MQ letter/comprehensive benefit package
Posted By: Nanna23 on 2005-07-25
In Reply to: What did you make of the comprehensive benefit package they talked about - MQMT
 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.
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What did you make of the comprehensive benefit package they talked about
If it's a business letter you use a colon. if it's a personal letter you use a comma. nm
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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).
Benefit question
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?
Is this what the package says?
I didn't get mine yet. They will be "monitoring" us?
No they only do that if you buy the package - sm
that offers that. I get the "upgrade" every other year as I posted below and I get no other "updates" throughout the year. If you buy the top package then Stedmans does do that, but I don't. I can usually get the upgrade for $40-$50 if I wait for the sale offer they usually do. That is good enough for me.
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.
Hun, the "platform" is the package sm
you type in. Dictaphone EXText is a platform, Chartscript is a platform, Careflow is a platform.....all of these PLATFORMS use Word as their word processor.
Word itself is NOT a platform. The person who answered Dictaphone EXText is correct.
I buy it and use it and it is all caps on the package. nm
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ATT/SBC has an unlimited package. sm
We use it on 10 lines in our office. It runs $54.99 (or something close to that) every month. It is called Total Solutions or Complete Solutions. You have to ask as they do not offer it unless you ask.
He already knows I'm part of the package! nm
nm
Transcend sent out a package...sm
with all sorts of goodies in it.
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
Care package ideas
I've been doing care packages for deployed military now for a little over a year. There are great sites where you can get a TON of ideas and can even find folks to support if you don't know someone personally. My favorite is:
www.anysoldier.com
This organization has done a lot and you can search on their site for folks from your states or from a specific branch of the military. In addition to doing many of these myself, our company adopted a unit from our state this last year and it's been great to see so many participating.
TAYLOR all the way now for the WIN. He's the TOTAL package.
Spunk, energy, personality, showmanship, and voice. He's got it all going for him.
Kat should never have gotten this far. She's not singing well and had a bad week. There are songs that she can sing, she's just not well-rounded to do any kind of music.
Lots of people will buy Elliott's CD. He's got a great voice.
I wish they'd publish the vote counts. I can't believe that Chris got the boot! Just shows you how sick this can all get. We'll all be angry if Kat goes on to win. Probably more of the sick "vote for the worst" revenge.
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.
The MT software I use has an accounting package for my docs - SM
My docs can search on the software I use by entering date parameters to see how much their transcription costs are. They can break their transcription costs down by date, by dictator, by type of report, by report, etc.
The first of each month, I e-mail them my invoice; they merely check the accounting package of their software to see if the figures tally up.
This really takes the mystery out of billing for my docs.
The basic Stedman's package is great and they you
s
I have an Open Office package that came free
It's legit. I bought a refurbished hard drive so that I could run XP as opposed to buying a new computer, and Open Office came loaded. I just don't think it's Microsoft. I don't use it because I use Microsoft Office 2003, but Open Office works very similar to Word and Excel by Microsoft.
I get Sirrus/XM included through my digital TV package,
So I just play it through the home theater system. It rocks
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.
URGENT REQUEST: An MT that we sent a box of gifts to did not receive the package.
It was delivered to their porch according to UPS but she did not get it. It contained gifts for her children. Because we did not put insurance on the package, UPS will do nothing to assist. The box alone to ship had cost $45.00 and insurance would have cost another $25.00. It is a sad story, but what it boils down to is that the kids won't have a Christmas. All monies in the Santa's House for Christmas Angels fund have been dispersed through the Christmas Angel program.
So, I am here to ask for help. I would like to raise $150 to $200 today if at all possible and for anyone who donates $10.00 or more to this special cause, I will give a software package that contains a word Expander and spellchecker that is worth over $100.00 for your trouble. Donations can be made to sales@mtstars.com via Paypal.
Again, thank you for your consideration.
care package for military in iraq ideas?? sm
i have a very close friend who is in iraq and i went to send something but no idea what? he ideas or someone know anyone in military and what they like to receive or need? FYI, they are on a ship. TYIA!
I should point out that the benefits package with the pathology group... SM
is significantly better than what I've got right now. They are offering a matching 401K, profit sharing, flexible spending account, healthcare benefits and dental for me and my kids for about 150 per month versus 400 per month where I work now.
