that is a tough decision, but...sm
Posted By: april on 2008-12-10
In Reply to: What should I do? - Torn
Just my point of view - I have a 3-year-old daughter and I absolutely treasure the fact that I'm home with her, despite the fact that my pay is so lousy. I would not change that even for the chance to be a multi-millionaire. I say look into your heart and try to see it through your children's eyes. Personally, for me, regardless of the financial struggle I have to deal with, money will never be more important than the well-being and happiness of my child. Even if she turns out screwed up, at least it will be from my influence, not outside influences. Especially while they are so very young....
I hope you'll find my post helpful! Wish you the best...
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It's a tough decision. I nearly got an
ulcer worrying about it last time I went through this, but the bottom line is that all we can do is research the companies, weed out the bad ones, and then choose between the ones left. There aren't any guarantees because none of them are perfect, but if you choose one that pays well, fits your schedule, has a good platform, etc., then that's about the best we can do. Once you take the plunge & make the final decision, a weight will be lifted from you :)
That's a tough one...
I think I would call the office and speak with someone rather than e-mail at this point. Maybe your supervisor is on vacation or something. I do clinic right now for my office, but the work has been low on the accounts for a little while, hope just a seasonal thing going on. I would call and ask specifically if the account is low or if there is a problem with it somehow and also if there are other accounts you can learn. When I first started with them right out of school (passed the test better than a lot of people with 15 years' experience they said), I was supposed to be on a large clinic account to start out, but there was a glitch with getting them set up and I was put on discharge summaries, never did get into the clinic and stayed there for 2 years. It was a very difficult account with majority ESL but was great experience. However, if you need the money and get no answers from anyone, I probably would be talking to the other company. It's so hard to say what is going to be the right choice. I left MQ after that 2 yrs and went with first one company and then another one thinking the benefits and perks, etc. that were proposed by them were going to better being an employee but didn't turn out to be the case, wasn't making anymore money, insurance was higher than what I could get on my own, needed the flexibility, and now back with MQ. I think every company has its own particular set of circumstances that aren't a good fit for everyone. I wish you luck and I can feel for you right now. I know what it's like sitting there waiting and waiting and worrying how you're going to pay the bills and wondering what to do... With you having gone to Andrews and already passed a difficult acute care test, I would say your options are going to be wide open and lots of companies would be happy to have you on board!
Wow, that's tough. SM
Speaking as a QA, I know sometimes it's hard to remember to praise the positives as well as pointing out the negatives. :)
Playing devil's advocate here:
Maybe this person is extra-busy and is just trying to get you the important feedback.
Maybe they know this facility is picky about things and that's why they're being harder than others.
If they're not being actively unpleasant to you (nasty emails), I would TRY not to take it personally and just be extra-careful.
Perhaps a friendly email saying how much you appreciate them taking the time to provide feedback could break the ice, too.
Good luck!
As tough as it is
I think the best way to handle these morons is to completely ignore them. When you let them see how much they upset you, you're just feeding their sick little need and encouraging them. I vote for pretending they don't exist and letting them feel a little less satisfied. Trolls will always be around and if they for some reason can't be banned from this site (as I know they are on some sites), they should be treated as the invisible little things they really are. There are plenty of decent people willing to give mature answers to the questions asked on here and those are the ones who should refuse to be forced off by a few idiots. Ignore them and they'll probably go away or get so psycho that their posts will be deleted anyway.
Yep, life is tough all over. NM
x
tough question
Depends so much on the going rate per area. Plus if you have to pick up and deliver. I'd say 13 cpl for 65 characters with spaces is a fair rate.
I agree but it's tough right now....
It's hard to demand more when most of us are taking what we can get to get by. The economy is down! MTSOs must make their profit and if they are only getting 10 cpl then they sure can't give us 10. I've been in this field for 10 years and make 8 cpl right now. I wish I could get more but it's not even the time to demand that. And I sure will not turn it down because then I would have nothing. At least I am making something. I also wish I could find a PT IC job but I haven't had much luck with that lately either.
I do agree that we deserve more, but I don't see that happening any time soon. If dictation wasn't being offshored and we were thought of more highly, I'm sure our pay would be at a level we deserve.
MDI's tough accounts
I have probably the toughest ESL account there (probably 80% ESLs who rotate through several hospitals and I love it! Give me an ESL who tries any day over some American mushmouth who is too lazy to move his lips. I love my accounts! And yes, they are tough.
Don't know about that, but the accents there are supposed to be really tough! nm
s
It is tough on part timers.
