Unique situation
Posted By: Happy Camper on 2007-06-09
In Reply to: Is it your shift or work type that makes your job unique? Autopsies maybe? nm - Need a change...nm
I have two part-time jobs, one for doctors I worked for before in another setting - now I am doing their overflow work. The second part-time job is with a local MTSO. It is the only account they have with my specialty.
No, I don't think I could do autopsies, although I love watching "Dr. G., Medical Examiner" on Discovery Health. I close my eyes during the gross parts, though.
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I am not sure, I have a unique situation, but sm
My problem was no mortgage and being an IC. In October of 2007 I filed my taxes for 2006 (had an extension) and I got sucked for $7500 and then another $400 for penalties. In April of 2008, I got sucked for another $7600 and another $350 in penalties. There went my new car. There went paying off a debt I have been years working on. So, no I don't know how you do it and pay your taxes!
In 2008, I went to work as an employee. They will pay part of my taxes, they pay a fair portion of my health insurance premium, I have PTO and everything else. I was thrilled to work for only one place, till my tax accountant told me that in my circumstance, I would not be able to deduct any of my expenses because I can't itemize my taxes! He told me to work at least PT as an IC. I did for a time Jan-March and then quit. By May 1,2008 I knew I had to look for something. I ended up going back to work for the place I had quit in December 2007 to work for my employer. It turns out it is a 6-hour day on top of my 8-hour day. That was not the agreement, but it is the reality. I will be able to file as an employee and a Schedule C as an IC. I'll have my cake and eat it too.
I am saving 1/3 of after tax income, but I have very little free time and only one day off a week, if I have that much. I will meet my goals for a newer vehicle and paying off my debt next year, and that is great, but I will have had very little fun otherwise. I don't even have time to grocery shop most months, but I'd have money if I could get there. I am known for being a total workaholic and it is true.
The only thing I can tell you about making it all work is to scale down, down, DOWN! I went from a 2400 sq ft house in a large city, to an 1100 sq ft mobile home in a small town that has DSL. I bought the mobile home outright for a paltry $3K and while I don't own the land, my rent for that is only $75 (hence my tax problems). Where I live, it is so rural that the nearest Walmart is 60 miles each way, but it is best that Walmart and I should be parted that way. I get there perhaps 3 times a year, which is plenty. I eat at home. I make my clothing. I clean my own home. I do my own laundry. I pinch every penny I can figure out how to pinch, and then I pinch it harder. I gave away much of my furniture in this move and replaced it with second hand furniture that fits my new smaller home. The house was a real fixer upper and I have almost completed it...on a shoestring doing most of the work myself (but not this year). I grew up poor, I was poor when I was married and raised my kids poor. I am no longer poor, by the standards of where I live I am quite well off, but you would never know this by how I live. I run around in comfy sweats that are old, that is why they are so comfy! I live in a tin can and in a dirty little town full of wonderful people. I happen to be in love with my tin can which I have transformed into a very cozy, inviting home where guests love to visit...for tea in cups and saucers from the thrift store.
It is hard to make more money. I knew my energy limits and what I could and could not do. I made a conscious decision to work the money equation from BOTH sides...spend far less and make as much more as I felt I could. The end result has been better than I had anticipated.
As for getting out of MT, we are all pretty well in the same boat if we have been doing this for a long time. You might try a job center through where you live. Have them help you brush up your face to face interview skills, and see about how to present yourself as professional and capable. We have all been out of the fix your hair and makeup, actually get dressed and leave the house mode for a long time. I know if I were going out the door to work, I would need to follow this advice myself. I need some fine tuning, possibly so do you.
So stay in or get out, that is up to you. I thought I would give you why I have stayed in and how I did it.
How unique and to have it made FOR you!
.
