Forced to work scheduled shifts..no flexibilty..what gives??? So frustrated.
Posted By: Frustrated on 2007-09-11
In Reply to:
I started MT two years ago for a medical clinic of about 100 doctors. I am now working at home. I get paid hourly 10.50/hour. My employer will NOT let us work flexible shifts. I have to work a standard 8 hour shift with a one-hour lunch break that is unpaid.
I got into this field because I wanted to work from home and have FLEXIBILITY. I have a toddler under the age of 4 and when I interviewed and shared my reasons for wanting to work at home (my children) I was told I was a "great fit" and then I get in my home and am told there is ZERO flexibiity and I have to work 8 hours straight just like in-house people! This is extremely stressful for me having a small child and I don't make enough money to afford daycare.
I started working with Medquist part-time for extra money and AGAIN I was told I would have to work a set shift, with no flexibility.
Where are the jobs that you guys have where I can work my own hours? Sitting here typing 8 hours straight everyday with a demanding toddler is starting to wear on me, but I need this job badly.
What gives? I thought the nature of working at home with MT is flexiblity and every job I've applied for in MT has given me NONE. 
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Yep, I am scheduled to work Tuesday
through Saturday, so I worked Thanksgiving day. Then I ran out of work yesterday after less than 3 hours on my shift because of the greedy MTs who took Thursday off with pay and now want the extra money they are getting by taking my lines. They will get a really nice paycheck and I will get less than usual. So not fair!!!
I work Mon-Sat, but only scheduled for M-F. Need the extra $. nm
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I was forced to work with some at one point -
They all took and passed - granted these were a little above average from the work I saw - my guess is there is a lot of help - probably even some "cheating" - I mean - how does AAMT verify who that is half a world away - no SS#, etc
How many of you work split-shifts?
For those of you who work split-shifts, do you like it better? Do you find yourself being more productive? I am thinking of doing this. After 4 hours, I just cannot make myself sit anymore. My butt goes to sleep, I get antsy...just wondering if anyone else felt the same way?
I work 4 ten-hour shifts...
Sat thru Tues. My DH is on a rotating 12-hour 3 on/4 off shift and we have at least 2 days off together. I love it; I start at 4 am but I am done at 230 and have all day to do what I want and rarely run out of work.
scheduled days, I work 'em.....nm
x
Do you work outside your scheduled hours to get extra lines?
Or do you stick to your schedules and just roll with however many lines you make during that time?
I do not work hard every day to support fools, yet I am forced to by this
I do NOT, DO NOT, care about people who put themselves in harm's way in order to brag that they have a 9-room house on the beach.
If employee, work the scheduled shift and complete the 8 hours. nm
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I work four 8 hr shifts, home based for hospital.. hourly plus incentive.
sfg
I would charge more per line for working holidays or if asked to work scheduled days off. SM
But did you address that in your contract?
What's the point of workign at home if there is no flexibilty?
Oh geesh, the level of understanding on this board is always nil. Don't you work in the same profession as I? I NEVER SAID I WANTED TO WORK WHENEVER I FEEL LIKE IT. However, a split shift or something of that nature would help me tremendously. Let's get this straight--I have a BA in business from an accredited university. I had a child, and knew that I couldn't be away from home working. I wanted to work from home and I was a great fit for MT, so I took the job. I told my managers TIME AND TIME again that I needed a job where I could work and take care of my small children at the same time and they said GREAT, but a year later I get in my home and I have to adhere to 8 hours of working like I did in-house. Furthermore, I didn't take a lower paying job and to work at home to put my child in daycare so I can type. That's ridiculous.
Did get ti scheduled
I had received 2 authorizations, one with CMTB and one with CMTC, finally heard back this morning that to get the discount I needed to use CMTC. Don't take mine until the 22nd, but good luck on yours, keep us posted.
Forced into it.
A company I was with for a long time switched over to a VR system. It takes some getting used to but I love it.
They know we don't want those shifts unless the pay is
Which in turn gives the MTSO an 'excuse' to offshore more and more of their work.
