during the summer, I think. Maybe you can access old stories from your local newspaper on
s
good point!!!! summer off plus 5 weeks during the year
if i had my life to live over.... a teacher has the best life
What season is THAT? Late spring/early summer? .. sm
or the figment of some MTSO's imagination or latest line of BS?? 
Couple of posts here on page 11 near the top and then back during the summer, you should find a
s
no paycheck
yet since I started end of June. Great =(
A paycheck
I thought I wanted a career in medical transcription... now it turns out I just wanted a paycheck. 
i'd just like to get my PAYCHECK
x
Did you get your paycheck?sm
I work there now and afraid to quit because I am worried I will not get pay due me. My pay is always late in and incorrect too.
paycheck
Anyone have experience with first paycheck bouncing? radmt
paycheck
e-mail me and I'll give you the details.
For just the 1st paycheck or all of them?
After the first check, do they usually come about every 2 weeks then?
Last paycheck with OSI
Did you receive your last paycheck on time? I have not received my last paycheck (2 days late so far) after quitting with them.
My first paycheck
was delayed 6 weeks - I later found out this was done on purpose because I was new Garbage! This caused me really big problems with cash flow. They may be better managed now, but my experience was poor.
KS - First paycheck (sm)
I checked my bank balance early this a.m. and no check posted from KS yet. (My first one).  When do they normally get posted and how do you see your check stub?  Is it mailed to you?  Thanks!
paycheck
Mine was in my bank on Saturday like it always is.
Or what does it do to the MT's paycheck?..SM
 This is literal abuse.  They are taking food out of the mouth of the MT.  She/he is either qualified or not.  This does not happen in hospitals or working for a private MT.  You take a pre-employment test, either make it or not, then do your work.  This 100% QA...released from QA... is industry-specific to the home-MT and MTSOs don't care if the MT is held back in productivity. 
paycheck
I work as an IC as well and I usually have to wait a week or more for my check.. end of pay period on the 10th doesn't arrive until 10 days later.  How about some STAT TAT for paychecks?  How would they feel if we treated their dictation the same way?
Paycheck
They mail the check on Thursday and I get mine Friday or Saturday, like clockwork. I don't make enough to get DD. They offer overnight shipping for a fee, but it is not necessary with the prompt mail delivery in my area.
looking at my paycheck...
I work at a hospital and am paid hourly.

$24.79 base rate + $1.25 per hour shift differential = $26.04 per hour. I had 2 hours of OT totaling $80.37.

Total gross earnings (taxes, insurance not taken out) = $2203.57

We get paid every 2 weeks, on Friday. It works out so that there are 2 months per year where we get 3 paychecks.
I worked for 2 wks and when paycheck was not there
I did not more work until I got check, which did not happen until 3 months later. I hear it is still the same. The people were great in the office but to have to go through what you do in order to be paid, that is ridiculous. I found the account I did to be pretty good. It was out there in the valley near LA and I would have loved to continue working for them, but when I am new with someone, I will not go on a limb and continue working if the pay does not happen. There were always excuses by them as to why they did not pay and all were unwritten rules. Again, I did get paid but waiting for 3 months was a bit much. I don't like to be a day late much less that far down the road. A year later they called me and asked if I would come back and I said no. lol
When to expect first paycheck?
For those you have undergoine training at Medware, I am just wondering when should I expect my first paycheck?  I have been in training with Medware for almost 4 weeks now. Thanks
You WHAT???? That's your paycheck. You should figure it out on your own. sm
Do they hold your hand all day too?
To A Paycheck Would Be Nice, please see msg

I think this lady (Karen Kirby I think her name is) is on the up and up.  Don't ask me why but I do.  I think she is in a bind.  I may be completely wrong about it. 


A C-phone is a phone/headset/pedal that is used to dial into a system and transcribe.  I have seen them on the boards here for about $200.  New they would be much much more.  If you are interested and could do the work, why not ask her if she could provide you one. 


If you look at the posts from last night, late, she and I had a discussion of sorts about her work.  She started the post under the Execuscribe (sp?) post and I responded.  This was on the company board. 


I was thinking of contacting her to offer my services on a temporary basis (she has a backlog of 500 reports by an ESL, from my understanding of it).  I hesitate because I already have two services I work for as an IC and they both pay me very well.  But I may contact her anyway and see what she has to say.  17 cpl is nothing to sneeze at - ESPECIALLY in this day and age.  Granted, it is without spaces, but STILL is a lot of $$$$$$.


Please post back if you contact her.  I would be interested to find out how it went.


Have a good and productive day!


And you won't get your first paycheck for about a month. sm
Otherwise, it is a great company -- easy work, pay is 11 cpl.

Good luck!


$250-$300 gets deducted every paycheck for 2
depends what you consider affordable
still waiting on my paycheck
this company is a joke