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Specifically, Axolotl has been low on work since the first of September .... SM

Posted By: Jumping in on 2009-01-22
In Reply to: Current info about Axolotl in archives, never - me

when they lost a huge account.  It affected me and several other people.  However, I have moved on so I don't know about recent developments.  I wonder how long they will continue to pay downtime instead of laying off.


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How can anyone specifically tell where the work
comes from?
You might want to ask your STM specifically about low work sm
situations - mine definitely said you can opt to use it or NOT if you are out of work.

MTs should not be penalized for low work situations. You should ask again.
I didin't specifically address the no work issue....sm
but I do agree with you that it is impossible to make a living when there is no work available.  Perhaps it is anticipatory hiring, as you stated, or perhaps it is the normal ebb and flow of MT work, i.e., no work around holidays, etc.  Whatever the reason, and I am not saying you are being unreasonable, we MTs know that this is sometimes the case with some of the companies.  This is a feast or famine profession and we must make hay while the sun shines and anticipate the slow periods such as holidays and summer vacations.  If a company truly has overhired, though, there is not much we can do about it unfortunately. 
Thank you. The recruiter was very informative. I specifically asked about work flow
as the company I am at now runs out almost daily, in part, I believe, as a result of being a mix of straight typing and VRE. I prefer straight typing over VRE anyway. TT is offering more per line and offers incentive and shift differential, which is something I don't get currently. Im excited to start working with them.
I think it was September
and it has been wacky and stressful ever since...
I have been there since last September and like it very much..(sm)
They have worked with me on a couple things to make me happier. The pay is always on time. Rather high insurance at the moment but as the other poster said below, there will be a new, much more affordable insurance company starting in March, plus KS now has Aflac. I am on a very high volume account doing mostly ERs and have never really ran out of work.  So far, so good.
I am currently working for them (since September).
Terry is great to work for.  This is a small company that is very good to work with.  The Emdat system is great!  Very easy to work with.  There is plenty of work to keep everyone busy!  Let me know if you have other questions.
I started with Keystrokes in September and so far I like it...(sm)

Before KS I worked at Medquist for 8 years and at a local hospital for 15 years before that.  I think KS is pretty flexible...they seem to be so far and leave you alone.  I don't know about TransHealth or Trans Tech but I do like KS so far. 


I started with KS on September 6 but my insurance did not go (sm)

into effect until December 1.  So there is a 3 month waiting period for the current plan we have.  Not sure if that will change when the new insurance goes into effect. Good luck!


they added a big hospital in september - nm
nm
I left Spheris in September and glad I did
Went to Webmedx and LOTS of work even over the holidays, better base rate, too.
After 8 years at MQ I went to Keystrokes in September 2006..and (sm)
I don't regret it.  For the most part my account doesn't run out of work.  I wish I had a backup but I haven't been able to get one.  But my main account is swamped a good part of the time so when they do run out of work it doesn't usually last long. Good Luck!
I started in September 2006 and have not received one yet (nm)

The date is September last year. Why bring it up now that it is being dismissed? sm
Companies get sued by ex-employees for things that are not true all the time. Ask any lawyer, look at the # of dockets in a court every day. The percentage of suits that are true is less than 8%.

This is someone trying to stir up trouble.

Keystrokes does not have ICs.
I gave a couple of days notice, just til September 1st...
The day the merger actually occurred. It was about 3-4 days' notice.


Anyone work for Axolotl?

I am interested to find out what people who work for them think.  All feedback is appreciated


Axolotl more than enough work

We are definitely not slow.  We have had OT offered to us for the past few months and the OT is still being offered.  We might be a smaller company but that does not mean anything.  We have several acute care accounts and some of them are very large.


The benefits package is much better than any company I have seen advertised.  The health, dental and vision insurance is also cheaper than any company that has been advertised. 


No, I work for Axolotl, thus the A. The MTs are
referred to as team - thus A-Team.
To those who work for Axolotl

Would anyone be willing to share how much they pay for down time?  I was just wondering because the account I work on now is very flexible and just thought that I could work on it while waiting for work from the company and being paid for the time to boot.  Maybe I'm living in a dream world. 


TIA! 


Axolotl does have work

There has been OT offered the last two weekends, ALL weekend.  Work might dwindle through the week when there is everyone working as most MTs work days. 


The account that pulled one of their worktypes is sending more work in other worktypes to compensate.  Plus, one of the other accounts has given Axolotl all of their work, which has also added to the workload.


If anyone has noticed, there have also been new clinic accounts which have started recently.  So, the NO WORK story just isn't true and if one does run out of work, you get a pretty good line rate to compensate for your downtime.  Can't people be positive about anything?? 


Change your work schedule if you are running out of work and you don't want to claim your downtime or make it up on the weekends when there is plenty of work!!


I don't work for Axolotl sm
But I am an MT, and I was simply pointing out to the other poster that she might consider some other type of employment that does not require grammar skills.  Her posts are riddled with mistakes, both grammatical and spelling errors.  Sometimes we aren't suited to a job and need to look elsewhere, sometimes in another field altogether.  No need to get so nasty about it. 
I work at Axolotl and have found them to not
attitude is reflective of that. Why not be kind to your fellow MT who is having trouble with the changes? Why not offer to help via private email rather than acting smug. This person is your coworker, remember? A company can have a load of benefits, but that is only a teeny tiny part of a picture of a company. Some of us want a lot more than just good benefits. Especially in a small company, things could be a lot more friendly, one would think. I don't want any new BFs, but a bit of kindness or camaraderie would sure help.  You get more with sugar than with spice, especially when spice isn't even part of the recipe.
Anyone work at Axolotl? Pros and cons, please.nm
nm
Anyone work for Axolotl? Curious as to cpl & benefits
I've been an MT for 15 years with local clinics & am looking nationally now.  Any info would be great....cpl range, insurance costs, PTO, etc.  Thanks!
I work for Axolotl and you really hit the nail on the head.