Thanks. I'm only scheduled for 35 hours, but have been
working a lot lately as there is so much work and an extra 5 hours of OT would sure be nice.
Yes, I was forced to by company, who does not
ss
split shifts, yes
That definitely would help, also wrist splints, but flexible support ones help as well.
Dictators like that should be forced to
either type their own reports or use VR. See how they like their own mess.
Webmedx shifts
Is it set in stone that you have to work a weekend day with Webmedx? Is there any way around that?
Split shifts
I used to work a split shift until recently. I just couldn't do it. I would get up at 6:00 a.m. work until 11:00 a.m. or noon with breaks in there to get my son ready for school, etc. I would do the daily household stuff that goes along with raising a family and then return to work by 8:00 p.m. and work until 11:00 p.m. I am not much of a night owl so I found it particularly hard to concentrate that late at night especially if it had been a particularly difficult day around here.
I have just recently switched to doing my work all at once and love it. I find myself much more productive and able to concentrate better as opposed to previously. My kids love it because it doesn't seem like mommy is always working to them any longer.
I say if you feel that you are more productive at night and able to stay awake then go for it. It may work for you.
I've scheduled mine too (sm)
On my authorization letter to test it said CTMC and so I registered for test C on the Prometric site. I paid $150 with the current discount. Hopefully that is all that is necessary for you too. Good luck getting it figured out and good luck on the test. Mine is scheduled for December 11th! :)
If forced to transcribe the slang, then
satting would be correct. The two consonants after the vowel make the vowel short. In the dictation, "satting" (slang for saturating) is pronounced with a short "a" so that is how it should be transcribed. Typing only one "t" would make the vowel long. However, as at least one person has already pointed out, "satting" is slang and is not proper transcription style regardless of who demands it be typed that way.
What are the typical hours for 1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts ... sm
or are they different with every company? What is the difference in pay for 2nd and 3rd shifts? TIA
They've forced many of our ERs to shut down
a regular doctor's office. So the few that are left are full to bursting. Once when I had a medical emergency, the ambulance couldn't take me to the closest ER because they had no room, instead we drove FOREVER to a far-away hospital, and still I had to wait a long time out in the hallway. Right now I would say 80% of the people being treated on the account I type for are Mexican and don't speak English. So the hospital has to pay for full-time, professional translators to accompany these people at office visits. And it's no surprise that a large number of them came here illegally.
I got lucky this year. Scheduled off is Sunday. :)
Not so lucky last year. I took on this job knowing that my scheduled work days were just that, holiday or not, and I've never minded.
I do ask for time off well in advance if I want it and the 2 companies I work for have never had a problem.
I have scheduled surgery/chemo/RT out of town.
I do not want the word spread too soon as to how I am doing if it is not good as I need to work. It is funny how vultures begin circling when this occurs. I did let my supervisor know as there may be times when I will need to lie down. She is understanding but I realize the bottom line is TAT and if necessary, she will need to bring in another MT to replace me. Though, I have been told it is against the law to fire anyone with a diagnosis of cancer.
My company forced us to do all accounts for one hospital. SM
They are a group of five hospitals. Those of us who said we did not want to do all five, suddenly had our primary out of work, because the other MT's were doing OUR account. That is how things are now. It seems to be the name of the game.
what exact hours constitute 2nd and 3rd shifts? nm
I suspect employers are being forced to care. SM
Since it's a new platform, it's a new problem that probably a lot of companies are just waking up to. My sympathies for people who find themselves effectively "forced" to use it as it apparently is now.
With serious compatibility issues with common brands of the Expanders that have become vital to so many of us, at this point I would not apply to a company using it, and I suspect few other good experienced transcriptionists reading about it would either. This seems such a grave flaw that it will have to be repaired, or this platform will end up a dead end used by only a few institutions.
How about contacting the company that developed the platform directly for answers and fixes? Also the developer of your own expander, who must be well aware of the issues Chartscript raises for them. The ShortHand tech guy (not my own MTSO techs!) fixed me up promptly when I was put on eScription and developed glitches. Best wishes with this.
