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How long would you continue to do work for someone sm

Posted By: nm on 2005-09-09
In Reply to:

when your check didn't come when it was supposed to?  It is a week late now, saying it was mailed when supposed to be mailed to the correct address but i have not received it yet.  I now already have 2 weeks worth of pay supposed to be on next check.  At what point would you not do any more work until receiving payment?  I have worked for this small MTSO for about 10 months now and never a problem before.  Just leiry as the more I type, the more income i am wondering if i will receive.  Not idea if it truly wasn't mailed or if lost somewhere in the mail. 


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Thank you. As long as we accept payment like that, they will continue to do it.
If we do not accept jobs that pay without spaces, then they will realize that we are not going to continue to do something for nothing. How many of you do several things throughout the day at no charge? Now this...
If you continue to work for them under these
circumstances and accept their policies by continuing to work there, why would they change. 
They are getting away with it because you continue to work

for them, even though they are cheating you.  


There should be clear written guidelines as to how they count lines and you should have a system to keep track of lines independently of SS.  If there  is a discrepancy it needs to be addressed.   You can file a complaint with the labor board if you can document discrepancy, also file with Attorney General.


If you know there is a problem and you continue to work there you basically say it is okay for them to screw you.  


Well, for example- I want to continue to work
Who told you your full retirement is age 70?? On my papers from social security (and the person there told me same plus another person I spoke with from social security) that full retirement is for me age 66, last year it was 65. Who in the world told you full retirement was 70? Do this, just call social security on Monday and ask them. Simple. What you started off saying and the reason people talked about behind bars and the like, sounds like you wanted to be "employee" of husband, he could pay you, sounds totally underhanded- that is what I thought as well as others on here. I work as independent and pay my own taxes, nothing to do with husband's during the year.
Why do continue to work as an MT then?
I work for 8 cpl and earn approximately $4000 a month working an easy clinic account like the OP. Even setting aside a generous 30% for taxes and paying for insurance, my take home pay is around $2500. Not bad for an easy clinic job with little stress. If I was working acute care or a lot of difficult ESLs, then yes, I would expect to be paid more.
Why in the world would you continue to work
out there?   Are you mentally challenged???
just wondering - but why do people continue to work for a company - sm
that has no work or keeps running out? I'm not asking this in a sarcastic tone, I'm actually being very serious. When I posted my resume on MTstars bank, I was FLOODED with calls from transcription companies. Might I suggest, if people are not happy where they are currently working, to just post your resume on MTstars and wait for the calls to come in.

It's just a thought. And again, I am not being sarcastic, I'm being serious!
IC sets their own hours. As long as the work is done by the deadline, you decide when to work.

...that's as long as you do this work. nm
s
How long do you need to work as an MT...
to be considered "seasoned"...my Editor called me seasoned and I have been at it since October of 2006.  I cracked up!!!
As long as QA is up to par, that could work - sm
but in past experience I've had to deal with some pretty shady QA people. In one case, the *rules* changed almost daily, so you were damned if you did, and damned if you didn't: a lose-lose situation. With regard to TAT, I've been given warnings about work being out of TAT, when it was already out of TAT when it was given to me. So even though the reports were typed within minutes, I was still *warned* about being out of TAT. Finally, I've had QA people *correct* words, changing them from being spelled correctly, to being spelled incorrectly, and we had no way to appeal this. Then, when review time rolled around, we'd see the *mistake* (made by QA, not by ourselves) reflected in our reviews & our pay scale. Worst of all, we had one QA-person once that used to arbitrarily add or remove ENTIRE SENTENCES from reports that we had typed correctly, or change punctuation in such a way that it changed the meaning. We had no recourse against that, either. Since those QA problems directly affected my ability to get a bonus, or even to earn a living, needless to say, I left. So if *punishment* is going to go along with what QA finds on reports, then QA has to be almost above reproach. With the peanuts that editors & QA are being paid these days (along with the rest of us!), getting top-quality people can't be easy. Also, in order to keep QA *honest*, and not promote greed on their part (at the expense of MT wages), the QA people should probably be paid on salary or hourly, NOT on production.
how long did you work for them?
I have never had any problems with her.
As long as the work gets done, and . . .
all MTs have enough work, I don't see whay anyone, including the MTSO OR the other MTs, would care.
Not long ago nothing but complaints about no work at MDI-FL.
x
They think they don't care how we get the work as long as SM
it gets done and doesn't cost them anything. That's what they think. If you can't do it, they'll get somebody who will.
How long ago was this? I know MPWord to work quite well for me.