What you describe is not unique to MT
I've worked in manufacturing (production control & customer service) for many years and realized that EVERY company, EVERY manager can do a better job at motivating and communicating with their employees. However, many managers do not know what to do or how to. They have their own managerial style and they “apply” that to everyone they supervise. A good manager will figure out each person working for them and determine what novitiates that person. Some like to be praised in public. Others want a private encouraging word. Each person is different and has different expectations. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I’ve learned that too many times in my career! BTW, I am considering enrolling in an MT course and read this board and others for information to help make my decision. This was a topic I just HAD to chime in on because this is true of ALL companies… Wal-Mart, GE, Walgreen’s, Ford, Kroger etc. Looking at the big picture, doesn’t it all boil down to how good are you at relationships and making them work?????
We are one of a kind, very unique, not just
anyone can do our jobs. No matter what your situation, children, caring for aging parents, raising animals, raising crops, tending to another at-home business at the samee time, we are definitely jugglers, no matter how you slice it. Sometimes I get on this board and think, ahhh, I know I have been there, done that, and seen it all, but I really haven't. Hayseed, I think you are a riot! There are so many others as well with just great informative posts that I'm glad they took the time out of their day to share, whether it be a funny or just to vent because it gives you a place to call "the water cooler" when no one else can really truly relate! Thanks coerts, friends, and fellow MTs for all of your input. I always new good things happen in numbers! Here's to ya'...  Back to the  now!
I think it is unique - not offensive at all nm
x
Since that would be unique to each company, I don't know how anybody here would even have a clue.
s
We used to get all sorts of unique things from QT (sm)
The enthusiam isn't there anymore. Still a good company.
Maybe my hospital is unique, but they require their MTs to be fairly
x
I think each case is unique. I had a "no changer" and he changed (sm)
We went for counseling and boy did things change!!!! We now listen to each other. We talk more than we ever have. We do things as a couple, for each other. We learned to openly appreciate each other for little things. We learned to love each other in ways that we never did before.
Believe me, my DH came from living at home with momma into our marriage and he expected me to take the place of his mom. That worked for a little while until I grew tired of being his maid and his bedroom companion.
What makes this story so unique is that she disappeared while vacationing and has not been seen sinc
I read that this story is so unique which is why it is getting so much coverage, and her parentes are talking to the media which a lot of grieving familes won't/don't do. Think about Jessica Lunsford's dad and how much you saw him on the news talking all the time to try to help his case. Which is what Beth Holloway Twitty is doing.
I truly think that if this Holloway gal was black and her parents were willing to talk to the media and give interviews all the time, I'm sure there would be coverage.
It's not about a rich white thing. Get over that. I am Hispanic and I don't even believe that. If you had a family member disappear and you were willing to talk to the media and had a good "story" you would get coverage. Trust me.
Is it your shift or work type that makes your job unique? Autopsies maybe? nm
s
It will. I was in the same situation.
Mom was a total bipolar psycho - one day she loved being my friend and the next day she "didn't want to talk right now". I haven't seen or spoken to her in 20+ years and the kids drifted apart shortly thereafter. Good riddance.
sad situation
 I know what you're feeling. We have a similar situation in our community. My daughter is friends with the older sister and I graduated with the mom, so she and I went to visit the day after. I know what you mean about flowers and food. I am planning to go visit again in a few days and take some soup that she can just put in the freezer and heat up anytime. I also bought some cards that I am going to send over the next few months just to let the family know we are thinking of them. It's a very sad situation. Hope this helps.
Everyone and their situation are different. sm
I had to do that, and it hurt, still does at times, but it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Basically, I had to do it to save myself from her constant criticism and bitter remarks. I know how you feel. Just try it and see how it goes, thats all you can do. If something hurts you that badly, get away from it.
You and I are in the same situation.
My goal is a minimum of $100 per day now. (My old goal was $50 per day with kids home most of the time.) I spend a lot of wasted time looking up patient and physician information, and I'd like to be more focused, too! I tried job searching but I don't have time to do these huge long tests on top of working with the kids still home for summer. There are some days when I just cruise through and do 200 lines without an Expander on an easy account. I'm getting better, so I'm not going to dog myself over it. I look back to what I was producing only six months ago, and I've improved a lot. The Word Expander helps a lot. I just wish I could get better and make more money in less time. LOL Ah, the elusive dream....
