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my hubby worked for union company sm

Posted By: MT30+ on 2009-04-28
In Reply to: And my husband works - sm

years ago in Michigan and we paid absolutely NOTHING! It was wonderful. But gone are the days for that in the state we live in now. No union!


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My hubby works for a company who is
self-insured and our premiums for family coverage are only $200/month with a $500 deductible.  It's great - when hubby had to have bypass surgery last fall they paid the entire bill with the exception of less than $2000. 
But if no union shop, no union representation
You can have a trade group represented by a union, as your husband is, but if he doesn't work in a union shop (company), the union can't represent him at his place of employment. Look at nurses, for example - there is a union for nurses, but the vast majority of nurses are not union members, because their places of employment are not unionized. So it's irrelevant to the majority of nurses that there is a union to represent them.
A company is ONLY supposed to verify that someone worked there, what dates they worked, whether PT o
and last date worked. It opens everyone up to a lawsuit if more is given, so most companies are told by their attorneys and business advisors to verify only.

No one has a right to a reference, only verification of employment.
Same here, my hubby puts out
He chose the better plan so I don't have to fight for referrals and pretty much anyone takes our insurance.  It is a rather nice luxury.  However, I thought that someone down the line told me that if you have a lot of healthcare expenses, you could write that off on your taxes.  I think that is why some companies will set you up with flexible spending accounts.  I am no expert on that though.  Maybe someone could comment in that regard.  Between the kids, my husband, and I though paying a $20.00 copay is a lot better than paying full price for those office visits.  It seems like it is always something especially with kids.  Now that we're getting a little older, all of the preventive stuff needs to be done, so it sure is nice to have that health insurance. 
dear hubby
.
Hubby starting school for this
and is not picking Andrews or MTec.  They both want big deposits, will not work with you.  Hubby can't get a PT job to raise that much money due to after effects of chemotherapy, but we can afford a monthly payment. We applied for different financial aid packages and loans, but either make too much or too little.  So we are picking another school that my friend is currently enrolled in. I called and talked to the person that does the hiring at my company, that also hired me, and she said they would not have any problems with that school.
I think we are in exactly the same situation...EXACTLY. My hubby says QUIT!
But I love to work and have always loved this job. Sounds like we could be each other. I had five companies I was interested in, so we shall see. So far, I have turned down the other two jobs...I am so stressed I am afraid I will be taking on MORE STRESS by leaving! Good luck to you, and feel free to email me any time...we could commiserate! 8>)
I knew it was something to do with hubby but not sure if it was dear or sm
damned or darned or divorced. Thanks for clearing that one up for me.
LOL Remarkable is right. I was just telling my hubby s/m
how sick I am of the whole remarkable thing. What is remarkable is how they think that repeatedly telling us we are remarkable will make us forget that our families are starving (metaphorically--or perhaps literally, in some cases).
Has your hubby & son's work start

slowing down, like not many jobs around? Mine has been off since October and only started at the end of May this past year.


We always dreamed of taking our vacations in the middle of winter when he was off, too, but every year, the work is less and less for him.  Yet his broker has given what little work there is to his favorite guys and he was told some of them are working a day or two a week. It's frustrating. For his type of work (federal and state highways), he needs a broker and there is only one around here. Plus, he still hasn't been paid for work he did in October (2 whole days). We're afraid the broker is going under and, if that's the case, I guess DH will be forced to retire early.


Hubby has stuttered his way to a 6-figure engineering job...nm
x
You and your hubby sound like awesome parents! sm
I also think that what the OP posted may have been misconstrued. I didn't see it that way at all. Of course, you may have been talking about me;) Anyway, I just don't understand how every topic gets into a flame war. There are a lot of assumptions and fabrications people are pulling out of the air here just for the sake of a good argument. I'm working two accounts trying to stay afloat and do have to make up work on the weekends. The entire point of this whole conversations was regarding this new fad of MTSOs offering only two schedules. Sadly I'm starting to see it more and more. What's even sadder is that many of these are IC positions with no weekend differential! We all have to do what is in the best interest of our households. I'm glad you've found something that works into your homeschooling schedule...as hard as it must be! Hang in there!
Says the retiree with a hubby's pension and a new motorhome.
Really, GP, you usually come off as sympathetic and understanding.

