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Here are some corner-cutting things

Posted By: that have helped me get by: S/M on 2009-09-25
In Reply to: I applaud you for being resiliant and taking initiative - to improve yourself. As I have said, MTs are SM

Cut dryer sheets in half. Still works just as well. Also, don't use dryer sheets for anything but clothing and maybe a towel or two.

Use stale bread to make french toast instead of throwing it away.

Drink homemade iced tea or lemonade instead of soda. Better for your teeth, anyway.

Turn off the pilot light to your heater (if gas is what you use) during all but the coldest months. Put clear insulating film over windows in the winter to keep out drafts, use the heat less.

If you qualify (and I think most of us DO!), get on the low-income rate for gas and electricity.

Coupons are gettting harder to find these days, but if you find coupons for something you were already going to buy anyway, use them! (However, buying something you really didn't need, just because you have a coupon for it, doesn't save you money).

If you have tollbooths on turnpikes or bridges in your area, plan your trips so that you have to go through them as little as possible. Combine as much of your errands as possible. If they have electronic toll passes (ie, 'FasTrak') where you live, check into it. Some tollbooths give a discount for cars using FasTrak transponders.

Learn to sew, by hand and/or by machine. You don't have to MAKE clothes (unless you like to), but if you can sew, you can repair rips, (or make them better with colorful knee patches, etc), or you can buy something used at Goodwill, and then customize it by sewing on flower patches, embroidery, sequins or beads.

If you're a sweets-addict, like I am, kill 2 birds with 1 stone: Save calories and money - don't buy packaged cookies, or ready-made cakes. Buy the mix instead, & store it out of sight. I find that when I do that, I not only tend to not munch on them all day, but will even grab some carrot-sticks instead, if they're handier to eat. The mix is still there, for those times when you just can't stand it anymore, and you HAVE to have some goodies! But if you have to MAKE them, instead of just reaching into a package, you'll eat them less often.


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May be right around the corner
Over on the newbie board, someone is taking 6 cpl VBC. What's that work out to? 4.5 cents per line? On the plus side, if we keep cutting our own throats, there will be no need to send the work to India anymore as they can get it typed here for 3 cpl.
I'm in your corner, sister MT...
I find the archive search here to be a huge hit-and-miss prospect. Some peope apparently search and are able to find all of the info they want on the first try.

However, I've had several instances where my search on a company I know has been discussed on here and a search will show no info, or either that VERY old info that probably isn't appicable.

I feel your frustration!!!
if you don't mind not knowing what's around the corner -
and you don't know when you're next assignment is going to be, 1 month, 2 months, etc. then go ahead and apply, but there have been too many negative things about Kforce said, and I should have listened and took note.
Right upper corner of this screen sm
See where it says SEARCH  -- ENTER transform, will bring up posts
Yeah, I park it on the extreme left corner. I like to see
nm
When logged into Word Client, usually in the left lower corner of your
screen is the Transnet player. Click on the More button and uncheck always on top.

Hope that helps.
Maybe it is because they just aren't cutting it!

They are used to getting up and leaving their work area for as long as they like or maybe they are used to working 5 hours out of a 7-hour shift?  Maybe because now they are expected to do what is asked of them??  Maybe they are trying to babysit their kids while working and have too many distractions??


I am an oldie but goody with Axolotl and I will say these things are totally not true!!!!


What, are they cutting QA again? I guess they
figure the work being produced by India is so horrid that not even US QA can fix it.

Seriously though, what positions were cut this time?
What do you mean by cutting payroll?
Thanks!
Meant cutting employees. SM

I honestly am not trying to be rude.  It's just talking about a company being sold is very dicey and could get me in trouble, so I'm trying to be as vague as possible and simply give generalities.  My company is very secretive on top of everything else, so I know little facts, except looking at its quarterly earning statements and the payroll issue I mentioned and the fact it seems several large MT companies have been bought up in recent months.  I didn't mean to offend you.


Hospitals cutting their costs - where do

Don't kid yourself voices are not being heard. 


X-PRESS TRANSCRIPTION--CUTTING PAY??

