benefit ideas
Posted By: nanna23 on 2005-09-13
In Reply to: I need some ideas on benefits and fundraising. - please help, not MT related
This may be a little late as it takes some planning, but my great niece was in an "American Girl" (the popular dolls) Fashion show which raised close to 40,000 for a child who passed 2 years ago from brain cancer and this benefit went to the fund the parents kept up for research.
The American Girl company coordinates it, has a whole package thing and the girls modeling are dressed just like the American Girl doll they carry...it was the cutest thing and well worth the money for the ticket.
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I can see no benefit -
I have never had any problem getting or keeping an MT job. My work speaks for itself. A few companies offer a little more money if you are a CMT, but to me that does not offset the cost of keeping up those credentials. BTW, I used to QA several gals who had their CMT. One of them was a very marginal MT and the other was terrible and could not do anything other than simple clinic work. It has been my experience that the credentials really do not mean a whole lot. Some people may have a totally different experience.
LLC/INC - has no benefit to me
but, company wants that in place to do prn work. Does anyone see the benefit of this??? It will cost me several hundred dollars to set it up, plus the separate income tax filing, etc. Anyone with experience here? I am one person, not a company and I don't understand the reasoning.
The benefit of being an IC is that
you are your own boss meaning that you can choose to work when you want. Stay away from the companies hiring ICs with a set schedule as they are breaking the law and will abuse you. Those companies need to hire employees, but don't to save money.
The other benefit to being an IC or self-employed (one in the same) is that you can write off tons of business expenses, i.e., tissues, paperclips, the area in which you work, utilities, staples, paper, ink for your printer, paper, computers, printers, hole punchers, scotch tape, mileage.... the list goes on and on; get a good tax person and not a fly-by-night. You will get charged a penalty if you owe taxes at the end of the year unless you pay quarterly or have enough from an employee job withheld to cover your taxes. If not, then I would suggest taking a portion of your income to pay quarterly taxes.
There are a lot of MTs who are ICs but will bend over backwards for their company they contact with because they need the money, but I, for one, will not. As an IC, I am my own boss and I decide what work I will do and when. The only requirement I have with the online MTSO I contract with is that I have what work I take from the pool back within 24 hours. No line quota, no set schedule.. that's how it should be. Also, as an IC, I have my own accounts; this is what an IC is about; not having all of your eggs in one basket. There is no such thing as full-time part-time as an IC - it's just IC. Full-time and part-time is for employees. Check the site IRS.gov and you'll find examples of ICs and employees.
you're right, but it is a tax benefit...sm
It may very well be a tax benefit for me because I bought my place in 2005 and I think home improvements can be deducted to some extent - I find out tomorrow when I go bring in my taxes to the CPA!!!
Before then, I couldn't do any home improvements. The floor $ came from a life insurance policy someone left me in 2005, unexpected to say the very least. Now, every time I look at the floors, I think about that person!  There IS no extra $$ in this life ever is the way I see it, unfortunately, and I'm very humble(d).
Benefit question
I have worked only in-house for years and am now beginning an at-home position. For those who work for nationals who have benefits how do you work under the stress of having to keep your line counts at a certain amount or have your insurance dropped? What if you do not make your required line count?
The benefit of personal experience
I was surgically menopaused at 35 after 4 major abdominal procedues starting at 18. Prior to the removal of my uterus and remaining ovary, I've hemorrhaged multiple times, been critically anemic, etc., etc. Early on I was deemed a high risk for gyn cancer, although the major scare came at 35 with a necrotic ovarian mass. I made a conscious, informed decision early on not to have my remaining ovary and uterus removed until the threat of cancer could not be ruled out with testing.
Within days of the final procedure, I became despondent and so hormonally challenged I was suicidal. HRT took months to help. I have never regained what was lost by having a cleanout done, despite the obvious need to have it done. It does impact every woman differently. Some sail through and others suffer. I can tell you that in retrospect, the only thing that would move me to have this procedure is a life threatening risk if I didn't. Think long and hard because there are more terrible things out there than the imposition of monthly cramps and excessive bleeding. The quality of your life may improve or it may decrease. Please do not misunderstand me - If you are under a cancer threat or require transfusions, I would not hesitate to do it. Good luck to you.
Is there any benefit to getting clients anymore? sm
Most clients where I live (Virginia Beach) want me to pick up tapes. They will call if the MT quit, and then they want to pay only 10 CPL. I can’t hire MTs at less than 8 CPL. Then, behind my back, they look for in-house personnel. Once they find it, I’m out of a job again. Dishonest OMs that just use me. Don’t know which way to go. Don’t need a lot of work, just trying not to work for nationals (f that’s possible anymore).
