Taking a vacation due to burnout

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I take two weeks off a year, which is stated in my contract.  One week is done for a full week and then the other five days are here and there.  I do not have a fill-in, other than for STAT work.  I simply put a note in two weeks in advance stating I will be off from whatever day through whatever day.  My doctors have always been extremely understanding with my time off.  Yes, its tough when I return because work is so backed up, but I just strive to get caught up as fast as possible.

I think if you're an IC and you constantly strive to provide the best of service to your clients, they'll be more than willing to have work fall behind for you to have a vacation. 

and there is not one thing on earth wrong about their taking it.

After about 12 years of being an MT, I found myself suffering from burnout.  Right about that time, I was offered the job of 1st & 2nd grade teacher at the tiny Christian school my kids attended.  I was really looking forward to something new.  After only 2 months, I was over my burnout but I was committed to finish out the rest of the school year.  It was the longest 7 months of my life.   

I think the burnout came from having had the same account for so long (nearly 10 years).  Every day was the same.  Maybe just learning a new account or a new specialty would help you get over the burnout.  Although I hate the pay cut that invariably comes with any new account, I always feel proud of myself for rising to the challenge and learning new things.  It keeps things interesting. 

This may sound silly, but do you have any scenery where you transcribe?  I sit in front of a picture window in my office and watch the birds and squirrels.  I have become quite an avid birdwatcher while I work.  It doesn't take a lot of time out of the day, but it gives me something else to look at besides the computer screen. 

Hi:

Is anyone out there dealing with burnout due to their transcription job? I have been doing this for 7 years as an Independent with only 1 vacation in that time. I work weekends and holidays and feel like I am about ready to yank my freaking hair out from the responsibility!!!

Lynn

I just can't do MT anymore.  I've been doing it for 30 years, the last 6 with a national that begins and ends with an S.  I so tired of their lies and garbage.   I also edit as an IC which I enjoy but can't get steady hours.  I'm presently on intermittent FMLA from "S" for my mom who is a paraplegic and they're giving me all kinds of grief over it.   My supervisor is doing everything she can to put roadblocks in front of me. She won't me change accounts permanently.  I get put on an account I'm good at and can get good line counts on for awhile and then I'm put back on the account I told her I hate and can't make money on.  This happens over and over again.  She also won't let me taking an editing job or change my hours.   I received their "certificates" for quality and attendance, but not for production which is the only thing they care about since only 62% of the company made 98% or more quality.  Some days I just can't sit and work.  I'm totally burned out and the above doesn't help.

I'd leave in a minute if I thought another place would be better, but I'm not convinced it would be.  Add to that the fact that I only have dial-up, need health insurance as I am single and can't afford a good computer at this time. 

Sorry for the long post.  Just needed to vent.  Has anyone been in this situation?  What can I do?   I'm working 50-60 hours a week and still can't make a living.  I'm really ready to go on welfare rather than keep working.

I used to carry two pagers for two hospitals all by myself, 24/7.  They went off maybe a couple of times a month.  The chore of being on-call is now shared with a few other people but now the after-hour pages come in nonstop and I don't know why.  Me thinks some deal was made to keep an account or something but I really am just pulling that answer out of my tuckas.  It's gotta be costing the hospitals a mint to have us at their beck and call like that....either that or they got a really sweet deal. 

The other issue is it used to be a much more laid back environment.  You logged on, did your work, and you were left alone.  You kept an eye out for stats yourself and took care of them, because you are there because you are responsible. 

Now you log on, strike up this thing called Instant Messenger, and sit there at your desk working your alloted shift but can't get up because you must be present if you get an IM for a stat...even though you are already on it because it's your job to be.  Want to take a break?  Yeah, sure, once you finish up this stat.  Oh wait, I've got another one here that needs to be done super duper stat....you know what I'm talkin' about too, lurkers.

Ya know the movie, Office Space?  I'm always referring to it with this company.  You know the scene with the TPS reports, where the fella has 4 bosses telling him the same darned thing even though you already know your job?  That's what I'm dealing with and, yeah, I've been reduced to the mumbling dude who worries about his stapler.

