THIS is what we're reduced to as MTs - sm
Posted By: JK on 2009-06-26
In Reply to: Selling plasma sm - anonymouse
what do we sell next?  We're certainly not able to sell our skill, our professionalism, our decades of experience -- these are up for grabs to the LOWEST bidder!
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
Try checking the grocery store for reduced buggies, reduced
counters in the meat and produce departments. Quite often, you can find perfectly good foods marked down (be careful about pork). My husband is a meat cutter and we quite often have meat that has been reduced and it is just as good as what was cut that day. Buy double roll toilet tissue. For whatever reason, it seems to last longer at my house. Buy cheaper brands of shampoo and hand soap. The stuff from Wal-Mart works just as well. The same can be said for scented lotions. Make your own potpourri. Mix cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg in water and keep it simmering in a small crock pot. Smells really good and is less expensive than candles. Believe me, I can pinch a penny, but it's really not so bad. 
Yes my pay has been reduced by 2/3. So.. sm
I figure I will have to do triple my amount of lines to get back to where I was. I don't think that is possible is it? I hear where you can maybe double your lines but triple?? Any opinions?
ME rates reduced
yep, the letter's in the mail. if you're doing ME work your rate will be decreased off of your base rate because they think the average production increases by 25%. well, you have the choice as staying as a MT at your regular rate, which I'm going to do as their ASR program can't seem to distinguish between the smaller words in a document even with the person saying them very, very clearly that you're continuously having to peck along to correct. The system even leaves out words that clear dictators are saying. Until they fix those kinds of things I'm not messing with it. You cannot get a rhythm doing the ME work -- at least that's what I've found. I've timed it and I can type a document faster from scratch than I can do it with ASR. That's just my opinion. They are paying us pennies to do a job that requires more than flipping burgers at Jack.
These are credited to you at a reduced rate ---
Indications:
Examination Protocol:
Aorta Meaturements:
Interpretation:
Recommendations:
How long do you think it will be until MQ throws everything on ASR even the junk to get the reduced
line rate. Should be interesting to see. I do think they are looking for a big exit also. There is no work in a lot of the offices especially Amherst and my understanding is the work will be delegated from a national office and not regional and they will put people on accounts that need work. Not sure what that means but maybe the days of having a main are coming to an end. Should be great for quality.
Staff will be reduced and equipment not replaced
Care provider will attempt to maintain their income and will attempt this by reducing staff/overhead (that includes transcription by the way).
The medicare/medicaid patient should have copays that are reasonable.
Reasonable is the key word here. But there is a sense of urgency that is taking place due to the state of Social Security and the aging baby boomers who are beginning to retire, who will due to good medical care for a lifetime, perhaps live for 20 plus years on Medicare benefits.
Weren't the Indians given a reduced rate to get CMT?
p
The incidence of errors could be greatly reduced - sm
if MTs were paid in such a way that they didn't have to positively RACE through everything they type, just to make a decent line count and an honest day's wage.
Take proofreading for example: Sometimes I think we come out ahead by NOT proofreading and taking our chances with missing an error, since if we really kick butt on our line counts, it can make up for being docked. But that goes against my nature. So I slow down enough to actually SEE what I'm typing, and then go back and proofread. It produces the best-possible quality of reports, but then eliminates any chance of a bonus because I can't reach that *carrot-on-a-stick* that is dangled a bit too high (in terms of a qualifying line count) for me to reach.
No way, I am having no problems with productivity, only that my pay has been reduced to compete
with the global market, that is a fact.
Now please with all respect please do not offer your opinions on my situation, I am sensing a little attitude here and I am not interested in your opinions on that. Thanks.
Reduced my desk clutter, bought a KVM sm
I got a slick new KVM. I work on 2 computers every day, so this was a necessity. All USB, a Belkin. Not only can I used ONE mouse, ONE keyboard, ONE monitor, but I can use ONE set of speakers and ONE set of headphones in said speakers. This one came with a remote button. Push it and you are on the other computer.
I have wanted one for a very long time and I have it!!!! They have come a long way.
Now...I just have to keep my backgrounds different so I know where I am...
careful with the reduced rates... devalues the industry sm
and forces even experienced MTs to lower rates just to keep clients.
My honest two cents, meaning no disrespect to anyone.
Clients see the bottom line before they see the years of experience an MT has. (yes, they do.)
A new person coming in with a lower rate will only cause problems.
