for moonchild.....

Moonchild - sm [2008-11-25]
I just found out my state has no minimum wage whatsoever. I moved to the south a few years ago to get married. Wish I hadn't now, that's for sure. No minimum wage? These people are so backward it's ridiculous.

I totally agree with you moonchild... [2008-11-19]
Everyone can say what they want and slam the likes of you and me, but this hyphen business is totally ridiculous. I would think that what would matter most in an official and legal transcribed document is accuracy of medical terms and medications, not whether there is or isn't (or is it is not) a stupid little hyphen between African American or any other two-word combination, except in justified cases. Just another example of suits creating more idiotic rules that really have nothing to do with quality of patient care. I don't think any lawyer or doctor out there or even myself reading my own medical record would care one iota (sp?) if there are/are not hyphens or apostres in a report. Just my 2 cents worth.

Hey moonchild -- you might have something here [2008-11-19]
Write a letter to the hospital and let them know that Medquist is reducing your pay and that perhaps they should contact MedQuist about paying less for the services. We all know MQ isn't going to do anything to increase the rate, so why not kick 'em where it hurts -- their bank accounts.

moonchild [2008-11-16]
Einstein said that his definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get a different result. Sounds like it's time for you to divorce MQ and find a company that will respect you as a person rather than a machine and will treat you well. There are several of those companies, even today. Don't let fear paralyze you!

Don't leave moonchild [2008-11-11]
You have been a support to me as well, and I know what you said was only an analogy of the situation. I wish I was making what the people who work for the sanitation department make here in FL. These guys make over $15 an hour and the supervisors make over $20. It is sad when our pay has been reduced so much. Also,those who are in a janitorial position make pretty decent wages, sure wish I could.

(((Moonchild))) I know how you feel [2008-11-11]
I have shed a lot of tears over this, and my pay is the same. My husband is having a lot of medical problems right now, and he is in car sales, and they are not selling a thing and it has been pretty sparse for months now. People just can't afford to buy a car when they can barely put food on the table. Most of the time I am so anxious and depressed and worry constantly about how we will survive.

Easy to set it up yourself, Moonchild...sm [2008-10-23]
When I bought mine, I just logged into the DQS/speech machines site and downloaded it onto the laptop. Some people had trouble downloadingwith Vista (you have to make sure you are logged in as administrator, I believe), but it all went very smoothlyfor me. Since your Expanders are stored in DQS, they were immediately available. Should note, though, I have not used mine outsidethe home area, so don't know if there are other things that need to be set up for travel.

fell your pain moonchild -nm [2008-10-21]

moonchild [2008-10-20]
I know what you mean. This is a heck of a way to start off the week, but then again, every day is like this now. Never know what to expect. As I said before, smaller BOB, yeah, right. My question is still where is all of the customary work? Why does it seem that all we get is hard, almost impossible to transcribe, work. Is it me just burned out or is it like this for all of us?

Hello again moonchild [2008-10-20]
If it makes you feel any better, although I have a primary, it is, I would estimate, 85 to 90% ESL (I think all the Arabs, Indians, etc., look for a warm climate). While it is certainly preferable to the CP, there are days that I don't think I can stand one more ESL dictator. I was switched around many times before I arrived at this primary and I don't think it is any accident. Having done this for so many years, I'm sure my line rate is higher than most MT's and I would be willing to bet that they are trying to get their money's worth. In other words, be careful what you wish for.

thnaks, moonchild....... [2008-10-17]
Great comment, moonchild, very wise, thanks!

whoops, THANKS, moonchild....... [2008-10-17]
t h a n k s !

ditto you moonchild [2008-09-22]
And that is why I no longer compete for the bonus incentives. Why would I want to work my fingers to the bone to do work in sites that I am not used to to try to get some stupid bonus that really only adds up to a few measly dollars? I would much rather spend that time with my family!

moonchild there are very few of us [2008-09-04]
who don't feel your pain. Hang in there. I always say what doesn't kill you will make you a better person. Maybe we need to go through this so that we are better trained for whatever is ahead for us. I know this will have to come to an end sooner or later because MQ can't just keep losing MTs with no one to replace them and they are running out of options. Again we will all make it through this really tough period of time and we will all be the better for it, even if it is with a different company, and MQ will be sorry they treated us this way. Again you are not alone, most of MQ's MTs are feeling the same way, even if the few cheerleaders who post on this board say different, and I for one will be praying for you and hoping for a fast end to this insanity that has been going on for the past year or so...

moonchild, are you a crab? (zodiac-wise LOL) [2008-07-17]
Good post. I do the same as you. But all the nit-picking has worn me down. Just a couple more months of PT flex and then I'm flying the coop. You have a good attitude. Thanks for the words of wisdom.

Good for you moonchild - I was wondering [2008-07-03]
how you were making out. Are you still the primary caregiver for your sis or bro? Hope all is going well there, too.

It is not Moonchild's attitude sm [2008-06-04]
that is the problem. Even this board is not owned by a US citizen. If ASR can do our jobs, then anybody foreign or domestic can edit it for less. Hence, companies will always look for the lowest cost for labor. The best thing to do is to train for a different occupation. Direct your passion to something useful.

for moonchild..... [2008-05-18]
this really sucks! In advertising they usually say: 'up to 13 cpl for 'seasoned MTs'.

