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Don't be so quick to assume that a company of that size does not know the laws. sm

Posted By: EagleEye on 2007-04-29
In Reply to: Everything was legal - classact

It can come back to bite you later on; fraud has no statute of limitations.

You need to look at the facts: Companies pay unemployment insurance in every state they have employees in. They pay whether there are claims or not. The money paid to you was money paid into a general fund, so you really didn't do anything to the company themselves. It's not like companies write a check to the unemployment division; the money comes from money paid in out of taxes. Shame on you for taking money for free when you were an IC. It is illegal, it is unethical and your name should be assact, not classact, based on the obvious ignorance you have in most areas.

By the way, most MT jobs are employee status, not IC. If you were applying for jobs every week online and offline for six months and could not get a job, the answer is simple: You need a new career because you suck.


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    What size company?
    For the major ones, I can find stock information and all that, but I can't seem to find much on this one.  Anybody know what size they are?
    mid size company
     If you wouldn't mind, I would like to get an email stating the company you work for now.  I plan to stay where I am as long as I can, but I really want to have some options open if things get any worse.  I am a long time MT, educated, hospital experience, at home experience, IC experience.  Thanks.
    No worry at present. As an IC for a mid size company...sm
    I always submit my invoice using one of the accepted line counting softwares out there. Never a discrepancy on my invoice and paid in one week or less after submission of my invoice. Fortunately, I work for a company who values their MTs and pays quite fairly. I asked the question only out of curiosity. I only wanted more information regarding the MT platforms for future use. No plans on going anywhere for now, but one never knows in this industry.
    Is there a listing anywhere that shows # of employees or size of company? nm )

    .


    My company doesn't evade tax laws. They don't have
    state tax.    I didn't have a question and my DH and I have a very solid marriage and aren't going to split.  You  sound bitter. 
    I can only assume that the company which has not responded is either of the opinion that (sm)
    if you are seriously interested in the position, you will find a way to take the test -- wav pedal or not, or just haven't had time to respond yet.  I've tested without a pedal and, while yes it is more time consuming, it can be done. As far as the dial up is concerned, I would think that if sent them an email requesting their system requirements, the information would be divulged, within a day or so.
    I assume we are to time in for this or is this too costly for the company? nm
    .
    That is exactly how quick this company can get people going.
    This company truely is one of the best. I feel like I am honestly part of a great family!
    We have privacy laws in this country, and you are held accountable. Our privacy laws
    x
    Quick, the gene pool need a quick Clorox!
    s
    Could I please get a quick reply to quick hiring???....sm
    I cannot find anything here or in archives about Integrity Transcription Service LLC; I was rapidly recruited and offered employment w/o testing, and wonder if there are any MTs here who work/have worked there?  Could you please share here or at my e-mail?  Soooo much appreciated, trying to weed things out!
    860 yr at the med size
    nm
    What size?
    micro??  I have a micro machine I can get rid of. 
    OK, which are better? Don't tell me, "medium size co that
    xxx
    Font size has nothing to do with it, it is
    x
    The the huge size of MedQuist...
    be used to once again make MQ a true leader in the medical transcriptin industry, realizing the value of all employees and the realization that a happy work force is a productive work force.
    I agree, size really does matter! :) SM

    With a work force mainly at home, it just becomes unmanageable to try and run a well oiled machine and give each MT the kudos they deserve where there are so many of them.  I would settle for a small company any day.  They don't have the luxury of treating good employees badly.  No MQ for me.  As far as contributing, I would contribute mentoring and put my 35 years' experience to use bringing along the next generation.   I would also do away with the 65 character line standardization initiated by AAMT (who have since stepped away from their discovery) and go back to the gross line, which is much more verifiable for billing and for paying the MT.  Lastly, I would educate the powers that be that the MTs are not their cross to bear.  They are, in fact, their bread and butter and they deserve a decent wage, benefits, and respect.  


    That's the size of a passport photo. nm
    *
    They are probably both medium size companies

    take font size into account too nm
    x
    Font size should not matter...sm
    65 characters per line, if a line is calibrated that way, is 65 characters per line. 
    Fed laws for OT pay
    For years, Cymed only paid some people a premium for working OT hours. We didn't even know they were paying some people and not others, let alone that they were supposed to be paying EVERYONE premium pay.

    Found the following re: Federal Gov't laws covering OT worked:

    http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/whdfs22.htm
    This fact sheet provides general information concerning what constitutes compensable time under the FLSA. The Act requires that employees must receive at least the minimum wage and may not be employed for more than 40 hours in a week without receiving at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay for the overtime hours. The amount employees should receive cannot be determined without knowing the number of hours worked.