I have started many jobs with the undertanding that I already have time off scheduled. sm
Most companies who need MTs need them on a chronic basis. If they find a "good hire" they will usually work with your upcoming time off or let you start after your time off. I would be looking. More people look at the first of the year because of benefits, so you might get a jump on them.
Not stay at home, but opposite shifts. My advice:
Make sure you always say thank you. It's a MUST for a man. My husband and I decided to work different shifts years ago so that the kids wouldn't have to go to daycare. Now I'm at home, but he still works 3rd shift for the same company that he's been with for 7 years because he likes it.
I've always thanked him. I'd get home from work and he'd have dinner cooking and I'd say, "I"m so lucky to have you!" And even if I didn't care for the dinner choice, I'd shut up and eat it. :)
Even just little things now, like if he washes the dishes or vacuums because he knows I'm on a deadline, I'll always say, "Thank you for doing that, you're such a big help."
Trust me, boost the old ego and those pots and pans won't sit in the sink. Complain one time that he missed a spot and you'll be scrubbing the broiler pan.
Forced to conform? It's a holiday show with music. sm
They're not apparently being asked to stand up and deny Jesus, for heaven's sake.
If it's a public school and public money goes to the school, my feeling is they'd BETTER be inclusive. If people's feelings get hurt because they're a majority and they just can't stand to have any of the minorities mentioned, tough.
I hope this proves to all MTSOs who say they are forced to lower their rates that if MQ can get 20,
All they need to do is stick to their guns. Our rates should not be falling. MQ does not even have the good quality that half of these other services do.
I used to get hand and wrist pain. I still do if I'm forced to use a standard keyboard.
I bought an ergonomic keyboard and use a telescoping keyboard drawer so I can prop the side of the board that's closest to me up in the air. That forces my wrists into the proper position and spreads my hands apart. It works wonders. I thought I would have to quit MT before ever really getting started, but I'm able to work pretty much fulltime now.
Walmart is good. The regular supermarkets are going to be forced to compete.
It all works for the good of the consumer.
Disagree...ESLs tend to dictate graveyard shifts....nm
I agree with splitting shifts to get more rest, etc. I just had a baby and my line count went down
for the first trimester, peaked for the second, then back down for the third. My only advice is PLAN for that drop in the third trimester by working when you can in the second, then if the drop doesn't happen, great, you're ahead of the game. I ended up on bedrest and in the hospital, so take care of yourself and I know it's hard, but hopefully the bills will not put too much pressure on you.
I'm trying but I'm getting really frustrated!
I know work slows down but they should at least have a backup account to give me so I can get SOME work. I'm going to give it a few more weeks, but if this is any indication of how they do business, I really don't think it's going to work out. I think they are just over hiring to get the TAT quick.
Very frustrated
Does the QA (not the people, just the QA itself) make anyone else feel inadequate?? I try and try to do a good job, consider myself to be good at it, have been told by numerous doctors and employers that I do a great job, but somehow, I just can't seem to cut it working for a small MTSO. For 30 years, I've transcribed things by what is correct. Now working for a "verbatim" account, I can't even make a sentence correction to read better without it coming back. Some of this is truly ridiculous. It comes back whether it changes the meaning or not. I have been trained to "fix" things, but now trying to "undo" 30 years of training is hard. It's hard to type what you know is incorrect. How are some of the ESLs every suppose to learn it right, if we constantly type what they say wrong? Everything from wrong pronunciations to grammatical errors?? And it is NOT just ESLs. It's Americans who should know proper English and grammar. I think this job is easier for someone just starting out to learn it this way, rather than trying to change. I guess you CAN'T teach a dog new tricks... this ole dog, anyway!
Frustrated
Does anyone make money transcribing/editing???? What If so, how, where do you work. Maybe I have not found my niche. I was hoping this would be it. What companies are good? I spent two years going to school and have been transcribing for 2 years and editing for almost a year. I prefer to be an IC and have had many, many people tell me they want to become a Transcriptionist and work from home. I tell them don't bother it is not worth the time and lack of money. I am probably just too slow. The problem is that I really enjoy doing this and love the freedom and working from home. So, I plug away. I am ready to quit and just scrapbook and quilt. Forget work.
frustrated MQ MT
ASR letter came to me on Friday. I am being dropped 20% on my ASR work as of Oct 1st. Been with MQ for 8 years, been an MT since 1976, very upset about lots of things. Anyone who does ME work, contact me.