k


you won't be working until you die. You won't have work that long.
x
If you work for a bad company long enough, believe me
.
I agree. As long as you have the work
option to give work to another IC.  I has a client that used other ICs.  Just because I transcribed for one physician didn't mean I could expect to receive all of their work.  Being an IC is being your own boss, not your client's boss to tell them who the can and cannot contract with.  JMO.
your computer will work as long sm
as your generator is running. High speed cable would work if you have that outlet hooked up to the generator. Usually a generator is not hooked up to the whole house unless you have a "whole house" automatic generator. If the power is on and the cable is not out, you can work.
I work for both ... my comparison (LONG READ):
HOURS/CLASSIFICATION:
MQ: You have a choice of FT with full benefits -- 39-40 hours producing average of 150 lines/hour minimum; FT with limited benefits -- 39-40 hours with less than 150 lines/hour average but more than 100 lines/hour; PT with limited benefits for 8-16-24 hour schedules all averaging 100 lines/hour.

Spheris: FT is 37 to 40 hours a week, with 10,200 lines required by payperiod's end. PT is 20 to 36 hours a week, production is 5100 lines/payperiod minimum.

OVERTIME:
Both companies structure overtime the same way; averaged in the same manner; requires approval, must be in addition to 40 hours WORKED (PTO, DT do not count).

SCHEDULES:
Both require a schedule with the offer of "flexibility".

TIME:
MQ: Time sheets are used; MTs fill them in manually and submit.

SPHERIS: Galaxy is used -- you clock in and the system punches your time for you. Day's end, you see how much you've worked and allocate your time accordingly (productive time, PTO, meeting with mgrs, etc.).

BENEFITS:
MQ: You see the benefits in the Harmonization booklet. The employee's cost of insurance benefits is assigned by the state you live in (as well as which/if coverages are available to you).

SPHERIS: Med/Den/Vision are offered. Employees all pay the same amount for amount of coverages (EX: All employees wanting EMPLOYEE ONLY coverage pay the same; all wanting EMPLOYEE+ONE CHILD pay the same). It is available to all employees. Cost is not region-specific.

EQUIPMENT:
MQ: Use your own or they will provide. The current rental charges will no longer be effective in January; as well, the internet reimbursements will not either. I don't know if there will be a deposit for those just coming into the company after Jan 1.

SPHERIS: Must use their computers. No rental fee but there is a refundable deposit. You can pay it at once or have it taken out in 6 paychecks. Refunds to you when equipment is returned in good working order.

PTO:
MQ: You see the new PTO offered in the plan and can read online the PTO calculation formula.

SPHERIS: Same type of calculation formula; averaged quarterly and you receive a notice of what your new downtime/PTO rate is and what period it covers. Limit is $20 an hour tops for PTO. Lowest is $7.50. Amount of PTO depends on status and length of service and ranges for FT from 11 days to 21 days a year and PT 2.5 to 7.5 days a year.

HOLIDAYS:
MQ: You can read in the Harmonization booklet.

SPHERIS: Thanksgiving and Christmas are designated holidays. If you are scheduled to work on it, you can take PTO instead. If you work it you will earn double lines those days.

QUALITY:
Both require 98%.

PAY CYCLES:
MQ: Pay WEEK is Su-Sat; pay PERIOD is bimonthly 1-15th and 16th-end of month with paydates on 10th and 25th. Direct deposit available.

SPHERIS: Pay weeks are same as pay periods and are Su-Sat with every other Fridya as paydates. Direct deposit available.

BASE RATE:
MQ: With the new plan, you have your current base rate and it is the same on all work (unless you do part radiology or ASR).