They are a great company.  I have been there 2 years and I have never worked for a better employer in 14 years of transcribing.  Management and editors are wonderful to work for.  They treat us with respect.  Even high management is very nice to us.  We do get a card and Christmas gift every year.  I remember one time I got a $25 gift card with a thank you note.  I assumed it was working extra when they asked.  They pay us for our experience.  The platform is great and easy to use.  They offer good, affordable insurance.  I could go on and on. 


If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.


Axolotl has tons of work, pay for down time,
great benefits, very affordable insurance, they provide all equipment, paid training.  E-mail me if you have any specific questions. 
To: "I don't work for Axolotl." Give me a break...sm
The post you took the time to critique may be been riddled with typos, but your's is riddled with ignorance. This is a message board, dear. What an MT posts here can hardly be compared to the confidential legal documents in a patient's permanent medical record. To come here and judge a person's qualifications and skill set based on a few statements quickly jotted down in a post is not only unwarranted, but arrogant, asinine, etc. I'm so tired of seeing professional MTs being picked apart because of a few typos on a public forum. I know this doesn't happen on other message boards. Why here??

I don't take the time to proofread the random phrases I post here like I do with the reports I transcribe. I seriously doubt many others do either.

This site is by far the most negative forum on the web. Inflammatory, negative remarks don't add to the conversation or benefit any of us. Frankly, I'm tired of reading them.
Anyone work for Axolotl in Mountain View? (see mssg)

If so, what are the pros and cons?  What is starting pay?  Good accounts?  Flexibility?  How long in business?  Large or small company?  etc.....



What specifically...
should I be looking for? Hope this is not some convoluted complex thing that has to be examined with a fine-tooth comb, just want straight out what the pay is and what for, # of characters, spaces, etc. Did you have a problem with what you were paid for? Any help you could give is really appreciated. I'm becoming so discouraged by vague and obscure company communications! It doesn't really seem to benefit a company to not be up front to begin with since they will just end up losing that person, does it? Thank you for your help!!
What are you looking for specifically? nm
nm
What specifically do you want to know? NM
nm
What are your needs? Ask more specifically for
If you need 9 cpl, employee status, insurance, and work nights...ask which companies allow that.

Your idea of a good company may not be someone else's.
What specifically are you looking for?
*
If I were you, I would specifically post
for Busy MT'ing since she right now works for at least 2 nationals. She seems to know every single thing known to man. Try posting specifically to her on the MQ Board.
It's not about Amphion specifically,
my concern is the devaluation of the profession in general and my future in it. I'm looking at an opportunity to make a career change, and would like a smooth transition. I have had no problems with Amphion, and think they're better than many of the alternatives. Again, any info on the exit process would be appreciated. Thanks.

There are many MT companies in FL, some specifically for the
no state tax thing.  I know I have to pay taxes and I'm not trying to get out of them, I just don't agree my company HAS to pay them.  Sure would be nice if they did though. 
What specifically are you wondering about? NM
nm
why specifically are you leaving?
nm
You can ask whatever, but it is specifically related
to company rules, regulations, benefits, etc., best to get it from official sources rather than here.
We are talking specifically about MDI right?
They don't offshore right?
I don't think she meant it to you specifically
I think she was using sarcasm to make a point...

That's the problem with forums, you can't always hear what the person is saying!

:-D
She specifically said we had to request
If we miss work for any reason we are supposed to put in for PTO; then if we make it up by the end of the week we can cancel the PTO request.  She specifically mentioned that the only time we have the option of not using PTO and going unpaid is when we have used all our PTO up.  She mentioned all this in a blanket email to the whole team right before we started regularly running out of work due to overhiring.  How plain does it need to be? 
Why in Texas specifically? I would think - SM
labor laws would pretty much encompass the entire US, e.g., minimum wage laws apply in all 50 states, laws regarding overtime pay, etc.  The rampant abuse MTSOs have been allowed to get away with affects MTs EVERYWHERE, from sea to shining sea ... MTs in OK, NJ, FL, OR, NC, I could go on and on... all of them have bills to pay, children to feed, and these MTSOs in sheeps clothing likewise lurk in all corners of the country. 
You expressed how I feel, specifically SM
pertaining to longevity and having to give that up. Others in my position are just as unhappy and concerned about the future.

The most distressing thing to me is the lying. I mean, all companies fudge the truth a bit, but the blantant lying that goes on at Spheris is really shocking.

I wake up every day with a knot in my stomach. Would anyone out there care to join me working for Spheris?
The client has to specifically request no
offshoring to not have it sent out. If nothing is said, the Q is able to do what they want with it.
I specifically asked if they required
new QA staff to type on the account first before being allowed to QA. I was told by both companies that this was not required. Then (with both companies) AFTER training, they told me that they DO require new QA to type on the account first. Liars.
post specifically says Domestic MTs
nm
health benefits specifically

Looking for a company (as an employee, F/T) that offers affordable family plan health benefits for less than the $1022 per month I am paying now!


I absolutely love the company I work for, but their benefits are outrageous (small business) and me understanding their plight is not putting food on my table.  I have a special needs daughter, so I need actual insurance, NOT a discount plan.


Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.


Maybe, but she specifically says no weekends or holidays
Didn't want her to waste her time when I know one day per weekend is a requirement where we work. Figured she was better off with a company that would accommodate her needs.
Oops. I mean to reference the low pay to TTD specifically... NM

Agree. But still hope one would ask specifically
r