I think that's probably the point. Webmedx benefits by having more full time employees. I don't personally like it because I'm part time and it's a pay cut for me, but I do understand.
you don't sound tough enough to be a company. sm
ohhh, you did it for ME? nice try, but that's a 'line' if I ever heard one.
Get a backbone and call that bluff. These guys are BIG business and business saavy - they know the supply of services far out weighs the demand, and they are smart enough to play that game. You need to be smart enough and strong enough to NOT ante up and fold like that.
It's called tough love...
If I didn't care I wouldn't have responded at all! Have a merry one yourself. I know I will broke or not. 
Tough economic times
I worked for OSi in Douglasville, Georgia, a few years ago but quit because of grossly incompetent and arrogant QA department.
If that is no longer the case I need a part time job in addition to my current job. What is the scoop these days? It would be the last place I want to work but I don't know where else to start and I must get a second job.
Any information about other good companies who offer part time?
TIA
Tough economic times
I worked for OSi in Douglasville, Georgia, a few years ago but quit because of grossly incompetent and arrogant QA department.
If that is no longer the case I need a part time job in addition to my current job. What is the scoop these days? It would be the last place I want to work but I don't know where else to start and I must get a second job.
Any information about other good companies who offer part time?
TIA
They were using ExText when I was there. I was one of the unlucky ones that was on super tough ESL
s
I have no proof of this, but it seems these must be tough dictators for the money they are willing t
cannot get experienced MTs with the low pay, hence the turnover is rather substantial.
Wow - tough question. I've only worked for 1 of those.
I just researched by what was most important to me.
Good luck in making your decision.
We need to embrace VR - change is tough but (see inside)
how many of you cried when you had to get rid of your IBM selectric? The industry is changing and the ones that will be successful are the people that will change with it.
VR is not as bad as some of you say and not as good as others say, but it is somewhere in between - and it's all about how we look at it.
But, in these tough times mine was started
before these times so that doesn’t wash in this case. I wish I made the money I did in the 80s- almost 60 thousand, outsourced and my money fell to 40 something and now it is like everyone else in the 20s. I like, others don’t and last word on this, some apparently just worse than others, so glad I am where I am and not stuck with second hand equipment.
How's the sound quality lately? A few years ago posters were having a very tough time with it. Th
s
Ham sandwich and lung cancer vs 100K. Tough choice.
:)
I have been to SA and the UAE and, let me tell you, there's a lot more respect for the MTs there than in the good 'ol USA.
Westerners are not held to the same standards as locals when it comes to dress and custom. You don't have to wear a full-on face shroud or eat dog or whatever. Just show some basic common sense decency. You'll be assigned an escort if, for some reason, you need to go somewhere at night or want to go to a certain part of town out of the American neighborhood. (Great little market, for example.)
It's like this:
In Hawaii, I hardly ever wear anything but cut-off shorts and a bikini top. And I don't stand out because most of the people I'm hanging out with wear the same sort of thing. But if I was to go to Manhattan and apply at a Fortune 500 company as a receptionist, do you think I'd wear my cut-offs? No. Everyone would say, 'cover up.' And rightly so. I really wouldn't have a problem with understanding, or adhering to, the dress code.
So maybe wearing jeans and a tee in SA would be akin to wearing cut-offs and a bikini top to Wall Street. It's just not respectful or acceptable. But who can't deal with that?
For anyone who enjoys learning about other cultures, and who can muster up the standard level of respect we show to other cultures even in America, I would heartly suggest being open minded to this type of offer. Heck, I'd go if I were 10 years younger. (If just for the opportunity to hang out and party in Dubai.)
Decision
I hope you don't actually base your decision on this board. Use your own intellengence and if you can actually talk to someone who has worked for both companies, I wouldn't just believe someone who says "hands down."
Weigh the pros and cons from both companies and then make your decision.
Decision
WebMedX - Medware offshores work BIG TIME and they will have no qualms about pulling your account out from under you and sending it over to have Raj and Nashira do it. At least 1/3 of their work is done in India and they are constantly expanding their volume over there. WebMedX does not off shore and they have better, more affordable benefits than Medware. Also, their QA people are level headed, not egocentric jerks like Medware.
decision
I'm glad you admit to being a egocentric jerk because that's exactly my opinion of QA in general.
decision
Why would you choose one over the other. Do you know anything about Transtech or Archivus from a personal experience?
Job decision - sm
After reading your post and replies from 11/17/2007, and seeing you are still undecided today, as a bystander, I just get the feeling that you are more than just apprehensive of learning a new platform, etc. Personally, if I was this unsure of making a change and that the new company doesn't appear to be a good fit, I would stay where I am. It's natural to be apprehensive, but the new job offer should make you feel more comfortable about the switch..but, if you are this undecided there must be an underlying reason? I say go with your gut feeling on this one. Good luck.
