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Extra job security, anybody do this?

Posted By: Fatcat on 2008-09-21
In Reply to:

I recently took on another job, this one part-time.  I had been working for several months for a company that was constantly running out of work.  This way I can always be sure there will be work in one place or other.  I think in these economic times we have to protect ourselves.  Anybody else do this?  How does it work for you?


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Yes but that means hiring a lot of extra people and paying out a lot of extra money when they can
have SE without all this. Their last report said they are making less money now than before and expect to make less in the next quarter so what does that say. We shall see. As part time employees you would still have to adhere to a schedule and I think people are SE for flexibility at least I am.
NO job security
Well, I can add a little more information about Interpro. I signed on to work, as usual, on this particular day, second shift and had an instant message waiting for me that said, "I sent you an email. Please read ASAP!"...it was a letter telling me that as an IC, I no longer had a job as of IMMEDIATELY and that they were phasing out the ICs in the company. I've never, ever lost a job in my life! What's more, the team I was on had gotten along great...one big happy family....that worked their rear off!!! I've seen these gals work over 16 hours a day to get the work out. I worked on a great team. Those ladies were great! They worked their rear off and for what? They never talked to you like you were stupid or beneath them. They were real, real people! They were awesome bosses! Sorry you new folks won't have the experience of working for them. This company needs to learn to appreciate their workers. Hey Interpro, the majority of your workers actually DO work and should NOT be treated as just a production number in the computer or as a pile of crap. I'm not there anymore, and that's fine. But Nandan needs to wake up and see what's going on in his company. It was much, much better before, Nandan!!! You made big major administrative changes in the last month and it is ruining your company...and just for the record, they do send work to India. I certainly miss the folks I worked with, but I don't miss the company itself.

Security fob - sm
Do you find that to be terribly inconvenient, i.e., does it interfere with your production at all in your opinion?  I tired to use one with one job, and while I wasn't with this job very long, I strongly disliked it LOL.
Me too. Also, job security to the MTs
My son's pediatrician and my own doctor have English as their second language and I would bet my life and my son's life on both of them. They are wonderful people. Both of them said they would love for me to tanscribe for them, too, if they did not have their own service. I guess we all get to do in life what we are destined to do. I do see these so-called ESLs as people who provide great care and honestly I have transcribed for so long, I don't even blink at who is dictating. It is the dictator in any language who disrepects the medical record by misspeaking terminology or just plain disrespects the Transcriptionist in that they think we read their minds that I think less of, in which case I leave a blank. They can fill it in, and read their own mind. LOL.
What do all you IC's do about Social Security? (sm)
I see all these good-paying jobs for Independent Contractors, but wondered what do you do about paying your social security??
False security...DUH !

The email address isn't what they check; any dummy can use a false name.  IP address and computer MAC address is what they check.


No anonymity.


How do you NOT have to pay Social Security??
x
Work 3 - like the security - cm
I am an IC for a doctor working about 6 hours a week.

I am an IC for a small service about 15 hours a week.

Lastly, I work as an IC at a midsize service to cover the rest of my income.

My preference would be to have 2 income sources instead of 3 as I don't really make *more* this way; however, the job security is better this way. I can always move work around to cover when I have less work from another source. I can't afford slack paychecks as I am a single mom with no CS.

I like that I am doing clinic work and acute care work so I don't get pegged into one hole and lose marketability. I also like the extreme flexibility in that I can do the work any time during the day and not be tied to a clock.
It is a matter of security not personal. nm
nm
Self-employment tax IS Social Security...
As an IC you pay it all, rather than when working as an employee and paying half with the employer paying the other half.
Does Keystrokes use a security fob for their accounts? nm
xx
What about violation of Homeland Security
They have all our personal information over there where it isn't safe. I was told of an Indian that was doing AIDs patients, got mad, printed their information, and sent their reports to family members....Go outsourcing!!! If my doctors outsource I won't go to them anymore. Ask before you go...
Social Security & Medicare
Here's the scoop: As an IC, you are responsible for all 15.3% of your combined social security (12.4%) and medicare taxes (2.9%).