But get real. Who are YOU, of all people, to nag and snipe at a woman who needs to feed her children?

What, because you and hubs are living high on the hog, you think everybody else should suck it up or shut it up?

Disgraceful.
I have to. Hubby is unemployed and it's our only income right now...can't survive on unemploym
x
I love MT, but I am also so glad hubby has steady income and excellent benefits!
He retired with 20 years in the air force and has a retirement check from that, as well as standard and very basic benefits that we can use without paying a whole lot. He has worked full time since retiring from the air force (he was 40 when he got his 20) with excellent pay and awesome benefits that we pay a very low premium for. I used to make excellent cash as an MT when being paid on a gross line, but now I make maybe 20K a year with no benefits of any kind from my job. Now my income just supplements his and is for the extras we enjoy.
I love challenge. Hubby is self-employed, too as a tri-axle owner/operator. No bennies at all unless
x
Best company I have ever worked for, and I have worked for a lot!
I can't believe some of the things these people say here, and have to wonder if it just the same person or two bashing. I have been at MDI for four years and I do not have a low workload and I get treated very, very well.
I think it is. He worked for my company
and this is the name he went by.  Might not be his birth name, but isn't just an internet moniker.
How do you know? Have you worked there? Maybe the company

just expects their MTs to do their job. Ever think of that?


I ask because I have worked for the same company

for 15+ years, and I don't like the way they are conducting their business right now.  So, I ask.  I think, like everything, you can take it with a grain of salt, BUT when you see a consistent complaint, then there is cause for alarm. 


I also want to know if a company pays fairly, keeps their word with regard to what is offered, if they have a high number of ESL doctors on their accounts, what type of transcription platform they use and is it easy to learn, and how quickly and accurately QA answers questions. 


Those are not things that can be observed from an ad for employment and instead come from the people who work for a company or have worked for a company. 


 


If this is the only company you have worked for then you don't know

there is any better out there.   I don't mean this to be ugly, but if you only have one year of experience you aren't qualified to be an editor, I don't care how good of an MT you are.  It just isn't enough experience and speaks tons for the quality of work that is produced.   Since I was also in QA I know the kind of work that is produced.   I've been in the business nearly 20 years and I'm still learning.  


I was actually offered a management position with SS after working for them for only 4 days, so obviously I'm good at what I do and they had no complaints with me.    Everything I said is/was true.


They were the best company I ever worked for (sm)
I left because I needed benefits of an employee position. However, they were the nicest QA. They left you alone. They didn't have the nonsense I've dealt with at Webmedx. I would have loved to have stayed with them if I could have afforded to. If you get your benefits from someplace else, they're really worth it.

What others are saying about having a hard time getting hired on is absolutely true, however. They don't have a dedicated recruiter, but instead have an owner who is wearing many hats including that of recruiter. I had to message her several times, call multiple times, and really pursue it to get hired on. I was persistent, and later I was glad that I had been.

I haven't been with them for many months now. They were a bit behind with technology, but not the worst. Being able to work whenever you want is definitely a huge plus.

I would highly recommend them still. Just know you've got to be persistent to the extreme to ever get past the resume/interview/email stage.
Anyone who has worked for more than one company can
tell you that every one of them - the good ones and the bad ones - have slow periods. Hence the concept of backup accounts. My backup account is actually p.r.n. with another company, and it works perfectly for me.
With every company I have worked for
you most certainly need the speed of DSL or cable to be able to do the work. I have DSL and mine still goes slow sometimes. There is no way it would work with simple dial up.

It's not the companies' fault that you do not have access to DSL or cable. I know some companies do not allow satellite, but there are many others that do so I would seriously look into that.


I worked for a company that had both

union electricians and pipefitters.  I did the payroll so I know what dues were.  Their dues way back then were steep.  If the union called for a strike the union did pay them for a certain amount of weeks, but not at full salary and if the strike went longer they were SOL. 


