Benefit question
Posted By: Siren on 2008-01-11
In Reply to:
I have worked only in-house for years and am now beginning an at-home position. For those who work for nationals who have benefits how do you work under the stress of having to keep your line counts at a certain amount or have your insurance dropped? What if you do not make your required line count? 
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I can see no benefit -
I have never had any problem getting or keeping an MT job. My work speaks for itself. A few companies offer a little more money if you are a CMT, but to me that does not offset the cost of keeping up those credentials. BTW, I used to QA several gals who had their CMT. One of them was a very marginal MT and the other was terrible and could not do anything other than simple clinic work. It has been my experience that the credentials really do not mean a whole lot. Some people may have a totally different experience.
LLC/INC - has no benefit to me
but, company wants that in place to do prn work. Does anyone see the benefit of this??? It will cost me several hundred dollars to set it up, plus the separate income tax filing, etc. Anyone with experience here? I am one person, not a company and I don't understand the reasoning.
The benefit of being an IC is that
you are your own boss meaning that you can choose to work when you want. Stay away from the companies hiring ICs with a set schedule as they are breaking the law and will abuse you. Those companies need to hire employees, but don't to save money.
The other benefit to being an IC or self-employed (one in the same) is that you can write off tons of business expenses, i.e., tissues, paperclips, the area in which you work, utilities, staples, paper, ink for your printer, paper, computers, printers, hole punchers, scotch tape, mileage.... the list goes on and on; get a good tax person and not a fly-by-night. You will get charged a penalty if you owe taxes at the end of the year unless you pay quarterly or have enough from an employee job withheld to cover your taxes. If not, then I would suggest taking a portion of your income to pay quarterly taxes.
There are a lot of MTs who are ICs but will bend over backwards for their company they contact with because they need the money, but I, for one, will not. As an IC, I am my own boss and I decide what work I will do and when. The only requirement I have with the online MTSO I contract with is that I have what work I take from the pool back within 24 hours. No line quota, no set schedule.. that's how it should be. Also, as an IC, I have my own accounts; this is what an IC is about; not having all of your eggs in one basket. There is no such thing as full-time part-time as an IC - it's just IC. Full-time and part-time is for employees. Check the site IRS.gov and you'll find examples of ICs and employees.
benefit ideas
This may be a little late as it takes some planning, but my great niece was in an "American Girl" (the popular dolls) Fashion show which raised close to 40,000 for a child who passed 2 years ago from brain cancer and this benefit went to the fund the parents kept up for research.
The American Girl company coordinates it, has a whole package thing and the girls modeling are dressed just like the American Girl doll they carry...it was the cutest thing and well worth the money for the ticket.
you're right, but it is a tax benefit...sm
It may very well be a tax benefit for me because I bought my place in 2005 and I think home improvements can be deducted to some extent - I find out tomorrow when I go bring in my taxes to the CPA!!!
Before then, I couldn't do any home improvements. The floor $ came from a life insurance policy someone left me in 2005, unexpected to say the very least. Now, every time I look at the floors, I think about that person!  There IS no extra $$ in this life ever is the way I see it, unfortunately, and I'm very humble(d).
The benefit of personal experience
I was surgically menopaused at 35 after 4 major abdominal procedues starting at 18. Prior to the removal of my uterus and remaining ovary, I've hemorrhaged multiple times, been critically anemic, etc., etc. Early on I was deemed a high risk for gyn cancer, although the major scare came at 35 with a necrotic ovarian mass. I made a conscious, informed decision early on not to have my remaining ovary and uterus removed until the threat of cancer could not be ruled out with testing.
Within days of the final procedure, I became despondent and so hormonally challenged I was suicidal. HRT took months to help. I have never regained what was lost by having a cleanout done, despite the obvious need to have it done. It does impact every woman differently. Some sail through and others suffer. I can tell you that in retrospect, the only thing that would move me to have this procedure is a life threatening risk if I didn't. Think long and hard because there are more terrible things out there than the imposition of monthly cramps and excessive bleeding. The quality of your life may improve or it may decrease. Please do not misunderstand me - If you are under a cancer threat or require transfusions, I would not hesitate to do it. Good luck to you.