My situation
In my opinion, it is all about how much money you need or want to make. Obviously, working only part-time will bring in much less than money than full-time.
In my personal experience, having done this for 7 years, you most definitely can achieve your goal of becoming a productive and excellent transcriptionist. I have averaged only about 1.5 to 2.5 hours a day for the last 7 years and am satisfied with that. I work on multiple accounts and can type on an average of 300 lines per hour. There is no limit to what you can make! The more you type - the more money you will make - BOTTOM LINE!
I am in the same situation.
Just got a letter about the insurance and quota. I don't think they grasp the concept of no work, no quota.
OK....here's my take on the situation....
It sounds like you're fresh out of school...right? I think 87 lines an hour is not too bad for only three days of work!! This will take some time! You will never become your best because you will get better every single day that you do it!! In other words, in five years, you will STILL be learning and getting better!! Stop beating yourself up! And more importantly, don't give up!!! This is not a job that just anyone off the street can do!! This is a "learn as you go" job! Keep at it!! You WILL improve every day. Good luck and let us know how it's going from time to time!!
Nearly the same situation here
Sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. I am in almost the exact same situation that you are in, minus the new account. I am fortunate to be on a great account, but my 10-year-old son does feel sad that I work so much. My work hours are nearly all during his time off (i.e., after school and on weekends). It is definitely hard to balance time with him and work. It doesn't help that my husband works a lot as well. Oh, and we also have no family in the area .
As far as advice goes, I guess the only advice I can give is to be patient with him, although you probably already are. When I take work breaks, I try and make the time extra special. And if he needs me while I am working, I try and respond immediately without an unhurried tone, which really helps. If you act relaxed, they also tend to feel relaxed. I know it's hard when you are stressed, but try and it may help. I also emphasize how the "extra money" from mommy's job allows us to take vacations and buy little extras here and there. He understands the concept of extra cash.
I guess the best points to remember are: Be patient, act relaxed, spend quality time together during your breaks, and maybe allow 10-15 minutes before bed to read a story (if you don't already). Hope this helps a little. 
I also have RBS. :-) My situation is the same every day. SM
I am sent 150 minutes of dictation on a list. This is in my Lanier queue and my only challenge is to see how fast I can do it. My goal is 30 dictated minutes per hour.
I use Timestamp.com and keep up with my time every day. I type till I don't feel like it, then I go somewhere else.
I use Shortcuts for Windows and my own version of macros.
I feel that I'm as successful as I can be. If there are other shortcuts to be taken, I've not found them.
same situation here..
My brother did the same thing after my folks died. I finally figured it out ---- we really love each other, but just don't have a lot in common or have big conversations -- so he invited other people to converse and act as kind of a "comfort buffer" for him.
What would you do in this situation?
I work for a small MTSO, (this is my second job) always have had plenty of work until the last month or so, have been told it was just "slow" - have a friend who works for another small MTSO in the same state - yesterday she told me that the company I work for has hired them to do some of their work, which I guess explains why we are slow all the time. More than likely they did this to meet turn around because they were always asking for extra help and now never do, yet I wonder if they are trying to get rid of the higher paid transcriptionists, any suggestions? Don't know if I should just stay and do what work is there or look for something that has work when I need it, feel betrayed because the company said it was slow and now I know different. Like I said it is my second job so not totally dependent on the work being there.
I am truly sorry for your situation....sm
I had nothing when I dumped my ex - no $$ and really not a pot to p*** in.....but I weighed out the pros and cons and my very own sanity won out. My sanity was more important than possibly ending up homeless (which I did not end up being). When I left I remember saying *I cannot wait to be divorced from you one year longer than we are married* - I'm away from him now TWO years longer than we were married and am SO happy I made the decision back in '91 to save myself (and my daughter) and become my/our own Hero.
Best of luck to you...I sure know it is NOT easy.....
They never get it, no one does until your in situation. sm
You have got that right. Like I mentioned in previous posts, I have quit even arguing with my sibling, and have accepted it. They will have to answer for it one day, not me. And the, "I have to work" drives me up the freaking wall -- like I don't. Even my extended family do no realize I have a real job, they will never get it.
