Sub Contractors or Employee
Posted By: NetMed Transcription on 2007-11-05
In Reply to:
Does anyone know what the industry standard is on employees or sub-contractors in the medical transcription business?
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No More Independent Contractors
Has anyone heard that independent contractors are going to be a thing of the past within the next few months according to the IRS? I have been told need to be an employee or incorporate. Anyone have an incorporated small business from their home? Pluses or minuses? It is confusing. What about all other self-employed people in this country? It is the same thing:( So sad that government is taking over.
I have current QA contractors.
It would be cheaper still yet to give them a good raise and let the offshore MTs do the work, or so it looks on paper.
Just weighs heavy on the mind.
Dictaphone contractors
Does anyone know who Dictaphone is contracting with to transcribe their accounts?
Independent contractors
I was wondering if someone could give me an opinion. I have had 2 ICs working for me for about 5 years. I have paid them by the line all the time a very good rate, which I cannot continue to do anymore. I still have to go over every bit of their work after all this time and there are still errors and I am so tired of this but have not had the chance to look for anyone new and don't have time right now to try training anyone new. Would it be unethical to pay them less per line or convert to a page rate that would be cheaper. I feel like I am throwing money out the window but until I find someone new I just have to do something short of getting rid of them. Is it unethical to just cut their line rate or pay by the page a cheaper rate.
Independent contractors
I let it go on so long because they were reliable which I needed. I am not curently set via digital, can only access through a C phone but that will be changing in the near future. It is the same account that they use, same doctors, good dictators, they just don't get it. Until I can replace them, I will adjust the pay rate.
RE: Independent contractors
YES I have gone over their quality of work issues for a long time and I have tried again and again to work with them and give them a chance but it is not working out. It is not just NOW that I am finding their work unacceptable. It has been for a long time. I am well aware that I have caused this issue to develop and imposed this on myself. I was just trying to work with them as they have been very reliable. I would not just purposely cut someone's pay for the fun of it without discussing it with them. I have also spent a lot of time mentoring them and trying to work with them and have pointed out their errors many times. I have spent a lot of time training them. Unfortunately, they both work a full time job elsewhere, thus I think that may be where the problem is. I have placed ads on occasion but I am limited with this call in dictation system that I have that can be only utilized via a C phone and there have been problems with people hearing the dictation. I will be changing over in the near future to another system. Any suggestions for good dictation systems that can be utilized via the Internet? The accounts that I have the doctors prefer a call in system just picking up the phone.
independent contractors are sometimes the worse - sm
I hired a courier service to run reports back and forth to the city for me. They informed me that their couriers were independent contractors. One of the independent contractors came to pick up the reports as scheduled on his route, came in to my apartment, locked the door behind him, and let's just say I was extremely lucky that the building maintenance guy was in the apartment next door and kicked in my door.
I contacted the courier service and the police, of course, only to find out that the guy had been arrested for rape and burglary.
So would you like to comment on that!?
What is the big deal anyways. You are getting a company computer and in some cases you have information on patient's insurance and social security numbers because of the platform you are using.
That cpl is for contractors working directly with doc.
I made 14 cpl (65 char including spaces) when I had my own account.
General Liability for Independent Contractors
I have just started a position for a company, and they require that I hold general liability insurance, but am a little lost as far as how to obtain that! Just wondering if anyone had any pointers for me.
Thank you in advance! :-)
Scribes Data Canada Independent Contractors out there???
I have been working at home as an independent contractor for Scribes Data out of Ontario, Canada for the past three years and have loved working for them. I have worked my way to the top of the pay scale and am currently earning between $38-$40/hour. Recently I have been contacted twice by management asking me to consider becoming a full-time employee with benefits rather than an independent contractor. This would mean a dramatic decrease in pay... a $17,000/year base salary plus 60-70 cents/minute of dictation. For the last year I had been paid $1.60/minute of dictation, but just this past month they decreased that to $1.50/minute, stating that was more in line with their pay structure and that I would only be earing $1.60/minute on the radiology dictation I typed. And then a couple of weeks later they contacted me again statingn that I was no longer going to type any radiology dictation unless I was needed and then I would still only be paid the $1.50/minute.