Right decision?
I accepted a new position with TT for 0.085 per line! I currently have a position for 0.10 per line, but struggle to get 1200-1300 lines per day! I have been able to easily get 2000 lines a day with other positions and I really need to get 2000 lines a day. Is this possible at TT?
The incentives and differentials at TT are much, much better than my current position. The PTO deal is also better by being paid your average hourly wage instead of a flat hourly rate which is really low! Insurance, thankfully, is not an issue for me due to my husband having coverage. Both places do not pay headers or footers.
Do you think I made the right decision? I am just a little worried that I will only be able to get that same line count at TT and with a lower wage, actually be making less! Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Big Decision
I have to choose between two job offers (both employee positions). One company I know a lot about. The other is Keystrokes. Have been offered one account, a hospital, at .08 cpl on a Chartscript platform that I've never used. Have been told that there are no normals or templates either. While the people seem nice, the benefits do not seem so great. For example, only 5 days of PTO after one year. Do they give paid holidays (and if so how many)?. Also, was told there were no line incentives (over the required 1200 minimum), and if you were allowed to work beyond the eight hours it would probably be at the same line rate (no incentives, no OT). It does not sound like they are offering anything that great and yet so many people say they love Keystrokes. I would like to understand: 1. Why so many Keystrokes employees love the company. 2. Is Chartscript a good platform to use. 3. Can I use the ShortHand word Expander with Chartscript? 4. When people say they make good money at Keystrokes, what is considered good? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
decision
Sounds strange but I tend to listen to myself, the gut feeling that tells me where I need to go. Works every time.
Which one do you feel more comfortable taking?
Job decision....
 Hi, I have been offered a position with a company doing acute care. This is a 60% voice recognition account and the remaining straight typing. The pay is 5 cpl for the editing and 10 cpl for typing. I have been an MT for 16 years, doing straight typing. How much of a learning curve does this voice recognition require and am I set in my ways too much to even consider it? It seems the industry is moving more in that direction, so I guess I need to get my feet wet at some point. She said they use EScription. Anything you can tell me about this would be very helpful as I have yet to sign contracts and all that. Thanks for your time.
thanks, you have helped me with my decision
I applaud your decision
In the beginning it looked like AAMT was going to be a good thing but I don't believe anyone can name one thing they have done to better the lives of MTs. They sold us out years ago, about the time they started taking corporate members. Doesn't the fact they have corporations in their membership tell anyone ANYTHING. Who has more money the huge MT companies or the MTs? Yep, greed took them over too. And as for the CMT exam, most physicians never even heard of it!!! I for one, have never had any prospective employer even ASK if I was a CMT or not, even those companies who advertise a premium for CMTs. I WAS a CMT, am not a CMT now and refuse to ever consider having ANYTHING to do with AAMT ever again. They are a big root in the evil in the world of MTs.
Faced with a decision right now!
I have been working hourly for QA since last year and it's nice, but the hours dropped from 40 hours to 20 hours so having to look elsewhere. Now faced with a rough decision, offered VR at a better than average rate and when I did that part time, I did around 4000 lines per day, but I get awfully weary doing total read throughs. Offered hourly at another place for only editing and no total read throughs, BUT it's a shift I don't like to work and straight hours instead of a split shift (my legs get awfully tired). I have to make this decision pretty quickly and I'm down to flipping a coin!!!
I definitely prefer QA to MT because my hands just can't take it anymore, not after nearly 20 years.
Hard decision.......
My heart would be heavy, but if it is inside information you probably are thought to keep it confidential NO MATTER WHAT, just like if you typed a report on your neighbor and found out they had HIV----IT IS CONFIDENTIAL. I think you should keep quiet about it, even though it will hurt your heart.
Did you try other job before making decision? SM
I'm waiting for a good reason to quit, like them stopping offering health insurance. Anything is possible.
Good luck to you.
Smart decision. Believe me, I know. nm
How do you make the big decision
on which company to go with when there are good and bad points about each? I'm wavering between Global Info Systems (also known as GIS) and SoftScript and have gotten an offer from both. I got an offer from Opti-Script but turned it down. Need some solid reliable advice before next Tuesday. Any of these 3 companies worth trying? HELP!
DSG or KS? Have to make decision
on which company I should go with by Monday! HELP! I'm looking for long-term work, have over 14 years in the acute care, do not want to make a mistake like I did with MQ, no shuffling around to 15 different different places a day!
Thanks so much for your Honest opinions!