I had the very same situation and this is how I
Stop the invites. Get on with your own life. One of the posters suggested getting her alone and talking to her. Forget it. She's either too busy or only around at holidays - she's using you because she has no where else to go. Once you cut her off, maybe she will think twice about being too busy! - Good luck. This worked for me. Now I'm too busy and much happier without the "family-users" who abuse their blood relationship and turn them into guild issues. Too many people think just because their family they can get away with this stuff and consume you with guilt. I suffered for many years because of family-related guilt issues. I'm much happier now since I put my foot down -
what would you do in this situation?
I have a younger sister who is ONLY in touch when she wants to be invited to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at my house, to brag about something, or to ask a favor. The rest of the year she tells me she is *too busy* to be in touch more when I ask her why she does not stay in touch the rest of the year. I would like to stay in touch and even have her and her husband over for gatherings, but I really feel as if this is all one sided and wonder if I should continue to try. Any helpful advice would be much appreciated. 
We are in the same situation in VA.
It makes me so mad because that is all the schools teach. SOL....that's all we hear about. The schools push it because that's how they get more money! I don't think it is good for the kids. They may know who invented the cotton gin but they are missing out on learning something special from that "special teacher". Remember those "special teachers" in school who taught you something that wasn't in the textbook!
First of all, I'm so sorry for your situation and wish you the best....sm
Any pt report is open reading for anyone in an office or MT pool situation. Your report could have gone to any one of them. She was wrong to tell you ANYTHING and should be in trouble for that, not what she didn't tell you. I have transcribed reports on close friends, neighbors, even relatives, and I NEVER tell anyone anything. I even try not to let people know who my clients are so they won't know I might see something they don't want me to see. I transcribed a report on a close friend of 20 years who had a potentially fatal disease. I kept quiet about it, and it was a year until she told anyone. That is just part of the business. A good MT knows to keep her mouth shut or risk loosing her job and who knows what else. Again, I am so sorry, and you will be in my prayers.
I have been in this situation
much much better bringing the MT back in-house, but keeping them at home.
tax situation
I am going to be starting a new job as an IC. I have always been an employee or a statutory employee. What are the benefits as far as my taxes? What kind of deductions can I claim now that I could not claim as an employee? I would appreciate any thoughts on this - I know you cannot be accountants for me - just would like an idea... TIA.
Well, the way I see your situation is
you can a) either work and make what you need or b) you can babysit. I think that is what you are saying. Seems reasonable to me- just quit working and take care of the girls. Sounds like a coworker of mine- she is going down the drain working at 1 place, not making any money, offered an evening position with another place- does not want to take because she keeps her granddaughters then- makes good sense to me-
I'm sorry about your job situation
I had something similar happen to me a few days ago. The insurance company that I've been doing transcription work for over 7 years emailed me and told me they were going with a service. I really counted on that money. I do have another MT job so I'm not in the same position as you, but it stinks to be out of a job just like that when you least expect it. Good luck.
EXACTLY my same situation to a T (sm)
I'm going back to finish a nursing degree because I have to force myself to transcribe and I'm tired of working 7 days a week, till 11 every night to make $2000 a month.
I took a week off but I'm so ready to do something else!
Same situation...
I wondered how many were really in the same situation as me...looks like quite a few. I work for three companies--one that is supposed to be full time, one that is about 1/2 time, and one that has always been very part time. Where I used to be limited only by how many hours I wanted to put in, I am lucky to get 5 of 6 hours of work out of all three now. I know it isn't their fault, but I get worried.
Same situation
I had been away from MT for quite a few years myself. I learned in a quick hurry I needed to get more computer literate and to get a word expander. Not all word Expanders work well with different platforms so make sure you check what is compatible with what you will be using before investing in one. I did not want to tie up $3000 in a two-year course online so I went to nearby community college with an MT program and just took a couple of the specific classes related to file management, transcription editing, and advanced word processing.