I’m thinking of getting work outside my state. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I would think a split shift would benefit them!
I know where I work they swoon over people who can pull a split shift...say early in the morning and then again late afternoon into evening. I think it really helps get places out of TAT jams. I once did 7am-11am and then 3pm-7pm for a while and it worked out great for me at the time and was equally beneficial to them. Have you tried pointing out the potential benefits for them, to them? Might be worth a shot if you haven't already. Good luck!
AlphaGrip mousing benefit
When I first began using the AlphaGrip my right forearm, wrist, hand, and shoulder were already in pretty bad shape from typing. I noticed a new pain on the side of my hand, but I think this was due to trying to get used to using the AG, as I no longer have this pain now that typing flows more easily. All of the other pains mentioned are much improved now, and it seems that the more I use the AG versus using the keyboard, the greater the reduction in pain has become. I much prefer the AG and unless I am scrambling to meet a deadline I do not use the keyboard at all. I cannot wait until the day that I feel I can throw it in the garbage can.
You are right about the mouse. I think that the pains I was having had a great deal to do with mousing, and that was the number one feature that sold me on the AG. As I mentioned, I was looking for about two years, but purchased the AG in under a week after first seeing it. This is exactly what I was looking for in a new keyboard . . . a way to mouse right there readily available, and the traditional mouse was the first thing to go when the AG arrived. I haven’t looked back!
It actually was not strange to hold at all and fingers fall into place naturally, and a lot of the keys are struck with the same finger as one would use on a conventional keyboard, though not all, and it is a matter of getting used to the new positioning, which is the same reason that some of the ergo keyboards that have a normal key layout are awkward to learn to use and will slow one’s typing speed down.
There is a lot of information available on their web site for learning to use and customizing the AlphaGrip. While I’m sure it’s not for everyone, I am very happy with mine and glad I found it.
MQ letter/comprehensive benefit package
 I really did not make much of it. It would be GREAT,especially if they can offer something for the part timers, but I'm not holding my breath to hear the news. It's been promised/talked about for forever, sure would be nice to finally hear.
Give them the benefit of the doubt the first time.
x
I'd give them the benefit of the doubt....especially since it has never been a problem - sm
It could have gotten lost in the mail, it does happen, or mislaid by the P.O. (that happens to). My checks had been a big late recently myself but it was the fault of the mailer, she was not too responsible in getting them to the mailbox....the office has since corrected the problem since 15+ MTs kept wondering why their checks were 5-7 days later than usual. --If you don't have it by the time you invoice for your next check, ask them to cancel the missing one and either cut you another and mail with the current check due or just combine them into one check.
by hour definitely $15-- I am not super fast so this would benefit
x
Yep, see what our work looks like without the benefit of an American MT making 3 cpl
to edit! All you MTs out there working for peanuts just so you can say you're an editor, realize you are making the Indians look good and taking away OUR paychecks!
That is a wonderful benefit...and I am sure your daughter appreciated you being there...
nm
MTSO usually also repeats benefit of padding
x
What did you make of the comprehensive benefit package they talked about
For decades, a company benefit has been health insurance
along with retirement plans, paid holidays, PTO, etc. Only in the world of MT (and maybe Wal-Mart) are many companies not paying for these benefits.
some people benefit from making a list, all the plusses and minuses, and
Sheila, saving one from "Micky Mouth" mistakes is actually a big benefit. SM
I make few typos as I go along these days, compared to without an expander. Although some peculiar things can get inserted into a report when the typo turns into an unintended expansion.
But as Shipaddict says, there's just no comparison.
Any ideas?
 I'm beginning my carreer as a medical Transcriptionist - which is best Expander program, are there any good ones lower priced?? anyone know if there's a free trial with any of these programs?
Some Ideas - sm
First, keep a list of each job # you do...this is useful in case there is a dispute or lost work. Also, if you later need to request a copy, you can ask your QA dept by job #.
Second, your question: I do about 20 reports a day for around 750 lines. It takes me anywhere from 4 to 10 hours. :( New accounts are really slowing me down lately.
HTH!
Try these ideas.
I picked up an exercise bike at a yard sale for $1 and a mini trampoline for $5. Whenever I need a break to recharge, I get on the bike or trampoline for 5-10 minutes. They say that little spurts of exercise throughout the day are as effective as exercising all at once. Plus, it'll help clear your lungs out. Another thing to try is to just step outside for a moment and take some really deep breaths of fresh air in. You used to inhale deeply with smoking, so now you inhale deeply without the carcinogens. You can also try yoga or tai chi. Very calming on the nerves. I also switched to herbal tea, so I'll take a break and fill up my little teapot for one. Replace your bad habit with a good habit. Just don't replace smoking with eating. If you need the hand to mouth thing, try air popped popcorn, cut up fruit or vegetables, a small amount of nuts or seeds, or hot peppers. I keep a jar of Bit o' Honey and fireball candies on my desk, so I'll have one of those a day.