Is there any benefit to getting clients anymore? sm
Most clients where I live (Virginia Beach) want me to pick up tapes. They will call if the MT quit, and then they want to pay only 10 CPL. I can’t hire MTs at less than 8 CPL. Then, behind my back, they look for in-house personnel. Once they find it, I’m out of a job again. Dishonest OMs that just use me. Don’t know which way to go. Don’t need a lot of work, just trying not to work for nationals (f that’s possible anymore).
I’m thinking of getting work outside my state. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I would think a split shift would benefit them!
I know where I work they swoon over people who can pull a split shift...say early in the morning and then again late afternoon into evening. I think it really helps get places out of TAT jams. I once did 7am-11am and then 3pm-7pm for a while and it worked out great for me at the time and was equally beneficial to them. Have you tried pointing out the potential benefits for them, to them? Might be worth a shot if you haven't already. Good luck!
AlphaGrip mousing benefit
When I first began using the AlphaGrip my right forearm, wrist, hand, and shoulder were already in pretty bad shape from typing. I noticed a new pain on the side of my hand, but I think this was due to trying to get used to using the AG, as I no longer have this pain now that typing flows more easily. All of the other pains mentioned are much improved now, and it seems that the more I use the AG versus using the keyboard, the greater the reduction in pain has become. I much prefer the AG and unless I am scrambling to meet a deadline I do not use the keyboard at all. I cannot wait until the day that I feel I can throw it in the garbage can.
You are right about the mouse. I think that the pains I was having had a great deal to do with mousing, and that was the number one feature that sold me on the AG. As I mentioned, I was looking for about two years, but purchased the AG in under a week after first seeing it. This is exactly what I was looking for in a new keyboard . . . a way to mouse right there readily available, and the traditional mouse was the first thing to go when the AG arrived. I haven’t looked back!
It actually was not strange to hold at all and fingers fall into place naturally, and a lot of the keys are struck with the same finger as one would use on a conventional keyboard, though not all, and it is a matter of getting used to the new positioning, which is the same reason that some of the ergo keyboards that have a normal key layout are awkward to learn to use and will slow one’s typing speed down.
There is a lot of information available on their web site for learning to use and customizing the AlphaGrip. While I’m sure it’s not for everyone, I am very happy with mine and glad I found it.
MQ letter/comprehensive benefit package
 I really did not make much of it. It would be GREAT,especially if they can offer something for the part timers, but I'm not holding my breath to hear the news. It's been promised/talked about for forever, sure would be nice to finally hear.
Give them the benefit of the doubt the first time.
x
I'd give them the benefit of the doubt....especially since it has never been a problem - sm
It could have gotten lost in the mail, it does happen, or mislaid by the P.O. (that happens to). My checks had been a big late recently myself but it was the fault of the mailer, she was not too responsible in getting them to the mailbox....the office has since corrected the problem since 15+ MTs kept wondering why their checks were 5-7 days later than usual. --If you don't have it by the time you invoice for your next check, ask them to cancel the missing one and either cut you another and mail with the current check due or just combine them into one check.
by hour definitely $15-- I am not super fast so this would benefit
x
Yep, see what our work looks like without the benefit of an American MT making 3 cpl
to edit! All you MTs out there working for peanuts just so you can say you're an editor, realize you are making the Indians look good and taking away OUR paychecks!
That is a wonderful benefit...and I am sure your daughter appreciated you being there...
nm
MTSO usually also repeats benefit of padding
x
What did you make of the comprehensive benefit package they talked about
For decades, a company benefit has been health insurance
along with retirement plans, paid holidays, PTO, etc. Only in the world of MT (and maybe Wal-Mart) are many companies not paying for these benefits.
some people benefit from making a list, all the plusses and minuses, and
Sheila, saving one from "Micky Mouth" mistakes is actually a big benefit. SM
I make few typos as I go along these days, compared to without an expander. Although some peculiar things can get inserted into a report when the typo turns into an unintended expansion.
But as Shipaddict says, there's just no comparison.
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