As a statutory MT or a full employee, the MTSO will pay half, or 7.65%, of your social security and medicare taxes. It is only as an IC or statutory that you are able to fully deduct your home office-related expenses on your tax return. I think an employee can only take SOME of the home-office write-offs, but I am not sure which ones.

Also of note is that only the first $92,000 of your income is subject to the SS and MC taxes (not that many of us make this much, but it's good to know!) However, you are only required to report your income if you made over $400 that year.

When you file your federal taxes at the end of the year, you will have to pay a self-employment tax which is what takes care of your SS and MC taxes.

If you expect to OWE more than $1000 in self-employment taxes at the end of the year, then you will actually need to make quarterly estimated tax payments or risk paying a penalty fee when you file annually. To compute that, I believe that you would owe more than $1000 in self-employment taxes if your taxable income is more than $6500 per year (which hopefully includes nearly all of us!).

If you can find a company who will treat you as an IC (not binding you to specific schedules, etc) yet will hire you to a statutory position, then this, in my opinion, is the way to go.

For instance, I currently work for two companies, one as an IC and one as statutory. They both pay me the same per line, but since the statutory one also pays half of my SS and MC taxes, it's like taking my line count and adding 7.65% to it!

You may ask why I don't just go full-time with the statutory--the answer is this: My IC account has a lot of standards, so I actually make about the same, if not more, even after I consider the fact that I am responsible for all of my taxes for income made with this account.

Hope this helps to answer some of your questions!
Everyone has to pay 15% for social security; however, for employees
7.5% is paid by the employer (by law) and 7.5% by the employee. Self employed - contractors - must pay the full amount themselves.
IC versus employee - job security

Which status affords more job security with a company?  Working as IC now and love the account and the company.  I really want to ensure a long future with the company, so wouldn't going PT employee status be the obvious choice over remaining IC?  I understand the pay is a bit lower but is one really more advantageous than the other.  I do not need benefits currently; however, they do offer a 401K program for their PT employees.  Thanks for any input.


Employee status = more security
There is an investment by the employer toward an employee through their unemployment insurance, all the recruiting and hiring costs, etc. As well, employers are bound by several state and federal regulations on interacting with employees.

A contract with an IC usually has a quit clause in it and, even if it doesn't, most ICs do not have the money to battle legally about a contract that was annulled. Easily broken.


It's about Nat'l Security, not bashing India
I have posted this before. It's not that American MTs are scapegoating India or Indian MTs.

Are 1st concern is with NATIONAL SECURITY. Some of our MTSO do transcribe for V.A. Hospitals (and 1 brave MT did whistle blow on Medquist for doing this).

I'm not against nation building; however, how is it that India and Pakistan have billions for nuclear weapons, BUT can't feed their people???

And, why do their top 1-10% of their educated, the Brahmans, ABANDON their country the 1st chance they get, and leave their country with a BRAIN DRAIN?

This situation is like Mexico in reverse. We get Mexico's uneducated and poor AND India's best and brightest.

These respective country's government MUST do better for their OWN PEOPLE!
It is not a matter of national security......

First: It's one thing to know whether I have HBO or Cinemax, quite another to know those in the US Armed Forces could have INTIMATE details of their H&Ps, operative and rehab reports, their addresses and phone numbers, and those of their loved ones, in an Indian or Pakistani file server.


------^ This information is easily available.  Again, you think your job as an MT is more important than it really is.

Second: Why didn't you answer why India and Pakistan spend billions on nuclear weapons, BUT their people are STARVING? (whose being racists and cruel here?)


------^ Last I heard, the United States was helping Pakistan.  Did you forget about that?

Lastly, the U.S. and Canada have OFFICIAL border, trade and protection treaties to protect each other, as they do now, having multi-nat'l forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is not the case with either India or Pakistan.


------^ Who cares!  So, you believe your medical record is safer in Canada than in India?  Why exactly is that?  What makes an Indian more likely to misuse your information than a Candian?  Please answer that question?