It's important to reward yourself, so take the money you would ordinarily have spent on cigarettes and get something for yourself. I like to buy books, bubble bath, stinky candles, mocha lattes, restaurant gift certificates. You can also put the money you're saving into a big jar to watch it add up for a BIG reward. I saved enough to buy a dishwasher, which is kind of silly for a reward, but I really wanted one.
thank you both for the ideas
nm
several ideas on where to go
Number one was psychology, but that will take too long, going part time, and knowing in the next five years MT'ing might not exist. You need a bachelor's to get foot in the door. I wish they had schooling completely on line for this degree, but they do not.
Second is something with cooking. Would like to work with people on diet and weight loss, since it is the way i've lived my own life for years and I believe strongly in it. The chef/cook field is predominantly male, so it will be hard to get a foot in the door there. I can be a certified dietician all on line within a year, but the pay isn't all that good.
Ultimate goal would be a personal chef or working for myself doing SOMETHING. I think thats everyones dream.
all these ideas
are right up my alley of interest. I have a community college in my area that offers a certificate in cooking. I've sent away for the packet, and I feel this is the direction I want to take, since I actually enjoy cooking and working with food. I'm just in a premid life crisis. Thanks for your advice, i'm glad I posted today.
Some ideas....sm
For the business expense part I would buy a printer that uses a different ink cartridge than what you have now. The best one you can afford. I would tell them that my home printer won't handle that much printing (they might even be able to get you a good deal on one from their supplier). In the meantime I would go to Kinkos or printer and have them print the reports and SHRINK WRAP or package the bill with the reports while you are waiting on your new printer. javascript:editor_insertHTML('text',' ');
Thanks for the ideas.
I do have that book and an equipment book as well. Thanks for the idea I will ask and see if they let me.
:)
The ideas seem to be getting better and better, lol--SM
I like the sticker--I could certainly give a quick glance. But the bead of glue or "diamond" ideas sound even better, as I won't have to even look/glance to check and correct my hand position Thanks--you're some resourceful ladies and I was drawing a complete blank on such a simple annoyance, lol
Two ideas
My daughter LOVES trains, and you can find scenic train trips all over. We did one in Romney, WV that was just wonderful. The train was called Potomoc Eagle, and we did see bald eagles on our trip.
Not sure where you are in WV, but what about Hershey, PA? Probably not the cheapest vacation, but lots to do. Besides HersheyPark itself (very kid friendly) there is a zoo, a garden and more. I'm sure there are packages available.
I'm anxious to see what others come up with too. We are in PA and looking for some close trips as well. Which beach do you go to? We found a beautiful not-so-commercial beach at Lewes, DE last year and can't wait to go back!
Good luck with your planning!
Thanks for your ideas! (s/m)
I really appreciate your taking the time to answer my post and give your input. I already know that I will have signed on for real at a new job before I ever walk out the door at my present one. And although I want SO badly to tell them to "take their job and shove it", I guess I have to not burn my bridges, either, just in case. I had thought about doing some part time work, but I'm usually so burned out at the end of the week that I don't know if I could do that or not. I run around like crazy on Saturdays, just trying to do all the household chores, shopping, etc. that doesn't get done during the week.
I seriously considered training for another career about 10 years ago, when we were told our jobs would "be taken over by VR" eventually. But I got into MT because I don't fit well into most other professions. I've had a couple of my own businesses. Too much worry and having to be available 24-7. I've gotten lazy in that respect. The same with going back to school. I'm just hoping I can keep on scratching out a living with what I know how to do, until I have enough saved to at least retire to part-time work to supplement my 401K & whatever Social Security is still left in 2025. So, I'll keep my fingers crossed!
Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts!
Some ideas
All teachers don't come out of the same mold, but my friend who is a teacher says the best gift she can receive is a gift card from a grocery store. She likes all gift cards, but it's easier to use the grocery store ones. We all have to eat!! An Amazon.com gift card is also good.
Her second favorite is homemade cookies or other edible products.
Trinkets and personal gifts are great, but she says she remembers students by their personal qualities (or lack thereof lol) more than any personal gift.
Good luck!
Thanks for all your ideas !!
We have decided to make a picture collage of the puppies that survived and "mom and dad", and include it with a basket of goodies that can be eaten while on the run with an assortment of coffees, teas, individual bottles of flavored water, etc.
