legality of hours versus lines
Posted By: tired hands on 2005-09-29
In Reply to:
Has anyone ever questioned with a labor organization of any kind the legality of being paid by piece work (lines) but having to adhere to full time hours? Something doesn't seem quite right to me about this. If the hours are enforced then we should be paid by them, right? Even a daily mandatory quota of say 1000 lines for full time makes sense versus 8 hour time sheets. How can this be legal? If not shouldn't we all be independent contractors? I will seriously have to consider leaving full time work if MQ enforces 40 hours per pay period but they are not the only ones with this practice. It seems if one gets away with it they all do. Any thoughts on this?
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MDI versus MedScribe versus SoftScript versus Transsolutions versus TransHealth. SM
I'm getting ready to start applying and these are the companies that I'm looking at. So give me the low-down. Good, bad, India?
Here are my criteria:
9 cpl or better
Does NOT send work to India
Good accounts with at least 50/50 of ESL versus American dictators
Consistent work flow - no downtime or time spent waiting for work
Upper management should be professional, positive, and encouraging.
Pay for lines WITH spaces.
Is there such a job out there or am I just dreaming? If there are other companies other than the ones I listed that would fit the bill, please feel free to let me know. I tested with TransHealth and I felt like I tanked. It was a hard test and I had to use the mouse to stop and start the dictation as it was online test and you couldn't download the voice files. So that made it a lot more difficult. One of the dictators was cutting himself off through the report and I had to leave some blanks. I'm very frustrated with this whole process of looking and testing. Are all the tests like that? Or are there companies that allow you download the test files and transcribe them using your pedal and software? Ugh! I am just so frustrated and discouraged.
Thanks for any helpf.
lines versus reports
I have a question for you seasoned radiology transcriptionist. I have been a Transcriptionist since 1995. Most jobs I have worked at required 1150 to 1250 lines per day. I now work for a place that 120 reports per day. I have never had a problem with acheiving my quota until now.............some days we have a lot of long_________dictators and I have trouble reaching the 120 reports. Today I typed 1240 lines, but only had only typed 58 reports by the half of my shift............. On the days that I have mixed reports, some short, some medium, some long, I don't have any trouble meeting my quota. What is the usual requirement per report. I feel like I am spinning my wheels and am very discouraged as I like everything else about this job. I have talked with my supervisor, but I get the feeling she/he does not really want to be bothered.................
Minutes versus lines
Just thought I would share my experience. I am working for a company who counts minutes and most of us are lucky to get 10 minutes of dictation done in an hour. In this case though, we are constantly pulling info into and out of the EMR to complete reports. On paper, it looked like this could be a very lucrative job - NOT! It is impossible to get any sort of rhythm going for productivity, coupled with many reports which are all of 20 and 30 seconds long and can easily take 10-15 minutes to complete. When I do get a straight 10 minute dictation though, it is completed in about 20 minutes, so based on that I would also think the 10 minutes = 100 lines is a fair comparison as long as it is straight transcription.
Lines versus minutes?
Which one do you generally come out better getting paid for? I realize that there are instances where one would be more favored than the other but as a whole, which is better.....
Pay for lines versus minutes
I have been paid both ways and have always come out better with lines. When dictators are pretty good and move on, there is a huge advantage to lines over minutes.
Gross lines versus 65 character
What is 7 or 8 cpl gross equivalent to in 65 character
High line rate versus possible lines per hour....
I'd like your opinions... I think it's more important to be able to produce a high line count than what your actual cents per line rate is. $0.10/line means nothing to me if I have to struggle to produce 200 lines per hour because of their format or platform. I'd rather make $0.07/line if I can count on producing 500 lines per hour.
Just something to think about when you interview with a potential employer who tries to dazzle you with a high line rate. I always ask about the average line counts and if they have auto-populated headings. We don't get paid for auto-populated headings (which can make a significant difference in our line counts), yet I'm sure the service bills the hospital for them.