Moonchild -- you are a GREAT sister, sounds like. n/m [2008-04-24]
:)

I used my name in July 2007 [2008-12-02]
I was not quite as nice as moonchild. I simply stated the impact the changes in July 2007 had on my life. I was polite, but my anger oozed. I'm still here. No repercussions. I never thought to not put my name. Everything I said was the truth as were the predictions I made... that my future with MQ... well, the days were numbered. And they were. Flex PT now. Good move for me.

u r nuts -sm [2008-10-22]
Here's an answer to all your points. Just because I am negative about the Q doesn't mean I am negative about everything. It doesn't mean I'm hopeless, going nowhere, or don't have a future. I plan on having a good paying job in less than a year and retiring when I'm 60. 1. I am not digging a rut. I've been going to school part-time for the past 8 years working towards a bachelor's degree. 2. I do appreciate what I have. 3. My rotten attitude isn't going to delay success, it's going to cause me to leave the Q a lot sooner than I otherwise would have. 4. I don't have a negative attitude about everything...only about a certain company that is ripping me off. 5. That is just plain nuts. We're only talking about Medquist here not everything else in our lives. 6. I'm not programming myself for failure. I'm trying to program myself to quit a job where I am not really appreciated at all. 7. Just because I have a negative attitude doesn't mean I live in a negative world - that is just insane. You must live in an insane world since you post insane things. 8. I am not waiting to be rescued. I have been going to school, taking civil service tests, applying for jobs...I am waiting for an opportunity to get away from the BS of working for the Q. I am waiting for an opportunity, and when it comes, I am going to grab it and never leave go. 9. You are so full of it, when you say that I will achieve nothing - I can't wait to rub it in your stupid face when I have a decent job - and I will probably appreciate it a lot more after having worked for the Q. 10. We're not losers - the Q is going to be the loser in the end - karma. 11. The stress of working for the Q is the problem - they give no motivation whatsoever. 12. I don't pity myself or feel hopeless. On the contrary, I have a lot of hope for the future. The school I go to costs over $1,000 for a 3-credit course. Do you think I would be spending that kind of money if I thought it was hopeless? 13. Laughter. I laughed when I saw Moonchild's post - starting out with dude and ending with so up yours. That was a good post from Moonchild.

thnaks, moonchild....... [2008-10-17]
Great comment, moonchild, very wise, thanks!

i know [2008-04-15]
this thread is probably dead by now, but i just wanted to respond to your post. honestly, if every day were like today, i'd be happy. well, happier. its not that i hate the job so much. its working so hard for so little money, and the feeling that ones efforts are sabotaged by all the changing rules of the game. if things had stayed the way they were when i got hired a year and a half ago...i.e. no ASR, getting paid more for difficult jobs, i would have few complaints. i really love doing medical transcription, and after all these years, i feel like its all i'm really qualified to do. i'm almost 54 years old, and, well, i know that isn't quite ancient yet, but making a career change at this time in my life isn't something i really want to do. but i'm keeping an open mind. and in the meantime, plugging along, trying to make the best of what is often a REALLY bad situation, heh. on my really bad days, i come here and vent. it isn't how i am all the time, but often what i'll share most when i post. (i'm a poet) anyway, i do appreciate this place and both the positive and negative feedback. i think i'll make myself a permanent name like some of you have. its nice to kind of get a feel of whether or not you are talking to the same person or not. so...i've been 'frustrated' and other names (like sm or nm, heh), but now i'll call myself, hmm....what? okay, since i'm a cancer, i'll call myself moonchild. lame, but oh well. : ) i guess i could call myself crabby, which certainly fits me at least half the time (probably more!), but i'll go with the positive name for now.

I feel like a dummy for not checking out starting pay BEFORE I took the job!! [2008-04-15]
Sorry you're having a hard time moonchild! : ) I hear ya! I was told that I tested excellent, and I was taken off QA within just a week or two of starting, with all 99 or 100% accuracy, so I don't know WHY I was started at tier 1 (not that it really matters what tier I am--I really could care less about that). The pay is what bothers me because when I was interviewing/hired, I was told that was what they always started people at, and that it would get better. Now that I have accepted this other job offer, I feel pretty free to mention pay to my supervisor. I was debating whether to keep MQ as a second job (I am flex PT with MQ) and do a few hours a week as an IC, and maybe I can use that as a bargaining chip...although I'm sure they really don't care at MQ whether I work for them or not. I'm not saying this to sound snobby or anything, but this job is for fun money and I am kind of tired of the scheduling with MQ and the lack of any kind of personal contact with supervisors. The only time I have ever heard from my supervisor is when she sends out the general e-mails. I have never heard from her personally, whether by phone or by e-mail. I have e-mailed her a few times with changes to my time card or whatever, but never receive answers back. But, I digress. I could go on and on with the recent problems I have had here. I would like to know why I was told that was the norm and if I tested so well (as they had told me...who knows though...I've never been good at testing!!!) why was I put at the lowest tier and obviously lowest pay range. I am going to ask my supervisor about pay now that it is obvious that whomever told me that 6 cents per line was the starting rate for anyone starting out with MQ was not quite telling the truth. I kind of feel stupid for not checking it out before I accepted this job...I just assumed that was the norm and that eventually it would get better. I really, really feel like I've gotten screwed now.