Musharef can't even get OBL in the Pakistani mountains because tribes are protecting him there!!!


-------^  And what exactly does this have to do with anyone's medical record?  Why don't you first ask President Bush why the US has not captured OBL? 

Now, tell me who is RACIST???!!!


-------^ ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION!!!!


Cleaning up garbage is job security? nm
nm
2005 MW Social Security Statement

Thank you very much for alerting us to this. 


I am ex-MW employee.  I too am going to report MW as my 2005 SS statement was not reported.  I hope they are FULLY investigated.


I am going to call SS in the morning.  Who should I notify in the Department of Labor?


I also did not have my state taxes taken out by MW, but I was required to pay my state taxes as if I were an IC in my state, even though I was an employee in this company. 


UMM, if you follow Workstation Security Policy you can.
Please refer to this document.  If you land a private account, understand and follow all HIPAA guidelines, write up a confidentiality policy that you follow for the clinic, sign it, give them a copy for their records and keep a copy, copy and complete for each clinic the Workstation Security Policy, sign it and have the clinic sign it.  Never let anyone use your work computer and hopefully have a private office.  Store all records safely and shred all documents with PHI on them that you print. 
Taken directly from social security web site
I am full retirement age (FRA) and still working; do I report my earnings to Social Security?

Question
I am full retirement age and still working. Do I have to report my earnings to Social Security?


Answer
When you reach full retirement age you no longer need to report your earnings to Social Security.

You do, however, need to report earnings for those months in the calendar year before the month you reach full retirement age. For example, if you reach it in May, you would need to report your earnings for the four earlier months.

The law also changed the annual earnings limit for workers who reach full retirement age during the year. During those months before you reach full retirement age, your benefits would be reduced $1 for each $3 you earned over the limit which is $37,680 in 2009 and $36,120 in 2008.



you would live in a security compound with all Americans around you...sm
not in the Arabian desert on a camel!

Read the manual!

Most of the time it is for security reasons. We do work for 4 hospitals sm
and 3 of them want us to take someone off the account immediately when someone gives notice. This is their in-house policy as well with any staff member with access to medical or financial records.
While there are tax savings remember you must pay the full 15% of social security
And not 7% portion with your employer patient the other 7%. There are lots of deductions true, but those social security taxers are the killer.
Oh no. Also check to see if your tax deductions (fed, state, social security) were
nm
Medware employees, please check your Social Security statement
I worked for MW in 2005 and just got my annual Social Security statement.  It has a big fat zero for my 2005 earnings.  They also withheld 10% of my salary (at my request) for 401(k) account, but that account also had a zero balance.  I reported that to Dept. of Labor and have now notified SS.  Please be aware and check, take care of yourselves because they sure will not do it for you.
I'd do it in a heartbeat. You'll never beat a hospital's benefits or job security.

I like the idea of going to my job every day, doing it well, and being done with it. You are not penalized pay-wise if you dont happen to meet your line count and the incentives are nice. I'd say jump from that sinking ship and jump aboard job security.


Here Here!!! I just called the Social Security office to apply for benefits, and somebody is already
They needed and had my medical records to do this.!
retiring from Spheris? Gonna get retirement pay from them or Social Security? nm
.
since I didn't pay into social security as an IC, I started a retirement plan to cover me.
x
Do they pay extra for OT?
As if I needed any more incentive to apply to this company.
MQ--extra 2 cents

some offices offer extra money for typing after 3pm, after 10pm, week ends, and holidays, and some offices offer this without asking for it


Going the extra mile? sm
IMHO "going the extra mile" means working your BUTT off when your company has a backlog.  Decent companies pay a bonus for doing that anyway.  Then coast when work is low.  If you fall into this cut throat mentality, you're not only hurting yourself but all MTs.  It is possible for companies to balance their needs with the needs of MTs and I, for one, refuse to work for one who can't  (or won't) do this.
Always work, usually all the extra you want too.