MQ hours/lines
It's true...20 hours for part time and 4,000 lines in a two week period and for NON STATUTORY - must work full 40 hour weeks AND maintain 12,000 lines or be changed to SE and no benefits.
hours or lines?
I don't get it-it seems like MQ (been here 6 years) wants to pay by the lines AND wants the hours. I used to have overtime on the weekend and even if I typed 6,000lines during the week they wouldn't give me extra for weekend unless the hours were also there. Who cares about hours? Make up your mind!!!!
hours/v/lines
Yes, you are absolutely correct. That is why they are going to the new platform DQS so that they can play big brother and watch everyone and monitor everything. They have control of everything, time, work, etc.,etc.,etc.
For HIM it is lines, for rad it is hours. nm
s
they go by lines - not hours. nm
x
Hours/Lines
Actually, an MTSO is within their right to have an expectation of achievement be it xx hours or xx lines and still be within the law with regard to employment status.
They can say in order to be hired as an IC for this position, we need 1200 lines. If you hired a painter to paint your house and he came in did 3 strokes, walked out and didn't show up again for a week, he's still a contractor, but he's not meeting the likely expectation.
Which is why ALL ICs should have contracts with their clients.
not hours but lines.....
you make a commitment of lines...you are an IC...they are great if you can't get your committed lines...just need to let them know and why...some of their accounts are really tough, so check it out before you make a commitment..
After 10 hours and still not enough lines..sm
to meet my quota I am quitting. Just too tired to sit here any longer. One of the most frustrating days of many!
Spheris does that as well...hours/lines...
The hours are kept up with so that OT can be paid. Federal regulations influence that because all MTs are employees.
I don't know why, but I am not having any problem getting my lines and hours.
I do multiple accounts with heavy EsL. Honestly, it's just best to plough right through them instead of taking multiple breaks because they don't go away. I do know how hard it is though.
I agree you need to utilize Shorthand extensively. Every time you get an OP, copy it to Shorthand under the doc's name (smithjohn/lapchole). The next time you get that doc, you'll have the report to reference and you'll be amazed at how many blanks you're able to fill in then. Do the same for ROS and PE. Docs are notorious for doing those by rote.
The best possible advice I can give you is to utilize the echart and Alt+G features. If you do this, you'll absolutely breeze right through the ESL dictations and you'll see your line count go up.
making those hours/lines
I agree. It's a good company but a struggle to get in hours and make lines. It's has been like that for a while.
My company goes by lines instead of hours.
5000 lines every two weeks.
The OP asked what is FT, lines or hours. For RAD, you are on a sm
schedule, thus it is hours. 40 hours is full-time. For HIM, you have to hit a certain number of lines. Once you hit it, you are done for the day even if it took you only 5 hours. With radiology, you have to work the entire shift you are scheduled for. The PAY is by the report, the SCHEDULE is by the hour.
lines vs hours worked
Would like to work for company with line requirement
versus hours worked.
1100 lines in 40 hours, must be the -- sm
dictator(s) of our dreams! And this is just for actual transcription, but what part of the 40 hours does the other work fall into, the demographics, emails, look-ups, re-dos, re-listen, twiddling thumbs while doc is asleep or browsing the charts, etc.
1000 lines in eight hours??
If a person types that slow then obviously being an MT may not be for them! I type around 300 LPH and that averages up to a lot more than 7 bucks an hour.
Now you can not make your lines in 9 hours!
x
a question about overtime and the legality of this...
I am an hourly employee. How can a company get away with not paying time and 1/2 for OT ?? just paying however many hours worked as hourly pay? i am fearful of losing my job to even ask them but i've been with them for 5 years now with no OT pay
What a crock that is and I question the legality of it. nm
How many hours in a week do you normally work to get your lines in?
Just curious. I work 50-plus hours here to make it work for our family, would love to cut back
1800 lines so far and have 3 more hours to go in my shift.
.
If you can't make 1000 lines in 8 hours,
in the wrong profession.