For Pete's sake, you're not terminating a pregnancy, you're just typing a report after the
It's already been done before you even hear about it, and NOTHING changes regardless of whether you or someone else types it. Sheesh.
It's not funny when you're on a board where language is one skill you're selling.
.
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing
in your spa goodies. Congrats!
Well, you're all complaining that accounts are current and work is low, so, gee, maybe they're
focusing on WORK, as in CLIENT and transcribing, as maybe half of you should be focusing on!!
If you're experienced, try for 9cpl or higher, and you're lucky to get that! nm
s
Skip it. No one cares. Either you're good on the test or you're not.
x
You're probably right. Plus we're losing our percentage of good people by .... (sm)
allowing every loser from every 3rd world country on the planet to just stroll on into our country, some legally, most illegally, and take advantage of the social services all us hard working little gerbils pay for by having money taken out of our pay every month. But I don't think we're all lazy. Just the ones on permanent welfare driving around town in brand-new Cadillac Escalades. Saw one just today on the Bayshore Fwy. Brand-new black Escalade with expensive spinner wheels, with 5 or 6 Mexicans in it. Well, who knows - maybe they stole it and it was on its way to a chop-shop. Smart-and-hungry people aren't always hard-working and honest.
You're not going to find a word expander for free. You're going to have to pay
g
You're forgetting all the stuff you can't buy when you're UNEMPLOYED!
Unemployed people have a hard time buying anything, including cheaply made offshore products. How many will have to end up depending on public assistance? That means more tax dollars being eaten up - besides the taxes NOT being collected from the overseas workers. In the long run, are you really enjoying a lower price?
If you're on the job, ask for samples to do it how they want it. If you're testing, separate o
s
You're not losing it, you're burned out on your main job.
I feel for you... I am having my own "version" ;-) of these kinds of struggles. Lots of recent changes at the admin level have made my job do a 180, going from a really great one to a really crappy one.
For me, it's a struggle to get through the day with a shred of motivation. I get distracted in the way you discuss as well.
I just try to make my environment as comfortable as possible and make the best of it while I decide what the best way is to deal with the burnout... I figure if I can't change my inner brain workings so that I still like this job, I need to find another one, or this feeling will possibly get worse!
I hope it works out for you. Wish I had some better advice for you, but this really does look like burnout and extreme job dissatisfaction to me. We all wear it differently. Try to be good to yourself while you figure out a solution.
Don't know what you're complaint you're making with this post. sm
You stated in your original post that you don't want to work weekends or odd shifts. What is your definition of an odd shift? Second shift? Third shift? Sounds like you want to work M-F on days. Sounds kind of rigid to me.
Personally I like second shift, so everyone working days means more work for me! 
You're not under a rock, you're just like me... an adult with more to
s
It's not because you're beautiful, it's because you're an IDIOT!
Does that make it any clearer for you??
YOU'RE A SACK OF CRAP!! YOU'RE NOT
THE ADMINISTRATOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE IDIOTS???
 
Honey you're not being a shrew, you're being a
I don't get it when husbands and wives *allow* the other to have money that THEY work for...just don't get it. Go buy the flippin' keyboard and tell him to take a hike! (To put it sweetly!)
Why is it the only expander you're permitted to use? How would any know what you're using?
xx
They think they're smart to accept it, but they're
m
If they're withholding taxes, you're not an IC.
As an IC, you should already be paying taxes. That said, the only benefit having them withhold FICA is that your Social Security/Medicare share will be less. Social Security is 15%; if you're an employee, you pay 7.5% and your employer pays 7.5%. As an IC, you pay 15%. Doing the math, 0.0925 would be your 0.10 minus 7.5%--the 0.0924 is just a tad less than you're making now.
We're out here (good MTs) but we're busy! sm
I don't recall ever taking an employment test where I wasn't offered a job. My MTSO does not even look at my work unless I happen to have a question or a blank, which happens maybe once in every 30 or so reports with an ESL. If you find a really good MT, how much training would be involved? Certainly you would save time in the long run once they're trained and you don't have to check all their work.
If you're one of the MTDesk clan then you're ok
wersdffa
You're right if you're single it's tough.
I am an IC as well, but I have a husband with benefits and makes a fair buck. I am fortunate after 20 years to able to work from home. I worked on site for 17 years with a "chocolate cake" the day I left. Nothing more... The loyalty in any profession is gone, gone, and gone again.
Most companies want new employees/ICs that will take low pay and that won't cost much in the way of paying vacation time.