SPHERIS: Your base rate depends on the level of the account you type on. If you type on a really easy account, you will get less pay; more difficult accounts, more pay. Each account level has a new-hire hourly associated with it. Levels go from level 3 to 10 with line rates 0.065 to 0.102. With Spheris, if your production earnings do not add up to at least minimum wage for the hours you worked, they will pay you minimum wage. However, you will not stay with them long if you cannot produce enough to keep you off the minimum wage payments.

INCENTIVE:
MQ: We know that incentive is achieved on a daily basis -- after you produce 1200 lines. Tiered so that you earn incentive ONLY on the lines produced AFTER 1200. It barely puts change in your pocket for mid-range producers. Only rewards high producers.

SPHERIS: Incentive is base on each week's production (Sun-Sat). So you can have a really bad week and only get your base and then next week have a great week and get incentive. Once earned, incentive applies to ALL lines typed and ranges depending on FT or PT status. FT: 5200 lines start at 0.002 and increases up to 7000+ lines getting 0.015 cpl incentive. PT: 2700 lines = 0.001 and increases up to 7000+ lines = 0.015 cpl. Whatever incentive you earn that week is applied to ALL LINES PRODUCED THAT WEEK. Spheris also has special teams that pay higher base rates.

SHIFT DIFF:
MQ: 11pm-7am = 0.01 and 3pm-11pm = 0.005

SPHERIS: 4pm-8am CST daily = 0.005.

NO WORK AVAILABLE:
MQ: This is not specifically addressed per se; however it is not listed under downtime definitions at all. I doubt MQ ever pays for no work situations.

SPHERIS: Has a policy: "MTs will not receive compensation for "No WOrk Available" situations. If an MT runs out of work, the MT should immediately notify their Supervisor or follow th eout of work situation guidelines for their team."

Hope that helps.
Psychiatric work or long reports
Does anyone work for/know of any companies that are hiring for psych work or any other long reports like memory disorders, or compensations? I have three years working with these and acute care. I would like to find long reports to do all the time.
Please write to my e-mail address
Thanks!
Oh well, as long as it gets our work out of India and back to us
I would go back to the office in a second for decent money and affordable benefits. 
I did work three jobs for quite a long time. Then it dawned on me that

(1) I was always tired (2) I was never finished working (3) It wasn't worth it.


I quit EDiX, and I quit my hospital job, and I've never looked back. I usually have what money I need. I work about 5 hours a day plus a small weekend job recently that's no more than 10 op notes.


I'm a long-time Monrovian. Wouldn't work anywhere else. nm
nm
Will DQS work with dial-up (short-term). How long
nm
I won't work for a company that requires me to pay long distance
After getting reamed over by one MTSO who verbally promised to pay my unlimited long distance bill and didn't. I have no use for long distance because I use an inexpensive calling card or the Internet.
LOTS of work here, playing catchup all day long and still not there.
x
At least 1 whole POT OF COFFEE daily if not 2. Work long hours. nm
x
I work long hours and keep distractions to a minimum sm
and very, very luckily was assigned an account that was an excellent fit.   I'm pretty sure you all won't believe me anyway and I'm not sure why I bothered to respond  but my "secret" is just hard work and dumb luck.  Plus I do Radiology and for me that is a big part of the equation.  
I work and do not have time to read such long posts, do you?..nm
nm
I work whatever hours I want, as long as I have the reports back in TAT...
I have assigned doctors...
Oh no kidding! Needless to say, I did not work for that particular MTSO for long!
x
Don't mind extra work as long as it is not abusive
I used to always work my shift and then try to do 2-3 early Sunday mornings.  I was stopped from doing that because we could not work more than 40 hours.  If there is help needed after my 40 hours I certainly do not mind helping out when needed - as long as this does not become abusive and you are expected to be available 10, 12 or more hours a day, night, and weekends.  I have been there and it just got out of hand.  I am comfortable with less than 50 hours a week.
I have always said and will continue

to say that you can take all the classes you want for this job, but it's on the job training that is best.  I have seen the on line course that our local college offers, and it makes no sense to me.  Yeh, you have to know grammar, etc., but the in depth English course that you have to take is crazy!  You have to understand the doc, know terminology for sure, have lots of referrences and definitely know where a period and comma goes, but ultimately, isn't it up to the person dictating to be clear and know how they want the report to go.  It's not a job everyone can do that's for sure, but it's definitely a job that requires you to gain experience by actually doing it. 