I think its 6000 lines per pay period and 20 hours.....but
s
I would think it is a certain amount of hours or lines a DAY. But not employee, so can't say
:+
Anyone know what full time is for KS? Lines or hours? nm
x
Allegiant requires 500 lines per day rather than set # of hours
nt
0.085, but I am averaging 1200 lines in less than 5 hours - sm
and I have only been on the account for 4 months. Personally, I do not think $20/hour is all that bad, do you??? Consider this, most hospitals are hiring at $12-13/hour in the south where I'm located.
You will work many hours over 40 to meet your lines nm
nm
I am not FT hours but FT lines. It depends on the account. sm
I know that my Basic 4 account is number of lines within a certain time frame. It wouldn't hurt to try!
How do we figure when they say 1-1/2 lines ^outside^ of your scheduled hours
Is that your lines, i.e. 500 lines x1/2 = 750 lines total.
Is that what 1-1/2 lines mean? Confusing. How in the world can we tell if we get paid for those by the line counting method we use, Ichart?
Not sure about the 40 hours for full-time, but 11,000 lines per pay sm
period are required. I think right now they are hiring for Sunday through Thursday or Tuesday through Saturday. You decide which shift/hours you want to work, and I tihnk they will allow you to do a split shift if you prefer. There is some flexibility in that you can let them know any changes you need to make, but generally you are expected to work the hours you commit to working.
The platform is ExText, which is Word-based and very easy to use. The insurance is very affordable, I think. You have a choice between Aetna or Coventry, and then 3 choices as far as coverage -- ultimate, choice, and standard. I have choice coverage with Coventry (single plan), and I think it is around $70 per pay period for medical, dental, and vision, with a $750 deductible, $15 copay for office visits.
Hope this helps! 
I was also told I had to complete 8 hours even if I got my lines before that. nm
x
That's what I thought too, and in that case, I would take lines over hours any day. nm
Can you get "full-time" lines in 24 to 32 hours?
My company didn't ask me how many hours I planned to work, they asked me how many lines I planned to do. I can do full-time lines in part-time hours and that's all they care about.
The good companies are out there. Don't give up.
It's based on lines but instead of taking it in hours,
dollars, not hour. Say you want to take 4 hours PTO time. You tell your boss you're going to use 4 hours PTO for time off and on your timesheet you put the amount of money you want, i.e., $75 or whatever. Every check stub has how much you earned each period and how much total you have. We have no holidays or sick days, it everything comes out of your PTO. We earn separate amounts for straight and ASR. For instance, last pay period I earned $54 and worked 37 hours, had 5 days off sick without PTO because, due to lack of work and having to use it every pay period, I had none built up. Everybody's amount is different based on line rate and line count.
Now you can not make your lines in 9 hours! More time for 2nd Job.
x
Any companies hiring for 300 lines a day and very flexible with hours? SM
I am looking to work for a company who is looking for some overflow help, 300 lines a day. I am willing to give and take a little in regards to the work schedule. If some days there is not enough to get 300 lines that is fine and if some days there is an abundance of work and you may require more from me, that is fine also.
I would love to find a company who uses a transcription-friendly software like DocQScribe (not sure of spelling) or Inscribe. I am also looking for a flexible schedule, where I can just hop on throughout the day and transcribe.
Does anybody know of such a company? I would be more than grateful to hear of any.
Thanks so much!!!!
Are you required to type 2400 lines in eight hours? Only
aa
I do 1200-1300 lines in 5-6 hours. I am not very fast
though. My fingers are getting old :)
MDI-MA does not require a set schedule- you do your required lines in 24 hours. nm
nm
Just wondering - how many hours do you normally have to work to make your 500 lines? Thanks! NM
NM
Webmedx does but it is based on hours worked, not lines. nm
.
I've been working 5 hours and it is still only showing 250 lines. It will
come up eventually correct, but seems to take forever.
Transcend, is full time 40 hours or X lines?
x
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