    They not under our laws
    that is how they get away with it
    Can we change the font size without changing

    the appearance of the document font/size when it goes to the client. This is a Word-based program, and I know QA has asked me not to send with View size changed, so it must stay at 150% (or whatever size) when you change it in the document.  Thanks for your help.


    Work night shift and eyes are tired by the end of the day.


    People keep talking about mid size companies sm
    but which are they? Keystrokes, TT? Are they mid size? That means better? I think it just depends on who you are, how much experience and what platform you end up getting and with accounts going here, there any everywhere, lots of luck.
    OSI reduced header/footer size but still keeps
    @#$%
    Basically, if size of check is enough to compensate
    x
    What are top 5 companies size-wise? MQ still largest? nm
    ,,
    It has to do with employment laws in SM
    those states.
    You have to be IC because of labor laws sm

    I don't know of any companies like this because they have to verify the # of hours you work.  Most places require a set # of hours per week, if you are full time often 32-40 hours, PT 20-32.  All I have dealt with require the hours be met more importantly than the lines, they have to have staff to cover set hours for client needs.  If your lucky enough to type 250 lph, apply for part-time, then you'll only have that 6 hour day you are looking for and not be obligated to type longer, then if you don't meet the line requirement in that time, you'll still have room to type longer without costing the company OT if you need to type another half hour or hour longer than expected to get there.  These companies have to be very careful to keep track of the hours because they are required to pay OT for anything over 40 hours, and they have a minimum line count so they know the have people that can get the work done instead of people that aren't disciplined to type from home.  All of this is just what I have seen in my 12 years as an MT, may be different for other MTs. 


    Partially due to HR laws...sm
    I think it's a combination of needing the bodies like someone else said, but there's also a TON of hoops to go through in order to terminate employment on a quality basis.
    Also, with the new HIPPA laws, NO
    hospitals tell people any info, who call off the streets asking about accounts, who they dumped for transcription, who they use now, etc. If its public info, the contracts can be researched. Otherwise, I know for a fact that they don't just go blabbing private info to busy-body MTs calling for poop. It doesn't work that way! Also, for your info, most hospitals have multiple services doing their transcription at any given time, including inhouse MTs. In fact, rarely would a large facility use one service, so your info is meaningless!
    US labor laws
    Maybe this company is claiming ignorance of US labor laws b/c they are based far, far away. I have no idea, really. It's a lame excuse if that's their thinking. Something's very wrong at this company!
    IC labor laws

    HAPPY THANSGIVING...  Could somebody point me in the direction I am needing to get the independent contractor labor laws.  And can an employer tell you that you can submit your work in an e-mail if you cannot get into your system.  Doesn't that break confidentialty laws?  Anyway I am needing to know how IC work, works.  Can I set my own hours?  If I am too sick to work for a day and I tell my employer can they charge me a penalty fee?


    I would appreciate any help I can get.


    Labor laws
    That is because a lot of MTSOs abuse the IC status. They treat the MTs like employees instead of ICs. Many years ago I worked for a service that fired someone. That person went to the Labor Board and the service had to pay back employee taxes on everyone. We all had to get a second account to satisfy the State that we were ICs and not just working for one company, which they considered a employee situation.
    Laws and checks
    A person who knowing gives you a worthless check has broken the law. In most places $400 and over is a felony. I think some have laws that state $500. Another law was broken when they put a stamp on it and mailed it to you. I would put it through twice (required by most sheriff's departments) and then turn it over to the sheriff's department. If they tell you to do this in the state/city where the check was written, do so. They will cease ripping people off or they will lose a lot more than transcriptionists. I speak from experience.
    Labor laws
    Why was your last thread locked?
    I think it was to control some font size change issues
    At least I think I read something about it on the internal company forum.  It wasn't affecting my accounts, so I didn't pay much attention, but some people on some accounts were having to reset their font size over and over and the update was supposed to correct that.
    to break labor laws?
    x
    There are no laws governing vacation/sm

    time.  Why would you assume this is not legal?  I don't work there, but it seems to me that this would be explained as part of the employment process and if the MT doesn't like that, then they wouldn't accept the job, right?


     


    It's a big deal because laws are being violated SM

    and they are playing games (all of the companies).  They think they can have their cake and eat it too.  You either want an employee or an IC.  If you have ICs, then you cannot tell them when to work, how to do the work or provide any of their equipment.  If you are doing any of those things, then you have turned your IC into an employee - then you must follow labor laws, which include pay for overtime.


    I'm glad these companies are getting sued.  The only thing they understand is when it hurts their wallets.  If that's what it takes to get them to operate within the law, then that's fine by me.