I was thinking about applying for a job with X-Press Transcription but have just heard through the MT grapevine that they cut everyone's pay in the company and did not tell them until after the fact.  Is this true or just a rumor?  Any advice on working for X-Press?  Do they pay on time?



Cutting short vacay a day b/c we are so far behind.
Got the call from the bosslady.

My last night of freedom. Crud.

I am grateful to be busy, but also tired.
Are they cutting your line rate or not?
Then that's a pay cut. When a company tells you we're going to pay you less per line, so you just have to produce more lines to make up for it - that's a pay cut. It doesn't matter if they promise you rainbows and fluffy bunnies to 'help' you make more lines, you're still being paid less per line & have to try to crank out even more lines to survive.
Mostly bad going by old posts here. They might still be using a DOS program and cutting and pasting
s
I bet MGMT gets big bonuses for cutting costs.
I'd bet the ranch that more erosions are planned and they will keep on as long as they can find newbies frantic enough to have any job. Any MT worth a grain of salt, can find a better paying position in a heartbeat.
LOL. I imagine someone with sharp scissors cutting pennies.
s
Plus cutting MTs pay and rearranging bonus plan with 1-1/2 weeks notice (nm)
x
No. Expect good things, and good things will come
x
I LIKE MDI. A few little things here and there
but for the most part, they are far superior to the others. (I even like AIM.)
thanks i will definitely try these things

Three things ...
1) I am an SE and I work my schedule, period.

2) I have never been out of work...even when others complain they are.

3) I have been not only allowed to work past my schedule but encouraged to. It's not my fault I'm allowed/encouraged to do so. It's more money in my pocket.

Look, I work as hard as you do. I don't know why you don't have any work but that doesn't mean it is my fault because I'm an SE. I also don't "hog" work. I take it as it comes...not like I can horde it away on my system and keep it in private while others sit without it. I can have only 2 jobs in my queue at any given time, just like everyone else.

Let's band together and not fight, ok?! It's not the IC's fault if the work is poorly distributed -- it is mgmt's fault.

I always ask things like that first, also pay
Make sure to ask before you test. big waste of time
You are right about some things
yes, they are not the greatest company, but do we really know who is. I know it was disappointing to me that they didn't pay for training, though it was only 2 hours. They are paying for spaces now, just since the last couple of months. I understand about the supervisor situation, but I think that is anywhere, and I am almost certain I know who you are talking about, (I thought the same thing) but if it is her, she's gone. I do agree that it does seem hard to make good lines, at least on one of my accounts. All I know is that overall, I am the most happy with them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and this is just mine
I wonder about these things too...
I can understand the policy of not allowing companies who are dishonest as OSi apparently was to post on the board, but I thought there was a name-calling policy too. Someone below posted a really nasty remark about the Pres. of a co. (and used his name) and it was totally overlooked while a reminder about name-calling was deleted. Go figure.
of seeing the same things over and over with
nothing to back them up. I was sick reading the posts all weekend about every company that someone had questions about.
Look for these things.
What kind of reports are they?  Are they regular films or specialty work such as MRI and scans and special studies.  What kind of dictators are these, ESL or primarily English speaking?  An x-ray is not just an x-ray any longer.  Some can be very involved and it depends on your level of expertise whether you will make money or not.  What system will you work on?  Do demographics load or is it manual?  Lots of variables to watch for.
first things first
Have you contacted your company directly? What did they say?
MTs have to look things up too
You cannot just rely on the Editor to fill in your blanks. You have to look things up in reference books. I fill in the same common drugs constantly. I never knew what an excellent MT I was until I started editing. It's much easier to type.
If you believe all those things
If you believe all those things you said about DRC then why would you think that they are ready to give us all the boot now? Really, the advice and opinions on this subject are ridiculous. Only ME and my JOB matter. I will listen to my new boss with an open mind because DRC IS the best company I have ever worked for and I refuse to believe they just threw all their principles down the drain. Some pretty absurd things have been said on these threads about DRC, their accounts, Acusis and what might happen. Relax and wait for REALITY.
Among other things.......
Don't know who the above posters are that have it so great, but I sure didn't. Wonder how many of us went in and out that door? Anybody else care to take a vote? Count me 1
One of the things that comes up quite
You get hired, but it seems like eternity to really get the ball rolling and working.  Some of us don't have that kind of time to wait.  JMO.
I use both together for different things.
But you could get by without SH if it's an expense you don't need.
Must be 1 of 2 things (sm)
Either they're new to the field of MT'ing, or they just like to complain and whine.
Are things better now at OSI?
They are hiring now and I am considering applying.
One of the best things I ever did was to have the
surgery. Whereas before I could not even see the clock at the side of my bed, I now am able to read billboards, street signs and way far away. Vision before 7 inches in front of my face, now 20/30 or so. So glad but really scared to have done. Your eyes are precious but my only option like I said.
Things are different now sm