I think that is a wise decision pls r/o
Like I said above, they are nice people, but nice doesn't pay the bills. I had glitch after glitch with Dictaphone TransNet. It was always MY FAULT somehow. LOL It was pretty archaic. One day I couldn't work for almost a whole day because the TransNet would not load up any jobs, but they kept saying it was MY computer and not theirs. Then they wanted to know how late I would be staying up to make it up! (BTW- lo and behold, it was THEIR SERVER at fault! LOL)
I would not base my decision on
what this board has to say. These boards are used as a place to vent. It doesn'the matter where you work, some people will be unhappy. I have worked for Transend for over 2 years and the only complaint I have is that the insurance is not what I would like to see. It is quite high and the deductibles are quite high.
Use your own judgement. If you would rather do E-Bay, by all means that is what you should do. Personally I do not like the packaging, mailing, posting, leaving feedback and everything that goes with each transaction. Too much to keep track of.
To KS'er re: Big Decision
Thanks so much for your feedback. Perhaps I'm missing something in the math but I'm just a bit confused about how you are able to make so much. 1600 lines a day at .09 cpl is $144/day or $720/week. Even if you worked 52 weeks (no vacation) that only comes to $37,440 per year. If you made $61K last year, does that mean you worked a lot of overtime on weekends, holidays, etc.?
NO THINKING TO BE DONE ON THIS DECISION -- JUST DO IT !
The at-home MT's jobs are going fast with no work and constant low work, so you will eventually have no paycheck at all. Don't let those newbies/youngsters who have children at home who like to babysit their children while working influence their way. They can work in their PJ's and have hubby income for 2nd source. They have no worries.
In-house MUCH better -- excellent benefits, better dictators, etc. I would not hesitate a minute on putting in my resume and as quickly as possible. Take away some of the stress of working at home for these greedy MTSO's.
While I would definitely appeal that decision
I would not be surprised if the decision is upheld. Unfortunately, if you were not meeting their production requirements or any other requirement to work, then it is misconduct in performance.
Wish you luck with your appeal, though.
Forum helped with my decision about OSI
OSI didn't tell me they outsource jobs to India in their job offer, and I refuse to work for a company that does this.
Thanks to this forum, I learned about this and chose to go with a company that does not outsource. I ignore some of the inane comments, but to do nothing but praise a company here is unrealistic. I read all the proof I needed to help me make a decision.
Why would it be so difficult to simply remove crazy things like, "Oh, you are nuts if you work for them," and leave comments such as, "I have had no work on this account for one week," and she soon learned on this forum that it was because the jobs were sent to India. I don't know why you believe it is necessary to remove the entire string.
Thank you.
Thanks. I have been trying to get as much information as possible to make the best possible decision
I would never base my decision solely on this board, but I have found some advice very helpful and truthful. There was one company that been said to have a QA Nazi by several people. I didnt listen to that and went ahead and accepted a position. What a nightmare. I do have over 13 years of experience and right off the bat this person told me how she had over 30 years experience and it went downhill from there. Not only did she want me to change a sentence HER way if the doctor did not say it quite right to her standards, but the final straw was when she told me basically that I was wasting their company money by paying me and then paying her to check all of my work.. I was like EXCUSE ME. isnt that your job in QA.. I thought they were supposed to QA your work at first when your learning a new account. Anyway, so I do try to pay heed to other's experiences..might save me later..
Every employer makes their own decision about that.
nm
Good Luck with your decision
Here is how I would start to make a decision...
Make a pros and cons list on all the companies on a piece of paper. Go through all the things you like and do not like of each company from the information you have. Who has the best insurance, the most days off, the type of reports you want to type, etc. You might also contact the recruiters and ask what type of turnover rate does their company have, what are the average lines per hour or shift that the MTs on the accounts you are going to be doing are making, and how flexible are they with scheduling if you have to deviate from your schedule. The problem with boards like this is you normally only get negative on companies or you get no replies at all. If a recruiter though does not answer the above questions, then you might want to look elsewhere, because then they either have something to hide or the numbers are so bad they do not want to disclose them. Just a few thoughts to help you with your decision.
Decision made on who to pick!
After reading all the feedback, I decided to go with Keystrokes. MQ just seems to iffy with work compared to Keystrokes, who certainly has some good feedback from fellow MTs. 
You made a good decision to go with KS
I find them to be a very honest company, and hard to find one of those these days. And... by the way I am not a recruiter, or manager or company official, just an MT.
Absolutely was a good decision! sm
yes, I had a bit of a slow down yesterday, but I had more than enough work available yesterday afternoon and evening, which is when I work anyway.
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