I do take every Friday off and try only to get on to check e-mail, etc.
However, I wouldn't trade being here for my kids at this point.
There are headaches no matter what profession you are in. It seems if it isn't one thing it's another.
Raises? Out of the question in this profession since most are afraid they will lose the account including myself. I also underbid my last account because I wanted the account so bad. I should be charging more.
It is a neverending cycle really.
But, I still enjoy the work, so I guess that's the difference. It does take will power to sit and type. Some people need that boss hanging around to keep the production up and the incentive of a nice paycheck is just not good enough.
Good luck with your new job! Sounds great!
If you're new, good - if you're not a newbie, not so hot
Would need to know how long you have been an MT. For a newbie, this is a pretty good rate of speed.
However, if you have anything over a couple years of experience, then this is not too hot.
Also, what are the dictators like? Is it a "United Nations" account??
If you ARE capable of 200 lph or more and you can't seem to get it, then the problem has got to be with the platform you are using. In my experience, the platform into which you transcribe can make or break your paycheck - so if the platform stinks, then I hate to tell you, but there is no way you will be able to improve your line rate. I have quit jobs because of awful platforms more than once.
You realize by doing that they're making more money & you're making less? You should reconsid
It's just what you're comfortable with and what you're used to.
I give a minimum of $100 for acquaintances and raise the bar from there to good friends, relatives, immediate family getting the largest gift.
that's because they're the big guys and you're only the
x
No, you're not missing anything, but you're really not seeing
anything either. InterFix designs and sets up software specifically to facilitate an easy conversion to overseas transcription.
You're both right and you're both wrong.
There are too many variables to give an accurate--or even estimated--count. Using a standard 1-inch margin, you may have short lines and lots of paragraphs and get a lower count. If no paragraphs and it's a full page of text from margin to margin, you get your higher count. You can't possibly use an average count because of variables, which is why no one can commit to a pat answer.
It says that's why you're QA and we're MT, simple enough?
Yes, of course, you're right.
You're absolutely right. Your E-mail shows such aspirational maturity -- I'm sure you were the class valedictorian, always the studious, respectful child. You have limitless options. That's how you ended up at MQ like the rest of us.
You're welcome SM
I know exactly what you mean. I've worked for some of the largest teaching hospitals who had staff and resident lists nearly a foot thick but that was in the "old" days when pay was better and computers hadn't been heard of yet. These modern days if a company can't provide their physician list in the data base where I can search with just a letter or 2, then I'm not going to work for them. I suspect that lots of your company's MTs object to nonproductive time looking up tons of names and addresses and whether you realize it or not, you're on the clean up committee, getting those jobs when they are thrown back into the pool. You might try talking it over with your supervisor and offering to continue doing the throw backs provided you're paid to do so. I did that once when all I was getting day in and day out was the most horrible of horrible dictators. Much to my surprise they agreed to compensate me appropriately. Granted, the pickings for really good companies are slim but they are out there, you just have to find the right one. Most will tell you anything you want to hear until you're hired, which is why I suggested keeping the old job until you've tried the new one on for size.
Hope this helps!
You're welcome!
You're right. They do.
x
seems like you're saying..
Since its been done for so long its okay. This is brutal to the animals and unhealthy to us. Its also heartbreaking to a lot of us. Although i'm not like those radical PETA members you described, when I see certain things being done to animals, it does move me, so I can understand their passion. One thing that gets me to the core is selling birds at pet stores. They were meant to be free and FLY, that is their whole purpose and for someone to keep them trapped in a little barred cage just for their personal enjoyment is just beyond me. You have to actually 'feel' these things, its not crazy.
You're welcome!
You're welcome, Miryam. Good luck to you - there are some really good companies out there. Keep looking if you are seriously thinking about changing jobs.
You're not in my car! LOL!
They do both - at least some of them, I know. But, you're right -the pay is not enough. :(
xx
You're welcome :-)
It's a pretty cool site (I like the name, too). Hope it helps. E-mail me anytime if you feel the need & have the time...I'll be around 
Have a great rest of the day
You're very welcome! :) nm
x
you're probably right
about the way they send 'em out. and thanks (for the congrats) its always nice to hear that vs the constant flames over saying something good about MQ.
I see no harm in stating the ltr includes: pay rates based on experience, skill and work difficulty, daily incentives, increased pay for eve/night, a new part-time employee classification with PTO and increased PTO for full-timers of 8 more days, along with other improved bene's and opportunities.
hope that helps!
|