There is an unpaid internship program you can apply for. It is called AIM. I believe it lasts about 90 days, and you get continual feedback from QA.
Good luck with your reentry.
I was just in the same situation
Make sure that your laptop is compatible with XP before you do anything. My laptop came with Vista and is less than a year old. I finally found a job, but the company required XP. It turns out that my laptop was assembled for Vista, and in order to install XP I had to make my own installation adding special drivers for my laptop. Even if I did this, the video and sound drivers may not work. Video and sound are really important! I am reasonably computer literate, but this installation was a bit over my head, and it may not have worked. The company I bought the laptop from told me that they may not be able to support me after I did this. Great! I figured that it would cost me about $100-200 for XP and $100-200 to pay someone to do the installation. For that kind of money, it is possible to buy a decent second hand with XP on it. I ended up buying an off-lease computer from Tiger electronics that has a one-year waranty. It cost about the same amount of money, but it was faster and at least I got something for my money.
That whole situation just.....
sounds too shady really! I couldn't work for someone who "forgets" to pay me. I would tell them I don't "forget" to do the work and I don't expect to forget to get paid or else I will have to find someone else to work for. That is ridiculously irresponsible of her!
Ok, i have a situation...sm
I am moving to the BOONDOCKS at the end of the month, I find out just now that High speed is NOT available in the area....they only have accelerated dial up. How many of you are still on dial up and do this job? I was on dial up YEARS ago and it worked out fine, but not sure how this is going to work, the platform i use now is iType and even with cable, the downloading of the voice files are slow.
Any suggestions? I sure cannot afford Satellite.
Sorry about your situation
I can hardly take it anymore either. I usually get stuck with an account that i just can't seem to get decent lines and I am more exhausted when I am done. It makes me feel so worthless.
Some have it pretty good in this business and are really suited for it ... not so hot for a lot of us though.
Hang in there. Maybe something good will come of it somehow. : )
I am in a similar situation.
I, along with several other employees, have filed a claim in magistrate court. The company, which was a corporation, has now closed its offices, and are denying that they owe us our last paycheck. We are going to court to fight it, but I am not sure what we will be able to do. The labor board told us that since it was a corporation, and since it is now closed, that they cannot help us.
Tough situation
I really think that what she is doing is wrong and like you said dishones and not loyal to your company. I would definitely bring it to your managers attention.
Why stay in a bad situation?
Sounds like YOU don't have work maybe. But as my own boss, if the company using my services, paying me on production, does'nt have work and thinks I am just going to sit there staring at a blank screen making no money, they are sadly mistaken. I would be out of that situation faster than you could click a mouse. I am in charge of my future, my paycheck, my family's welfare. Why would I give some lousy company control over all of that, if they had no work for me and especially, no money for me.
I am so sorry for your friend and this situation sm
They should try to get a referral to a child psychiatrist (not just a psychologist) immediately. They are the ones equipped to deal with these kinds of serious issues.
I hope they can handle this extremely difficult situation. It truly sounds like Tater is mentally ill.
She is in this situation by her own choice.
puh-leeze
Here's how I'd handle the situation...
First off I'd tell my mom that he's a pig and what he has done.
Secondly I'd never be around him without a recording device turned on in my pocket so that way you can record his comments, and if he touches you or flirts then get a recording of your asking him to not touch or look at you that way and his response. Then play the recording for your mom and other relatives.
While it may be true your mother may go into denial you need to stand up for yourself. My mom was a fool and protected my father when she was told about his untoward advances towards women for years.... and then something happened that made her realize that she had been a fool for years and that he was the one with the problem.
A little more on the particulars of my situation
My son is five-years-old and is in Kindergarten. He receives speech services 4 x per week (2 individual, 2 group)for speech/language delay. He just finished having his fourth evaluation done. This time, it was a developmental evaluation and not just a standard academic assessment that the school does.
We took him to have this done. Our insurance covered this and it was not paid for by the school. We found out that he is classified as having lack of social opportunity and borderline intellectual functioning - part of this as explained to me by the Dr. that conducted the evaluation is low IQ.