    Check the laws in your state. SM

    In my state, the number one reason to qualify for unemployment is lack of work, even if you are still employed (a lot of circumstances to consider here).  The company can threaten you all they want about production but if they are not providing the work, that is their fault.  If they let you go, you DO qualify IN ANY STATE if it is for lack of work.  The unemployment here has a 1 week waiting period, but apply for it ASAP.  It is only going to be about 50% of your regular income though.  This is determined by the highest amount of quarterly pay you received in the last 5 quarters. If there is any unemployment office near you, they can answer your questions.  You can even apply online there with a counselor available to help you if you have any problems. 


    link to DOL - Labor Laws

    It is against the law to be fired for turning your company in. If you have a complaint file it. Also, it is the responsibility of the company to keep a log of all hours worked for each employee. The way we are treated needs to come to an end! I cannot take it anymore and am getting out of the MT world after 10 years of working from home. I signed up for some classes at my local college and am actively job hunting. For everything that we have to know to be good at this job we are way underpaid. Ten years ago, I was making more as a newbie than I am now. I may have to start out at the bottom with a new profession, but at least I know I will work my way up...instead of working my way down as an MT. I hope a lot of people read the posts I have put on here and take action. It is scary to go out there after 10 years of being at home, and after all the abuse we have endured our confidence is down, but we are all smart, hard working women and we deserve better.

    http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/index.htm
    Other than the obvious MQ and Spheris, what companies round out the top 10 in terms of size? sm

    Which offshore out of those?  I want to go with a big company for a few reasons, but I do not want MQ or Spheris.  I'm also just curious.  It seems like they are very big and the rest are much smaller.  Am I right or just assuming?  Which company or companies do you think are growing and will catch them or close?  Are there any out there that have that potential?  I would love to get in for chance for advancement but not ground level because I want stability.  Easy to know what I want, hard to articulate it clearly.  I have read previous posts, tried to research other sources and want to put together a good list for myself.


    Font size matters for gross line, so do margins
    less lines because more fits on a line. First person asked how a gross line compares to 65 chars. If it's 12 font with 1 margins, it's about 1-1/2 to 2x 65 char line count, i.e., 7 cents per gross line would be around 8.5 to 9 cents per 65 char.
    Check the Laws and lost suits
    Anything you post on a public chatboard or in a chatroom can be used against you by your employer as reason for termination if they so desire, and you will lose in court if you try to sue them. Plenty of these suits lost since the Internet started.

    I worked for a bad legal transcription firm for 3 wks - fired after I posted on a legal chatboard (along with tons of others) - within hrs of posting some stuff. Definitely was why - no doubt. I then began researching whether this is legal - and by god it is. I used an anon name and no email. This co later had all neg posts regarding his co removed from the site.

    As to this chatboard - the co I just left had many, many posts removed because they did not like their content.

    Fortunately most cos recognize the need of folks to vent and don't want to be bothered. But some of these smaller cos really monitor posts, and mgmt posts as if they were MTs in response to neg posts or just to toot their own horn.
    Child labor laws haven little or nothing to do with it. sm
    If children aren't developing a decent work ethic, or expect things handed to them, that's something they're learning at home (or, rather, /not/ learning at home). I'd look first to the parents before I'd start blaming outside influences.
    If state insurance laws mandate it
    they will, or they will not be allowed to sell policies in that state.  I believe Illinois requires coverage for IVF.
    I sent HR the fair labor laws info and asked if it was
    for real and had a few interesting phone calls after that.  Later heard somebody didn't make lines, got fired, appealed and proved we had no work, and UE told Precyse they have to pay.  So pick a story..... It's like anything else, believe what you want. 
    LABOR BOARD / MINIMUM WAGE LAWS

    Regardless of all the bull dished out by the MTSO companies, especially as it pertains to VR, i.e., We're cutting your pay 50%, so you'll have to work twice as hard - but you're going to LOVE the platform.  Also get tired of hearing about Learning Curve and wonder if my grocer, landlord & hungry kids understand this learning curve concept. 


    However (and the MTSOs can like this or lump it) WE MUST BE PAID FEDERALLY-MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE for workers with employee status - whether straight typing, VR or being required to babysit computer during no/low work.  Of course, it's exploitation to cut wages in half from an already insultingly low rate & most MTs are surely feeling the pinch.  But whether 2, 3, 4 or 10 cpl ... minimum wage must be paid.  (Sorry Suits/MTSOs - the law is there for a reason!)


    Why would you even assume that if there is a
    I've worked for plenty of companies where QA was conflicted on issues.  One would say one thing, and the other would say something different.  How does that make the MT bad?  As a matter of fact, when I worked for Transcend it happened at least 3 different times because there was conflicting information from the client and the account manager.  Good gravy, let's just sell out your fellow MTs in a heartbeat.  Unless you're QA with a superiority complex, of course.