I was thrown into transcription at age 18 at a clinic that I worked for, didn't know anything about it, and it showed in the reports...I stuck in there though because I had no choice, and when I think back to all the crap I took from docs because I really didn't have a clue...I feel lucky, but that feeling is slowly going away becasue of all the new rules, technology, etc., but I guess that's the way it goes, things evolve, times change.   That's why anyone who comes to me for advice about this type of job, I say, now especially, always have a plan B. 


 


IF it is secondary income, where is the harm? As long as you work around your kids (at night, naps)
a big plus when you are around kids all day and bring in a little cash to help out the household.
Not really trying to continue stirring the pot, but...

it really does seem that those with a negative view just LOVE to post here.  Honestly, that fact doesn't mean a whole lot, since I agree that there are probably many, many MTs with positive viewpoints on most any subject here...they just don't post.  Who knows why?  Not me.  Maybe they are positive people who want to stay feeling that way and don't want to get slammed, so they don't post. 


I know, someone will now tell me that I can't speak for others.  I'm not.  I'm just pondering the reasons for the ABUNDANT negative posts vs. the piddly amount of positive posts on most every subject. 


My point is I'm sure HappyMQ'r is not alone in her happiness with MQ.  She's just more verbal than some. 


Why do you continue to call
people fat and ugly?
If you continue to speak to me
like that I will ban you from my site.  Now, I'm trying to relate to you guys by being honest. You should appreciate that.
are not that nice, but they continue....sm

to take classes and learn even if they are OLD MDs.  I have been treated in France and England and yes, their offices are not SPECTACULAR AND FANCY like most of ours in the USA....but they treat people really nice and are very thorough.....esp in American Hospital in France.


I have spent YEARS in Europe.........and prefer the medical system there than here.


If we built and continue...

....to build corporations in Mexico, they why in the world do they keep coming over here for work? 


I totally understand where you're coming from.  I have had many family members and friends lose jobs they have worked at for 25+ years.  It's a shame this continues to go on.  Maybe our political postions should be outsourced to the American people, not the high-rollers who are put there because of WHO they know and NOT because they care about us! 


I am bilingual. Please continue SM
thinking that you should not have to learn another language, you will be one less person I will have to compete with in the global economy. 
want to continue using her service. If he says
x
If IC could continue to do p.r.n. stats, but I
x
I feel the same way. If we continue to use VR, then
our typing skills will get weak and thus if and when we do need to do straight transcription, we will be a low slower because we are not typing every day. I love to type and that is one of the main reasons I became a medical transcriptionist.
It was so good. I was thinking they were going to continue it
again.  I just love George, Patrick Dempsey ain't bad to look at either.  What did Izzy used to be in?.  She looks so familiar but I don't recognize her name. 
I will no longer continue to bicker with you...
I mentioned one word being misspelled, as I stated above, not the typos. It was the most important word of the post N-I-E-C-E. Relax.
I'm not a national MT service but I will continue to use IC's

as I believe I can meet the burden of proof required by IDES and IRS.


they will continue to offer low wages because there is always SOMEONE who will take it!
nm
Ice first, heat later. Continue to move around some.
Bed rest is not actually recommended anymore. Avoid riding in moving vehicles as that will be the most painful time, trust me.
Okay, just for grins and giggles, to continue

I just brought up that document from last night that I had in Word - and this is what I came up with:


 


5889 characters w/o spaces divided by 65 gives you 90.6 lines


 


6959 characters w/spaces divided by 65 gives you 107.06 lines


 


6959 characters w/spaces divided by 55 gives you 126.5 lines


 


Anyway, I am no math genius - and my husband helped me last night to figure out the percentage - but there was a 15.4% difference between 65 character line with and w/o - you will have to do the math yourself to figure out the % difference between your 55 character line - but w/o spaces you definitely lose and looks to be substantial difference when you factor in your 55 character line.  Good luck!!  It sure made our decision easier! :))