We're MTs, we volunteer every day.
Posted By: working for pennies. (no message) on 2005-12-06
In Reply to: How many of you do volunteer work? I am considering volunteering..sm - anon
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Volunteer
It may be more dignified to retire from MT workforce and take up editing or transcribing as a 'volunteer' stating we would simply do it for free.
To accept a paycheck for a very low paying job may seem insulting to the profession itself, the skills it demands, the stress it endures, the tenure and experience it comes with. Unfortunately, it also gives out the wrong message about the profession conveying a simplicity that it does not bear and understating the practice it takes to excel.
Blue
Volunteer at the Astrodome
You can pick up after people who are making a mess and not cleaning up after themselves, and maybe you could hand them their food, since they don't seem to be able to get it for themselves. I'm sure they'd love to have you. I know, blast me, go ahead, but I am so sick of seeing these people being waited on, on TV. I know they have been through a terrible, terrible thing, but come on people, it's time they started picking up after themselves and helping each other. If that's what you consider "helping", then get on with it. It's like doing too much for your kids when they are small, they never learn to do anything for themselves.
I am planning to volunteer today.
xxx
How many of you do volunteer work? I am considering volunteering..sm
to help in an outreach store where donated items are dispensed to those in need and while I really want to be of service, I keep dragging my feet and putting off making that call. I don't know if it is just because I am afraid to step out of my comfort zone or what, but so far all I have done is think about it and don't get any further. I am so blessed and really feel the need to give back whatever I can, but I still have not made that call. What is wrong with me?
Yup, I think so - do the worst dictators volunteer
... to work holidays? I'm actually still on yesterday, so I'm  for now. But in about 2 hours, probably lots of   and 
Hang in there! I feel your pain!! Hopefully you're getting a higher, holiday rate to offset some of the frustration.
Since you don't believe in Christmas, can we expect you to volunteer to work that day? nm
x
I always volunteer to work holidays, weekends, etc. because my husband is off
so he can watch the kids while I earn incentive and holiday pay. Plus, I'm the one who has to cover so the childless women can go on cruises with their latest boyfriends or husbands, or they didn't show up for work because they met a guy at a bar and have the bottle flu. Oh, poor you. Life's unfair. Suck it up and get over yourself.
Mothers volunteer as "aides" at their children's schools
supposed to help, not hinder.
Thank you. For anyone else interested the website is: https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/
..
Maybe you could volunteer at the 1st grader's school one morning a week? sm
You can be the "cool mom" and see a little bit of what your child's day is like when you're not around. I did this and it helped a lot. Also, after a couple of hours with a roomful of kids I was anxious to get home and make some money!
I volunteer a couple of afternoons a week -- gives me that social contact I need. :-) nm
x
I went to the Red Cross to volunteer locally and was told that I needed to apply to the state for a
background check, which will take from 2 weeks to a month to get back. I understand red tape as well as the next person, but is this really necessary? They are asked for people to help load trucks and pack and sort supplies right now, but only from people who are already in "the system." I guess I'll go another route and go to one of the local churches and volunteer, without the red tape.
Keep busy out of the house in addition to your job. Volunteer. Take a class. Walk a dog. Be open
s
Before needing to work, I did volunteer work through the Junior League where I am from in Texas. lm
Junior League was like a full-time job sometimes, but I loved it. Now that I have to work, even though it is from home, I still volunteer through my son's school. I am a school teacher in my previous (pre-MT) life, so I volunteer my tutoring services for children who need the help beyond what the schools are able to provide but whose parents cannot afford to pay for private tutoring. I also know how you felt about being afraid. I was strangely afraid before I joined the Junior League. It was just the unknown. But I was SO blessed by being able to help. Honestly, I am sure that it helped me just as much, if not more, than I helped others. Go for it. You won't be sorry. (Just remember that you have to say NO when you have to say no, okay? Remember that and you will be richly blessed by the experience!)
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.
If he's too disabled to work, he should be too disabled to do volunteer work....
nm
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!
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