I know many people in unions who don't want to be in them, but due to their occupation have no choice.  In theory unions are a good thing, in reality not so much.  


If an organization like the former AAMT would have fought for us that would have made a difference.  Where does all the money go they get in dues each year?  It doesn't benefit me in any way, shape, or form.  They should us out.


I never worked for company, so was not SM
my bad experience. This person is a recruiter for Webmedx. She used to be recruiter for Spheris and she lies. I have never worked for Webmedx.
I have never worked for a company that
started one out on easy dictators. They have limited work-type, but not the dictators. They have given samples of any hard ones. If you are getting that many ESLs, then that is what they are getting also. Can't learn them if you don't actually do them.
I worked for a company
for eight years that finally decided to outsource to India, and when they did they decided to cut all their American transcriptionists pay to 5 cents per line.

5 CENTS PER LINE???? Shoot, I didn't even start at that fresh out of school. It's just ridiculous. The more ridiculous part is that some people actually stayed.
Who said I worked for that company?
Never did, imagination working overtime.
I worked for a company....
for 8 years and NEVER got a raise!  I even asked once and was told We don't give raises, you have to raise your production to get paid more.  Okay, so after 8 years on one job I am quite certain I've figured out all of the nooks and crannies, not gonna find a quicker way to type and I type fast already, so basically I NEVER get a raise!  I have heard of other companies that never get raises either, so just be thankful you got one:)
KS has been the best company I have worked for sm
thus far! The people there are great and sure there are slow times! Learn a different account. There is always a learning curve on any account one may get, hang in there!
Worked for company that was sold
I worked for a US company that was sold to an Indian company.  It was truly a nightmare.  No one had any kind of plan as to what was going to happen, there were management changes weekly, and in the end, nearly ever US MT was laid off or fired and nearly all of the work was sent to India.  Right after the company was sold, paychecks bounced, utilities in our building were shut off for nonpayment, expenses were not reimbursed, and even health insurance premiums were not paid and many people had no healthcare coverage for nearly a month. 
I worked for the same company the whole time and

just traveled for a year.  I downloaded via FTP site so as long as I had internet access I could work anywhere.  I have direct deposit so I didn't have to worry about that.   My family and I traveled through 34 states and Mexico and I worked the whole time.


Probably not what you were asking, but maybe something you hadn't considered. 


How long had you worked for the company? sm
I feel like a dolt for not doing any research on this company before beginning to work for them. I was already a bit apprehensive because they do not have direct deposit. Had you worked for them long before the problem with the paychecks? My feeling is, first check they miss, I'm outta here, but that does not compensate for the money already lost. :(

Thanks!
I worked for this company. The one thing they do have
Maybe you should ask for backup accounts, more than 1. They never run out of work, at least they didn't when I worked there 6 months ago. On the other hand, they have been hiring a lot lately. Can't hurt to ask for a backup.
Worst company I ever worked for.
Sounds files are horrific, worst ESLs ever (and I'm very good with ESLs and do greater than 85% ESL), all kinds of internal problems, etc.   If you look back for previous posts you do find an occasional good post about them, but you'll find 10 bad ones for 1 good one.   There have even been people who ignored all the bad comments and went to work for them only to come back here and post that the bad posts were right and they were sorry they didn't heed them.    There is always work because there is such a turnover in MTs.   I also worked in QA and was offered a management position with them and the quality of the work I saw was so bad that I had to pretty much retype every file.  
I second that-worst company I ever worked for also..nm
nm
I have worked for both. It just depends on the company..sm
the smaller one treated me better, but pay was less, benefits were less, however, more flexible in scheduling and treated more like a person than a number. The bigger companies I have worked for pay better, better benefits, but you are treated like a number, not too much personal chit-chat with other employees or with your supervisor and not as much flexibility in scheduling. Depends on what you are looking for.
By all means ask. I once worked for a company and had
an extremely difficult account.  The platform was difficult, the company was very large and disorganized, sound quality bad, no samples, and lots and lots of very difficult ESLs.  I had several years of MT experience, but very little ESL experience and was way in over my head.  I turned in my notice and was offered another account that wasn't supposed to be as challenging, but was.   Anyway, if the MTSO wants to keep you, it is in their best interest to do whatever is reasonably necessary to make you happy.  Now if you asked to be switched multiple times that is a whole other issue. 
I had never had this happen until I worked for my last company -
Your story sounds very similar to mine. I wonder, does your company have initials that start with D by chance? My main account had a few ESLs, but nothing like what was on the backup accounts, which soon very nearly became my primary because I was assigned to do jobs from them every day. I would just finish a batch of them and here would come another! They seemed to be the worst ESLs and the worst reports under the sun. I went from an easy 1200 lines a day on my primary to scrambling around to get 1000 and working 2 extra hours on the secondary accounts.