I don't blame my bosses at all, but the micromanaging thing is out of control and I have no idea why it has come to be, because it wasn't like this before.  The days of a happier Hayseed with high line counts and company pride are long gone.  I don't know who works there anymore as the folks I knew have all left, and that's made an impact as well.  Ask for new scenery because of burnout, and all you get is a strokin', nothing more. 

Was at a major company that I liked for a year, then they made some changes and it was a nightmare for the second year.  I went to a smaller company for awhile, they were great but I found it harder and harder to sit down and pull reports.  I got to the point I was only doing about 300 lines a day.  I made a change to a small company as IC, and chose one where so many minutes were dumped on me for the day.  I knew I had to finish those minutes, and before I knew it I was back to about 800 lines a day, six days a week.  That is all I can do without developing CT myself; I have learned this over the years.  Now I'm starting some editing part time, so I can earn more without losing the use of my hands.

If you already have CT, you might have to get into something different, like editing.  It doesn't seem realistic to keep working, knowing you're doing more damage and will shortly be unable to work anyway.  I'd be looking for a change.

Whatever you do, try to find the motivation that works.  I didn't find thinking about unpaid bills or setting a financial goal each month helped, it just made me depressed when I couldn't reach it.  I focused on the positive, like being able to do 50 lines more daily this week than last, adding minutes each week until I reached my goal.  I also make sure to take two weeks off at different times each year and go some place at least once, something I neglected for years.  I come back refreshed.

Best of luck to you; it's a difficult situation.

I would just like some time off to get caught up on everything around the house.  I am so overwhelmed by it all right now.  The clutter is piling up again.  The garden has been ripening before my eyes, so everything needs to be picked and put up for winter.  Instead, I've been giving it away because I don't have time to deal with it.  We're building an addition to give me my own private office, so I spend my weekends at the hardware store, holding boards, and cooking for our construction helpers.

As for money, I stash money from selling stuff on ebay and from a little side job in my checking account to have a cushion in there.  I need to get more stuff listed on ebay because I just bought a new computer, which has been sitting behind me still in boxes for nearly two weeks now.  What's that saying?  The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.

At least I have a messy house to gripe about, right?

I started doing this three years ago when I got divorced and at first it was only change in a jar, then I would add $5 out of every paycheck from my accounts, then it was $10 a paycheck (have 4 accounts).  This was hard as I was going through a very expensive nmasty divorce but I did it. So I wouldn't spend it when I deposited my checks I would buy a roll of quarters or dimes and put it in my change jar.  This year I was actually able to start putting aside more and I took my 17 year old nephew with me to San Francisco for 5 nights, 6 days, all paid with my little slow savings.   My accounts are good to me and let me know ahead when they will be on vacation and so I was able to plan it when three out of six docs were gone so I would have missed out on that money anyway.  The other three held the dictation until I came back and gave me a week to get caught up.   But you can do it, just gotta plan.  I did work many extra hours before and after though but it was worth it and the vacation was paid in full, no credit card bills coming in. 

Hi, I'm a beginner home based MT.  I'm gonna be out of town for 2 weeks and was just wondering if anybody would know if I have to notify anybody about my absence?  Thx for the reply.

I am thinking about quitting my job with a national but wondered about sick/personal/vacation time that I have earned.  Does anyone know if any or all of this will be paid with my last paycheck, as I have almost 150 hours coming.  Is this different from one company to the next, or are there federal or state laws that govern this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

We like to ski, swim and golf.

I have five accounts and two I have IC's who work for them -- psych accounts no problem when I leave town.  But my other three, have asked that I have NO ONE work on the account but me and they hold the tapes and I do them when I come back as fast as I can and sometimes wishing I had not taken time off.   No they work with me but then I don't take off much time and when I do it is usually a couple of days and the weekend so we are all not stressed.   If I were to have surgery or something I have friends that would help out and the accounts realize that it would be necessary.  That is one of the drawbacks of having your own accounts.  No work --no money.   But it does make you appreciate your time off.

Is there really a company out there that provides long-term benefits such as insurance AND VACATION and that will be around when we get ready to use it  Just wondering if anyone out there really has any benefits doing at home MT work.