Frustrated again
It took me 6 months to finish a 1 year course for MTs. It took me another 4 months to find someone to hire me. I seemed to have been one of their better typers, since the e-mails with nasty remarks got sent to all of us and they were not any thinkg that applied to my jobs. Talk about some stupid errors! I have managed offices for the past 30 years and wanted to find a job that I liked and could stay home. Thought I had it! It would have been 1 year this month. The company I worked for has a very poor computer system. They are constantly having problems with their e-mail. My last job typed to them was a very long one, which they claim that they never received. I sent it twice to both owners and also saved it twice to the site. I have not been given another job since, nor have I gotten paid for the previous month. I feel I am a very adequate typist. It only takes a little practice and any one can get a doctor down pat. I use the internet alot for words I don't quite understand and usually get good results. I am now back to the point of testing for everyone and anyone and hearing the same thing, "We need 2 yrs+ experience." I'm glad I kept my day job for this past year. I am still not ready to give up though. Is there anyone out there that hires old women with excellent typing skills and the know how to find what they need in order to type a good report?
Frustrated!!
Yesterday I was laid off from my MT job due to an account pulling out suddenly. I live in a different state than my employer, and when I went to file for unemployment, I found out that my employer had not filed the necessary paperwork and reported my earnings to my state. I was told I would be denied unemployment initially but to appeal the decision while they do a wage investigation into my employer. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? I kept all my pay stubs from my employer showing all the taxes being taken out, but was also told I could still be held liable for the taxes.
frustrated
Yes, I have taken an intense 10 month course. This is a 2 year course condensed into 10 months. I took this course and was told there were lots of jobs....just the college promoting the course I guess. I had 92% overall and 97% in transcription, but everyone wants experience. How can you get experience when noone will hire you. any suggestions?
Thank you - frustrated is exactly what it is.
x
Frustrated
Yes, I was set up and am currently working, but am not able to look up past reports, etc. Looking for a manual for instructions..........
I get frustrated too.
I know. I get frustrated too. My BOS 2nd edition has the error on pg 297. There is also an error on pg 50. Aster-Coller should be Astler-Coller. I also bought the CMT Review Guide and found tons of errors in that book too.
Frustrated
Okay I applied with Diskriter three weeks ago, went through the testing, both written and transcription. The recruiter said I had made too many errors and sent the test back to be to correct. I did that and sent it back to her. She said everything looked great and I did very well on the transcription test. I had two phone interviews, one with the recruiter and one with the HIM director. I had already set up a schedule and everything. Both sounded like I had a lot of potential especially since I have alot of experience with ESLs and don't mind them at all. I had not heard anything all week and so I sent an email to the recruiter. I also called to leave a voicemail and found out she was on vacation. Therefore, I left a voicemail on the directors phone (because the recruiters voicemail said to do so). I waited all week and this morning got an email saying that at this time there were no available openings for my hours or qualifications. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I told them both I would work weekend evening and they said great as that is what they needed most right now. What gives? Has anyone else had problems with this company? 
Frustrated by All
Mostly in response to "I think most people do not understand our job". I must say that I agree with you wholeheartedly. I have worked at home for 8+ years and feel more stress than some executives. But now even some of the companies are behaving that they do not understand we are doing this for a paycheck and just not to fill our hours. I work for a large national company and I just sat here for the last 4 hours waiting for work from a supposedly full work pool. Meet my 1300 line a night minimum? In their dreams. In fact, usually a nasty e-mail follows the next day as to why lines were not met. If we do not receive the work, then we cannot do the work. I would give anything to go back to the days when we were actually PAID to transcribe. Most people believe that all we do is sit and type all day (and we do, all day/all night to make a check most people only work 8 hours to get).
Just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.
frustrated contains 2 Rs (nm)
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