In the future, approximately 2-2.5 years from now, he will be reevaluated. It is also possible that he has Pervasive Developmental Disorder but due to his age the Dr. was not able to give us a precise answer on this but it will be entertained in the future.
I myself, have Cerebral Palsy and have gone through the same school system that my is going through right now. His particular situation really makes me angry due to the fact that we now have an evaluation that says he needs more social opportunity and reinstitution of his basic special education services (SEIT) to help him to succeed.
Of course, the school classifies giving him social opportunity as taking him to FAMILY READING NIGHT 1 x per month. I myself feel that this is not enough and that he needs regular social interaction on an outside of school basis to branch out more, which is more than 1 x per month, weekly if possible.
As far as his special education reinstating goes, the CSE chairperson and his teacher don't feel that it is necessary even though they have an evaluation(dated 11/7) that is in there face showing them Dr. recommendations that say it is.
At this point, I am totally frustrated with all that is happening with Joshua, as I don't feel that they are giving him the opportunity to excel and if anything are holding him back by not giving him the services he deserves.
In my honest opinion, I do my best to keep him together but he has spent much of the year thus far frustrated and in tears making comments such as the kids don't like me or my teacher doesn't like me.
That is why I am thinking about homeschooling my son.
Tricky situation for both here.
For you, it's understandably a cautious situation giving them unfettered access.
For them, it's a matter of protecting the information you are in charge of. If your computer visits certain websites, cookies are installed on your system, viruses can be obtained, and a whole host of unwanted information be stolen by others hacking into your system or attached to files you are returning. That information has very specific, strict guidelines for protecting.
Since you are not working on a system that they have provided, they are trying to protect their interest (the security, privacy, and confidentiality of federally regulated PHI).
I had a similar situation at one job.
I was hired with a college degree to do customer service. They hired a guy without a degree to be a representative. I gave my notice because he was sexually harassing me, and they were only paying me $1,300 a month to raise my family of four on with no child support, welfare or social security. They gave me a nice raise of $500 a month plus bonuses, but they promoted him to be manager of another store. Shortly after I finally quit them, he got fired big time and they had to hush-hush everything. He was harassing other female employees, had his drug dealer show up at the store demanding money, and even got his wages garnished for child support on his girlfriend even though he was married to someone else. But hey, ethical and qualified women weren't even given a chance at the job. I've always wondered why I could never get ahead in the business world. I don't know if it's my gender or because I'm too nice and do the right thing.
I think it's a bunch of ****. Sorry your in that situation! nm
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Distraught, I would use this situation
to perhaps consider some other options. Can you explore some of your other interests and talents to see if they could translate into another career path?
It has been difficult in the last few years to see how the profession has deteriorated, but I think it's important to take a cue from the docs. If they're watching the bottom line, MTs have to do the same thing. If they're willing to invest the time and money to learn new technology and try alternatives, MTs should as well.
It's hard to remain objective when you care about the work and invest so much of yourself, but try not to take this personally. The suggestions to stay in touch with your ortho are good ones while you make your own career transition. Good luck--you'll be fine.
In a VERY similar situation...
I am actually going apartment hunting soon and telling my husband I am leaving. I am going to tell him we can do counseling, but that is up to him. Right now, I cannot live with him, whether we work it out or not. I really don't think we will be able to work it out because in my heart I really don't love him, I care about him, but don't love him.
We have a 3-year-old daughter and she is the highlight of both our days. I am not truly concerned about this affecting her because he will be very close by and will be able to take her whenever he wants. I know he will be good about that.
I cannot tell you to go one way or another, but with my situation, I am truly unhappy and have been for quite some time. The issues we have today are issues we had when we married. They aren't getting resolved and are not going to go away. I am 29 and have my whole life ahead of me. I'd rather spend that time with somebody who will respect me, listen to me, and make me feel safe and secure. Whenever I am upset and could use a hug, my husband looks at me like a dog. At least a dog will lick my face to make me feel better.
Give yourself a period of time to see how things go. If they are not better by then, you need to move on for you and your child.
I wish you well. You deserve better.
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