I had the same guilt feelings that I had to be perfect, be completely on time, everything had to be perfect or they would find someone else and put a lot of pressure on myself.  I have in the last year slowed down, told them when I couldn't do what they wanted, taken a vacation, and just this week was able to go to my nephew's baseball state play-offs and skip a day of pick up and delivery -- how -- be being honest with them and believing in myself.  I am also going to Vegas for three days next week.  Just simply told them that I needed some time off.  Am working harder this weekend to be caught up by the time I go and the work will be here when I get back but they know to give me until next week to get 100% caught up.   And they have accepted it.   Our docs take time off and we don't get paid.  I simply took a deep breath and sat down and talked to the docs.  I do admit I have smaller offices 2 to 4 docs in them but I did and they said fine.   I do try and schedule the time around holidays but that is mainly for my sake as to not be overwhelmed.  I figure if they cancel on me or find another service, someone else is out there or I will go to a hosptial.  I was not uppity, nasty or put a chip on shoulder.  Just talked to them and told them that I had to start scheduling some time off for myself and they had no problem with that.  I have 4 offices to work with and it takes a little maneuvering.  But after so many years without time off, I did it.  All my accounts have been with me for 5+ years and so we are pretty well established together but it still took a deep breath to approach them.   You can do it.  I firmly believe that they treat you as you accept being treated. 

DH just took me to my favorite beach for a quick vacation.   It is Shell Island in NC (basically Wrightsville Beach, but the end at Mason Inlet)

We arrived at Shell Island resort and discovered our room was on the 9th (top) floor.  PERFECT!  The dogs were staying with the in-laws in nearby Wilmington, so no worries there.

The temperature on Thursday was 82 degrees.  The water was 81 degrees.   People were few.  We walked down to the inlet, where the surf is all disorganized with no crashing waves.  The water stays shallow for a long way out, only knee deep to waist deep.  I floated out there, often walking along on my hands, with the swirling water gently pushing me this way and that.   Seagulls called to us.  Pelicans did their gliding flight just inches above the water. 

After our ocean swim we got in the pool.  Then we laid out on the chaise lounge chairs to dry.  The ocean breeze gently buffeted us in a lazy fashion until we were nearly dry and went in.

We went back to the room and I sorted my shells out on a table on the deck.  Seagulls came by to try to entice me to throw food.  Now and then, pelicans in V formation would glide right by me, so close I could have reached out and touched the feathers of the nearest member. 

We went out to The Oceanic restaurant.  I had the Oceanic Platter with broiled fish, fabulous scallops, shrimp, and a crab cake that rivaled those in Baltimore.   It was all fabulous.

I had a fabulous time.   Vacations are good. 

I am an IC.  Contracted with just 1 drs. office since they generate plenty of work.  There is another at home IC, who works there, too.  We have been backed up quite a bit lately, so they hired another IC to work prn.  My question to any other IC's out there is--Do you ever take family vacations?  How do you accomplish this?  Do you tell them your office will be closed for a week? What do they do about work while you are gone?  What usually happens to me is they punish me the week before by giving me extra work.  While I am gone, they just pour all of my work on the other IC and she gets backed up, and then when I returned I have twice as much work to do.  I feel like--why did I bother taking vacation?!  I get burned out prior to vacation, and after returning to work I get burned out again from trying to catch up.  I mentioned today that we need someone to cover when we, the 2 IC's take vacation.  I was told the other IC "never takes time off" with a smirk.  I felt like saying, "Well, I am sorry, but I have a family and a life and it doesn't revolve around this office!!!!"  Got any advice?  I am so burned out and need some time off!!!! 

With my invoice for the past month, I give a form for the upcoming month for time off for each doctor, etc.  Now and then they do miss a day or two here but most of the time they are very forthcoming with the time they will be gone.  I tell them that I need that so I can plan out my scheduling and ensure that we adhere to the TAT, etc.  Also for income purposes.  My clinics really work with me.  See if you can talk with the office manager or the schedulers.  Might bring in a plate of cookies for whomever is helping you out.  But talk with them and explain the situation as that is what has helped me out many times.