Then there is the issue of job security. I'm a realist and I know that in this business of medical transcription, my job could be gone tomorrow due to lost accounts, low work volume, or offshoring. Not to mention, the powers that be at my company could decide that it would be more cost effective to pay their editors per line versus hourly (which has happened to me before) and only offer 4 cpl because after all "we don't actually type all that much."
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I've lost jobs due to all those things I listed. It's upsetting the thought of losing another job. So that is one of my major considerations with this job offer. I'm sure they could offer me a measure of job security because they are a locally owned practice by the physician and all of the the transcriptionists there have been with the practice for more than five years. This position I'm being offered was created because they have increased their work load.
I just don't know. Geez, I hate making big decisions!
Have you tried the Custom Biz Saver package Snow Bunny? sm
It's through AT&T and it's a business plan. C-phones were supported. I used it for a Lanier when I was IC and I was on it a lot, sometimes 10 hours a day. I had unlimited long distance and never had the problems you are having. Problem is you need to sign a contract for 1 year but even with that it was only $10.00 a month more than a residential line.
when you marry a man with children, they are part of the package. You learn to deal with it.
nm
Mouse included in the package lit up right after battery insertion. No on lights
come on when the batteries are inserted and power button doesn't do a thing. Power isn't being transmitted to keyboard for some reason.
where I live, bundle package for HSI/CABLE/PHONE is $99 a month. nm
x
what size package do you have? i have basic and i couldn't make good lines due to speed. nm
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Yes, I lost mine. I upgraded the Office 2000 package to Office 2003. sm
I have over 2000 autocorrect entries and lost them all as well as my supplemental dictionary for my Stedman's spellcheck. Lots of grief!
Maybe you will be lucky and not lose anything. Good luck to you.
$72 is not their salary, it is their salary and benefits package
including wages,insurance, retirement pension, COLA fund, etc.
What letter
Did only certain offices get a letter. I work in the southeast and have not received a letter.
No letter here either (sm)
I am a SE, were these mailed to employees and SEs?
Also, have a question. Signed up for Qnet - activated I-mail account, on the Q-net I don't get any memos or even show an icon or heading to click on. Can someone enlighten me. I know I can call 1800dictate, just thought I would do better asking here.
TIA
Letter
Is the letter you are talking about the one talking about preserving documents and telling us not to throw anything away, or is this a different letter?
Here's the letter...
medquist has always prided itself in doing business ethically. As part of our
continuing efforts to ensure that we maintain very high standards, we have
enrolled you and many of your associates in an Internet-based Ethics training
course in the area of Code of Conduct.
All MedQuist employees will be paid for the time spent taking the training. All
Transcription Operations Hourly/Production Employees (Medical Transcriptionists,
Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Customer Service Representatives, Clerical)
should schedule time in advance to take their Ethics Training with their
Supervisor. All hourly/production employees will be paid for the time spent
taking the Ethics Training, which is expected to take 45 minutes. MT employees
will be paid the equivalent of their "benefit rate" for the time spent
completing the training, up to a maximum of one hour.
To begin the training, click the link at the bottom of this e-mail. Please write
down and keep your User ID/Access Code, also found at the bottom of this e-mail,
since you will need it to enter the training. If you need any technical
assistance please send an e-mail to: mailto:support@integrityatwork.net.
The course will take you about 45 minutes. It is important that you finish this
course within the next several weeks. Please contact the human resources or
legal department if you have any questions about this or any other compliance
issues.
Thank you and enjoy the training.
About letter -- don't have it -- was that
the ENTIRE contents of the letter? What else did it say, please?
rec'd letter
yes i rec'd the same letter as the posts below. they are paying 2 different rates; the rate you are currently rec'g for typing will remain the same, the ASR or edited reports will be paid at 20% less than your current typed rate
MQ LETTER
The letter also states that in a few weeks we will get information about a new MT/ME Rewards Plan that will go into effect in early 2006. Why don't they just tell us what it is now. Is this supposed to be a dangling carrot strategy. It had better be a big carrot. Oh well, it's probably not anything that will improve our checks, just theirs.
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