Although we wanted something unique, the goodie basket seemed to be at the top of everyone's list... so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Again, thanks for all the help.
Thanks for the ideas!
I think some of these might get me arrested, but they are good ideas! Hubby would love them! I am going to take my special chocolate chip cookies to the airport for him to eat in the car. I will give him a kiss and a big welcome home card too. Thanks to you all! :-) Just 1 week to go now!
Some ideas...
I'm in the same boat, but decided to get over it as July has come and is on its way out and the work is still very skimpy. Fortunately, my rent isn't due until the middle of the month and I'll figure something out about the rest of the bills even if it means getting reaaal good at Ebay.
Some suggestions:
--Check the local temp agencies, perhaps they have something, med. transcription or not, that might be available to help tide you over.
--Consider hiring on with another "back up". That's not being disloyal. It's being smart and sane. What good are you getting frustrated, upset, being tense about where the rent's coming from if not your current employer? What good are you to your family who is depending on you or your employer if you're all out on the street?
--Whether you tell your employer what you're doing (to literally keep yourself afloat) or not is up to you and depends very much on your relationship. Think this particular over very, very carefullly regardless of how much better it might make you feel regarding loyalty.
Hang on, hang in. We've both no other choice. We'll get through this.
Need some ideas
A friend of mine has throat cancer and is undergoing radiation. His throat hurts and he has no teeth and I am trying to come up with some high calorie food for him to eat, he says he can't taste much and has been doing milk shakes and mashed patotoes, any other ideas. Really need to be high calorie because he does not want to have a PEG and if he can keep up his weight and still swallow then he won't have to have one. Thanks for any suggestions
Some Ideas for You RE: LX-219
First, sorry about the funny way my answer is formatted below, I'm no good in this little box.
Are you dialing into a Lanier system? LX-219 and other Lanier equipment only works with Lanier.
Ranzy Luster in Texas fixed my LX-219 with large display for a flat rate of $100, gave a 90-day warrantee with the repair. He sometimes advertises on the MT Daily site. He has been around a long time. His phone number is 254-235-3241 and his e-mail is rluster@transcribe solutions.com. I felt he treated me very well and he was fast. I should say if the large display is not working, I don't believe he works on that, but if you can see anything in the large display, I believe he will work on it. Ask him.
Look in your User Guide for the LX-219 and try performing the call-echo-cancel sequence. If you are calling into a Lanier system, then it is not recognizing your machine. Lanier machines send a proprietary tone in to connect with the host modem.
Sometimes the phone is set for dictate instead of transcribe. You can try this: Press *99 (that's star-99) then the 1 key
If set for transcription it will say 20 through 39.
My old Lanier service tech said he always used 20 as his default when setting machines for transcription mode.
When you dial into Lanier, the LX-219 must be programmed with YOUR ID number. So, program one key with the number you are dialing, then another key with your ID.
You can test how this works by dialing the phone manually, touching all the buttons just like the regular phone, then input your ID number, the system should recognize you.
I haven't used my LX-219 machines in a long time, I use a Lanier TXC card to download large amounts of dictation to a sound card in my computer, but the above were some hints I wrote for myself in the handbook for the LX-219 a couple of years ago.
Is your C-phone located near any other equipment? That can cause static. Move it away by itself.
I hope something here helps. Give Ranzy a try. He might have some suggestions for you.
Some ideas
Grilled cajun chicken or shrimp over Caesar salad. Marinated steak over salad. Marinated chicken or shrimp kabobs. Italian sausage kabobs with peppers and onions and cherry tomatoes. A crustless quiche. Shrimp scampi. Tasty veggies..brocolli with cheese sauce, cauliflower with cream sauce, glazed carrots. Cole Slaw. Stacked thin burger patties filled with layers of swiss cheese, mushrooms, onions, or whatever you like. I find if it's tasty or fun to eat you don't miss the carbs as much ;)
Any ideas
Sorry, this is kind of long, but I would appreciate any advice/comments.
Back in May I was contacted by someone to whom I had sent my resume several months prior. She asked if I would be interested in some part-time work, and I said that I was. She had no idea how much or what time of day, etc.
Well, it turned out to be quite a bit of work, and I wound up calling her and letting her know that it was too much, as she would ride me about turnaround time when I had let her know that I already had almost full-time work prior to accepting her part-time deal. She did have another girl working on the account, but her work needed to be edited (fully to voice), and she asked that I hang in there while she found someone else, which I did, and she went through about three other girls. During this time she would hit me with sometimes 2+ hours of dictation out of the blue, and there would be many days with nothing at all. I had actually been hoping to still get daily work, but just a reduced amount from what it had been, and was still hoping that is how it would go once she was able to find someone else to share the load.