This decrease in pay of 10 cents/minute does not really concern me, it just means I may have to work a littel longer than my normal 5 1/2 hours per day and I do not have a problem with that. My concern is that they are really going to push me to become an employee and just keep taking accounts away from me until I do just that.
Just wondering if there is anybody else out there who may be worried about the same thing.
Excuse me but federal taxes are paid as employee by employee
The ONLY difference in IC is you pay the ENTIRE amount of the SS which is the 15.25%, as an employee you only pay 7.75%. And you can easily make up that difference in deductions. As an employee you just have someone else manage your withholdings and as an IC you do it yourself. I have much more usable income being an IC and not an employee and I am strict about putting aside what I need to. But everyone always says you have to pay your own taxes, well your employer does not PAY them for you -- except 7.75% of SS, they merely withhold it for you. As an IC you are the employer.
You an IC, statutory employee or employee?
That designation, and/or forcing the IRS to designate you, can make a diff. Are you a corporation? Partnership? You need WAY more help than we can give you.
If you are employee, unless suit against your employee
otherwise the posts on here as far as I can see telling it like it is. I think a lot of the posts are so young they just don’t have a clue as to what it means to be an employee. You do as your employee wants (I am talking reason now, not stupidity as far as sexual advances, etc) or else you find another company that fits your personality better. You do not confront, you do not tell your employee no, that is their job, not yours. This is such a simple thing for people who have been in the work force for any period of time.
IC or Employee?
I read an article on the web regarding how companies are abusing the independent contractor status to keep from paying benefits, WC, social security, etc. In my situation, I have been with the same company for three years and I do not get shift differential, weekend differential, or overtime. I work 7 days a week, totally directed by the company, hours set by the company, etc. If I had been an employee, which I believe I have been all along, I would be owed thousands of dollars in overtime. Where do YOU fall? Below is the IRS quick look at where you stand.
http://www.ftmn.com/Employee.html
An employee
I cant say who but it is an employee.
You are an employee. I am not. Again, you are an employee because SM
you need "employee stuff" but I am not an employee because I don't need employee stuff. I just need work.
Why do *I* have to adhere to a schedule? I don't. And my MTSO loves me to death because I just make her look good.
You need to go to an all-employee company or a company where you are the boss so you can stop this from happening. The MTSO just wants the work out of there. You want it to all be suspended until you sit down to work, and that is just not going to happen, nor should it.
No, FT employee
Looking for another job this very minute. I think this is way over the line.
As an employee ---
If I actually work 40 hours a week, my gross is about $730, which I think is good when I also have all taxes cut (Federal match), PTO, STD, LTD, healthy, dental, vision, internet reimbursement, quarterly and yearly incentives in addition to base pay. Never run out of work. Benefits add about 30% more to base pay, so it seems to be a wash with the ICs who have commented.
I left a job recently where I worked 5 hours a day and grossed $750/week with all taxes cut, 2 paid weeks vacation a year, free health insurance. I left because they were getting interns to work for free and forcing out their higher paid and longer term employees. Had to use vacation pay when there was not work or not get paid at all.
I like the pay/hours at the former job but I like the current stability that I have now better.
Employee
This is the exact reason our company will never use an IC. We utilize employee status transcriptionists
This is what I do. I am an employee
but my company is in FL where they don't have state tax. I don't need any $$ taken out for federal, but I have extra $$ taken from DH check for state taxes. 2005 was the first full year we did it and this year we are getting back $450 state, when we've paid in the past, plus a penalty for not having enough taxes taken out. You could also change dependents if appropriate.
IC vs employee
Can someone explain to me the difference between 8 cpl as an employee and 8 cpl as an IC? I know you have to pay your own taxes as an IC but what I mean is what does 8 cpl translate into once you pay self-employment tax. How much less are you making as an IC at 8cpl than if you were an employee at 8 cpl is what I am trying to ask. Thanks.
IC vs employee
If you are an employee, the employer pays half of the Social Security tax. If you are an IC, you have to pay the full amount yourself. HOWEVER, you can then take a deduction on your taxes for that second half. I haven't figured my taxes yet, so I don't know if it is a deduction or a tax credit (which is better), but at least it does help so you don't end up paying the entire amount. As an employee you also don't have all the deductions that ICs get, so that makes a difference in the bottom line, too.