No special platform.   Some accounts you can work in WP5.1 or Word, some just Word.  Work is batched so no saving every report.   The only demographics you have to enter is patient's name, all other automated.  Daily QA feedback and QA is good overall.   Use BOS generally, but not strictly - client dictates.


Direct deposit and pay is ALWAYS on time, even early on holidays usually.  No charge for direct deposit.


If you are local can use C-phone, otherwise work is downloaded via FTP.  They provide foot pedal/software but not computer.


IC positions only - but don't know rate.  I've been with them since the beginning and am an employee.  They pay based on gross line though, use Sylcount for line counts and no screwing around with your lines.


They aren't perfect, but most employees have been there since the beginning, little turnover.  They leave you alone for the most part, no IM, no nasty e-mails, aren't calling every day for you to work extra, occasionally offer a bonus.   Schedules are Sunday-Thursday or Tues-Sat, not clocking in.


 


 


do any of you do something extra on the side
My hands kill me just about every day now, and looking at my hands i have muscle breakdown and twitching, so i'd like to cut down on typing.  Want to find something to do on the side to earn maybe 1000 to 1500 dollars a month.  Was thinking about ebay, but i'm doubtful I could make that much, even though they hype up the advertisement by saying you could make 3000 MINIMUM.  I'm just desperate and feel like my hands are about to fall off.  I've spent close to 1000$ this year alone in keyboards, gloves, splints, doc visits, meds, changed my station around, hot soaks, cold soaks, exercises, stretches, vitamins. still my hands just sing every day esp at night.  So any extra money earning ideas you guys?  thanks
MDI is asking for MTs to do extra work
Honestly, I do not know where you are getting your info from. MDI is really busy, so that leads me to believe you do not work for us. If you want more work, please call me at the office (or you should have asked your TL). I sent out a mass e-mail Wednesday night asking for help, help and more help.

Hope you are making honest posts. If you are, then I really would like you to call me either at home or at the office. My home number is listed in TT (although most of my MT's have it already).

Thanks,
Liz
Extra Work!
Does anyone know of any MTSOs that use MTs p.r.n. or on our own time? 
extra work
I'd be happy to share, just E-mail me. Am not that familiar what I can or cannot put on reply message
But can you work extra
hours if you need them in order to reach your line requirement?
can you do extra if work is available - nm
nm
would you happen to need someone to take the extra
I'd like to get some prn work, or even a bit extra each day, especially on the weekends. If your account would allow it, and depending on the manner in which the files would need to be played, etc, I'd be happy to help. Let me know if you'd like my email addy.
-sede-
Thank you..but no it only spaces an extra...
line between sentences. Instead of each line one under the other it actually adds an extra line space to double it but thank you anyway. I appreciate the help.
That is the BASE ... you get EXTRA for
shift differential, weekend differential, QA percentage differential, and line differential - FOUR on top of the base rate. If you don't work for TT you have no business chirping in. You get paid for holidays whether you are scheduled or not. You rotate Thanksgiving and Christmas, never both in one year. I have been around the MTSO block. Transtech is the BEST. Period.
Extra work at KS?
Do you have the opportunity to work extra at KS?  If you do, do you get paid OT for it?
Yes, I just wanted a little extra job to help ...sm
because the work has been really slow the last couple of months where I am. But I don't hear anything. Most don't reply at all.
Has any company said thank you to those who have picked up the extra
work for those who are "out of service" from the hurricane?  I have worked my fingers to the bone to keep a few accounts happy, no thanks, no overtime, no bonus.  Guess I am the dummy here. 
It means it does not pay extra for paragraphing,
underlining, bolding, new lines, etc., or any of the unseen characters or Keystrokes required to make a certain function, i.e., if you bold the word bold, it is 4 characters + 1 character after the word for the white space, but nothing for the control+B to make the word bolded, nor no keystroke for the space bar, as that is a white space.
This is a lot. When I worked for Transcend, I got a whole 0.025 extra for CMT. nm
xx
There's no extra for that. It's just part of the job more and more lately. And the worst of th
s
Yup, and there's the extra hours gained
Gives nearly a whole extra day to get the work done because of the date/time line.