It was not like that in the beginning for me either. Everything was fine. They used to ask how things were going, etc., and fairly distributed the work. Then the company grew really quickly and they just dished out whatever work to whoever was on at the time, with little to no regard if it was your secondary or not. I suddenly felt like I was being fed a steady diet of garbage because quite frankly, though I complained and fussed, I could wade through it.

Their idea is that the work needs to be done by someone. I am sure it is not personal. You are just a body to them. Just decide if you can deal with it day after day. After 6 months of this and it steadily getting worse, I finally decided to quit after nearly 2 years with them. There are companies out there who offer better work assignments and care about their people. Best of luck to you! :-)
But if you worked for a company that hired
good quality MTs in the first place, you would not have so many 100% QAs, right? Actually..I think I work in the same place : ( lol
POLL: Best Company You Ever Worked For!!
Nm
Love it there, best company I have ever worked for, NM
z
I work for them and worked for another company...sm
before them starting with them and was able to start with them at a later date (about a month after being contacted by them). It takes about a week or 2 to get the equipment so that you can set it up for the appointment for technical setup/support and training anyway. I've been with them now for 10 months and absolutely love it. If they contacted you for employment, then you definitely did pass their test. Good luck and welcome aboard!
Best company I've worked for. sm
The pay is a little low but it's worth it for good accounts and great management, not to mention the good benefits.
Seems like you have worked everywhere and have something negative to say about every company out the
a quite a few pages of posts as I have been off the board for a few months and your name pops up with something to say about just about every company.

You must be a wonderful person to work with. I am sure your employers love you and your horrible, the sky is falling, attitude.

Maybe it's time for you to leave transcription and find another field but obviously you hate everything about it. How can you live so miserable all the time?
Best company I ever worked for (6-7years).
s
I worked for a wonderful company. sm

It is pretty small and she will probably keep it that way.  She is the best boss, very knowledgeable and willing to share the knowledge, fair wages, sits right there every day typing or proofing along with everyone else, and she turned out to be a great friend.  I worked for her as long as I could but was making much more money doing radiology reports so made the decision finally to concentrate on that only.  We keep in touch and some day I may be back with her, who knows.    So, I would say not all companies are the same but the really good ones just may be harder to find. 


I never worked for MQ...another company with DocQscribe...
nm
I worked for a company that sent us something made

in China with their logo on it every year, most of which I've Freecycled or tossed.  I'd rather not get something at all than get something like that.


KS pays me very well and while they aren't perfect, they are a very good company and have lots and lots and lots of work.  That is worth a lot more than a $25 GC at Christmas.  I wouldn't send it back if I were to get one, but a decent pay for the other 11 months is a much better gift. 


Well, my husband has worked for the same company for sm
over 25 years and still only makes $11.75/hr. Try living below your means on that! It takes all of his income plus mine as an MT to even make ends meet. As for Dave Ramsey, he has some good points, but saving any kind of money on our income is practically impossible. And, as for giving up extras, like new cars, etc., we dont have any of those things either. We cant even go out to dinner once a month. Things have gotten very bad. No raises, but higher bills.

Okay, I'm done complaining now. Off the soap box!