Are you IC or employee?
If you are an IC, you can take off whenever you want (with appropriate notice of course). If you are employee, do you have vacation/PTO time? Do they not let you use it when you want?
Are you an IC or employee? - nm
nm
Employee (sm)
I work for MedQuist.
anyone go from IC to employee and like it better?
I was offered a job and I'm now weighing the options. I have always been an IC and have been offered employee status with another company. The pay is 1/2 cent cheaper than what I make now as an IC. The hours are still flexible and they do offer good benefits, PTO, vacation, etc... Has anyone gone from IC to employee or tried both and would like to comment? Thanks!
IC or employee
In my 22 year MT career I've found that doing a bit of both works best for me. Since I'm a single parent I really need the insurance benefits, and with regards to taxes, my accountant told me it's best to keep your W2 job because the taxes you pay there helps to pay your self-employment taxes. I do 20 hours W2 and the other half IC.
ms
IC to employee...sm please
I would like to hear from any of you that have gone from an IC to an employee, on howyou handled the changes. I am thinking about giving up my IC position (which is my own account with a hospital) to look for a full time position with a national company. As an employee, do you really have to sit in front of the computer 8 to 12 hours for your shift? What happens if there is nothing to transcribe? Do you have to stay put and wait?
I have only transcribed as a hospital employee (paid by the hour) and then came home for the same hospital as an IC (paid by the minute of dictation) when my youngest had health problems. I have always had enough work with occasional slow weeks at the same time every year. I have done some IC work with a few smaller MTSO. The hospital is going through a lot of changes and I do not feel that my position is stable. I was offered a position with a national a little over a year ago but raised my rates at the hospital instead. (Although after I raised my rates, they looked into using a service and found I was way cheaper to use). But I have recently figured my line counts with this hospital (Never bothered before because I got paid per minute) and figured I only got paid between 8-9 cpl with the same rate on weekends and nights. I was offered that plus benefits with other companies.
Should I try to find a good company and adjust to the changes in my schedule? (sorry so long)
Not An Employee
I'm confused too. I also worked for just one company as an IC before becoming an employee. If I wasn't an IC, I certainly wasn't an employee at the time. I had no benefits, taxes weren't taken out, etc.
Employee vs IC
Hi Guyz,
Could anyone tell me what is difference b/w working as home based employee as compared to IC. As I myself is IC right now, worked for FTP and online based working environment and find no pressure from employer like phone, chat etc. but work. So is employee status is same in that aspect or is it same as working in company where you got fear that your boss is looking at you all the time. thx!
are you an employee or
self-employed contractor? Do you get benefits, vacation pay, do you work from home?
Not That I'm An Employee No
When I was an IC I always worried when I didn't have a lot of work. Now that I'm an employee and know that I'll get paid for 40 hours and know I'll always get the same amount I'm less stressed. On the other hand, I type for 4 doctors and 1 N.P., and at one point I had upwards of 100 reports in the system that had to be finished. It's been a little slower these past few weeks, though.
I could not as an employee.
My tax preparer said that it was because I did not have enough deductions to itemize as an employee.
Are your IC or employee? sm
If you are an IC, you dictate when you invoice and when payment is due. If you are employee, you really have no say in the matter.
8-1/2 cpl as employee = what as IC
I'm just considering the tax ramifications. They have worthless insurance (reimburses doctors at the rate they get paid by Medicare and you know how doctors don't want to see Medicare patients) so I'm going to get my own insurance and add it to the line count, but not considering PTO, etc. (which they don't have) Their owner (never done MT) pulled out his calculator and said 8.5 as an employee equals 9 as an IC. That doesn't sound right, does it?
Tax ? for those who are both IC and Employee
I work full-time as an employee, but did some work on the side for my brother-in-law. I have a 1099 from him. When I file taxes, do I just file a 1040 with a schedule C-EZ (it was only $1000) for the IC work? Or do I need to file another form to figure out how much in taxes I need to pay?
Thank you for any help you can give me!
Chickadee
Are you employee or an IC?
While I don't personally think you should have to give them up at all, technically I think if you are an employee, everything you create as an employee may actually belong to the employer. I'd still fight it though, especially if you didn't sign any agreement to that effect.