Anyway, about a week ago I received an e-mail from her that she no longer had the account, and here is where my question comes in . . . I really liked doing this dictation, and am interested in trying to obtain the account for myself, but they are in a different state from me. Since she has lost the account, I do not feel that it would be stealing, but obviously they must have had a replacement transcriptionist/service prior to telling her they would no longer need her services, so I am wondering how long I should wait and what approach I should take . . . should I call them, or perhaps mail something, or even call and try to get an e-mail address??? I was not told what the reason is that they no longer use her services either, by the way, and as far as having said what I did about it being too much work, I would give up something else to have this account if I could get it, but at the time I told her it was too much I had not decided that. I had been considering proposing just that to her, for a negotiated higher wage, but then she lost the account.
What would you guys do?
TIA for opinions/ideas!
Thanks for the ideas!
I am also really, really tired of being strapped to my seat, working my buns off for 9 cents a line, having nearly no communication by the company I work for (oh, unless they need a STAT done and then they are all over me to take it!), and just generally being a really small fish in a vast sea of transcriptionists, which they seem to cycle through on a regular basis when people either cannot handle the rotten accounts or cannot meet their line quota. I have done this for 7 years and am about worn out, which I never thought I would say because I do enjoy the work itself. It is being switched around on accounts all the time that is really killing me. It is like starting over again and again and again...Yep, cleaning houses is sounding pretty good right about now! 
Here's some ideas ...
MQ pays 80% of your MT base rate. If you make 8 cpl MTing, you'll make 6.4 cpl MEing. If you make 9 cpl MTing, you'll make 7.2 cpl MEing. If you make 10 cpl MTing, you'll make 8 cpl MEing. They pay the most for VR work.
I'm not sure about Spheris.
The other smaller companies pay 50% of the base rate.
need ideas
You know, I go on this board and I read where people are typing 400 to 500 lines per hour, and they make $40 to $50 an hour (okay that was one post, but I've seen others that are semi-comparable in recent times). I have been doing this for 7 years and I STILL average only 250 to 300 lines per hour and top maybe $23 an hour (at 9 cpl w/spaces). And this is with doctors I've been typing for 2 or 3 years now! Would someone please tell me what I'm not doing completely right? I use a word Expander (Instant Text), and I have macros, but apparently I'm still not quite "getting it." Any suggestions would be so very much appreciated.
need ideas
Wow. Yes I do have entire paragraphs and sentences actually as "quickwords," but never thought about speeding up the doctor. I will try that. Thanks very much!
Thanks for the ideas
I have been checking Craig's daily. I even went so far as to post a "wanted work" doing anything. I don't have a car so... My family lives over 600 miles away and they aren't much help anyway. I did put some flyers up in my community for PC work, repair, etc., as I am A+ certified and a former Dell tech.
I know that there are many of us in this kind of situation in this business :(
Good luck to you!
some ideas...
Hi,
I assume you are using Windows 2000 or XP.
I would disable "system sounds" in using the control panel. It is possible system sounds are interfering with your program or causing problems.
If that does not work then...
Next time the problem happens, right click "My Computer", and select "Manage".
Double click "Device Manager".
Find your sound card driver under "Sounds and Video Game Controllers"...there will be several items there, but you are looking for a "controller" of some kind...It should match the name of you audio device. When you have found it, right click and "disable". Then "enable". If the problem goes away, it is probably a driver issue...if not then it might be something as simple as the volume control turned all the way down.
If it is a driver issue (that is if disable and enable make it work) then you should try to find an updated driver.
Good luck...
Why should it? Just some ideas put together by
x
ideas...
1. Do you have enough room to care and board other peoples' horses?
2. My cousin trains horses and then the local police departments buy them from her. Pay days are few and far between but she enjoys it.
I can think of a few others using your interest in horticulture but I think they're against the law!
two ideas ---
Fannie May candies (the best and all prices) see
fanniemay.com
or - make an ornament with your company name and the year given on it. (great advertising for years to come).
cookies that come in like a floral arrangement in baskets?
basket of assorted coffees.
Babysitting ideas....
That's what I do - I have a 12-year-old girl come by for a few hours on the days my regular sitter is unable to keep my 5-year-old and it works out well. She gets some money in her pockets and I don't have the 5-year-old pestering me every 5 minutes while trying to work. :o)
anyone else with ideas on pay scale for
Can email me if you'd like. Sure would appreciate it!
Is Beyond TXT a VR program? Any ideas on it? Anyone like it?
TIA
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