Are you an IC or an employee? nm
d
Employee or IC??
If IC - just raise your rates. If employee are you hourly or cpl? Talk to him and see what he says.
Are you an IC or employee
See below for what it says about being an I/C and therefore a "business" just like the MTSO. I always pay my IC's before myself and I am lucky that my docs pay so well and fast -- usually 48 hours receipt of invoice but did have some many years ago where they did not and it is hard to keep everything balanced. Many times if the general contractor does not get paid neither do the subs on a house construction.
This was IC. Even if employee, though,-sm
it still seems strange to ask for a full-body photo. Why not just a copy of state ID or something if it is merely for ID purposes? Since it was apparently an IC position, however, I don't get the reasoning behind it. If employee, yes, I could see them wanting to be sure it was a separate room or perhaps see what equipment the person already had. Even so, it seems odd, IMO.
As an MTSO who hires ICs, I can't think of one good reason to ask for a full-body photo, or even a picture of the home office, for that matter. I have the IC sign a HIPAA form, and it's up to the IC from that point on to ensure that HIPAA requirements are met. That is good enough for me, and it's been good enough for all of my clients, as well. I've certainly never had any physician ask for pictures of my home office. To each his/her own, I guess, but I'd be taken aback by the request, too.
IC to Employee
I switched from IC to employee status a year ago. I'm actually making more money now and have great benefits and I don't have to work holidays or weekends. I do work 40 hours a week, but I work 6 hours during the day and the last 2 at night.
I am willing to put an employee job
Just as we are expected to use Google in our work, a prospective employer can google that is how I feel.
I do not, however, put full names of my personal accounts. I simply list the specialty, city and state. I do not want someone targeting my clients to offer a lower rate or soliciting them to try and take my clients. I would be careful especially if you are an IC. Call me paranoid, but I think there could be companies out there just trying to get names of clients so they can contact them for themselves to gain work.
Well then EMPLOYEE it is....
If they don't want me to work whenever I want to work, then they'll employee me and pay me benefits with paid time off.  Ahhh, I love being an IC. I laugh all of the way to the bank.
I do believe that would be employee not IC.
An IC should not have to commit to 500 lines. So, you're telling me that on the flip side, you always have 500 lines for that IC? Also, the hours being set between 9 a and 5 p is CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's fraud and you should be paying your employee's taxes.
No, she said she is an employee of
the company in her original post.
That is an EMPLOYEE not IC
It does not matter what your contract says one way or the other. If you are on a shift and have to call off like an employee, then you are an employee. To me, shift work = employee and it turns out the IRS generally agrees with that consensus. No one at the company I contract for has ever asked me what hours I work. I stick to the daily production level that I set for myself. That is it. My hours are only the same because it works for me. Control is key here.
$40,000 as an employee
working at a clinic for 4 doctors and one nurse practitioner. I also get yearly raises so the potential to make more.
IC vs. employee
The only thing I'd worry about if switching from employee to IC is the health insurance. I have a lot of medical concerns and would probably end up paying a huge amount for insurance; that is, if they would even cover me with my pre-existing conditions. At least as an employee, I'm covered for everything medical.
IC vs Employee
excerpt below from FedEx lawsuit regarding IC vs Employee:
2. What is the legal difference between employees and independent contractors?
There are state and federal laws that address the issue of whether you are an independent contractor or employee. While the legal standards vary, generally, courts determine if a person is an employee or an independent contractor by asking certain key questions:
a) Is the manner of performing the work determined by the company or the driver? (if company = employee)
b) Are the services provided by the driver part of the regular business of the company? (Yes = employee)
c) Does the company have the right to fire the driver? (Yes = employee)
d) Does the driver provide services for different companies or just one? (if only one = employee)
e) How long does the driver work for one company and only one company? (if extended time = employee)
f) Can the drivers make a profit or suffer a loss based on the way they manage the route? (No=employee)
g) Does the company reserve the right to exercise control over how the work is done? (Yes = employee)
The actual conduct of the parties, not the labels used, determines
May I ask if you are an employee? I was under the
impression that you couldn't take deductions for these kinds of things if you were. If I'm wrong, please let me know.
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