It's much better now.  We were asked to give them our top 3 favorite accounts and also the accounts we liked the least and had trouble with.


Now, I get my primary most of the day.  When that is out I get the other 2 accounts I listed as my next 2 favorite.  I rarely get into the cesspool, only when there is no work in my other accounts.


They have also offered bonuses almost consistently every weekend and with no strings attached.


The bonus they have offered the past 2 weeks is awesome!  


 


I think everyone needs to consider a few things here. sm
It may take longer to get started with KS than other companies, but they are a better company than most out there and believe me, I have tried many.

When you start at a hospital, it can be 2 months between application and first day to get started. If you start a government job, it can be 6 weeks.

They might seem disorganized to some, but they really are not that bad. Pay is correct and on time. There is a lot of work. They know each person by name and care about the person behind the name, not just turning everyone into an employee number. They work with you through personally trying times and will work with you on schedule and account.

They pay better and have more work than some of the bigger companies but they are almost as big as those companies already. The difference is that they do not hire suits who have no clue about transcription or transcriptionists. They hire real people who care about something other than just the bottom line.

I would rather work for a company that does not have a bunch of over-educated, over-qualified people with six-figure salaries who sit around and decide how to further cut my pay to increase theirs.

Disorganized? Working on it. Growing? Constantly. Worth it? DEFINITELY!!

They treat us well and work to keep it that way.
HMO things to know and consider

Q. What does HMO stand for?
A. This is actually a variation of the phrase, 'Hey, Moe!' Its roots go back to a concept pioneered by Dr. Moe Howard of The Three Stooges who discovered that a patient could be made to forget about the pain in his foot if he was poked hard enough in the eyes.


Q. I just joined an HMO. How difficult will it be to choose the doctor I want?
A. Just slightly more difficult than choosing your parents. Your insurer will provide you with a book listing all the doctors who were participating in the plan. These doctors basically fall into two categories those who are no longer accepting new patients, and those who will see you but are no longer part of the plan. But don't worry, the remaining doctor who is still in the plan and accepting new patients has an office just a half-day's drive away and that diploma from a small Caribbean Island is very fresh.


Q. Do all diagnostic procedures require pre-certification?
A. No. Only those you need.


Q. What are preexisting conditions?
A. This is a term used by the grammatically challenged when they want to talk about existing conditions. Unfortunately, we appear to be pre-stuck with 'pre and now' meaning the same.


Q. Can I get coverage for my preexisting conditions?
A. Certainly, as long as they don't require any treatment.


Q. What happens if I want to try alternative forms of medicine?
A. You'll need to find alternative forms of payment.


Q. My pharmacy plan only covers generic drugs, but I need the name brand. I tried the generic medication, but it gave me a stomach ache. What should I do?
A. Poke yourself in the eye.


Q. What if I'm away from home and I get sick?
A. You really shouldn't do that.


Q. I think I need to see a specialist, but my doctor insists he can handle my problem. Can a general practitioner really perform a heart transplant right in his office?
A. Hard to say, but considering that all you're risking is the $10 CO-payment, there is no harm giving him a shot at it.


Q. Will health care be any different in the next century?
A. No. But if you call right now, you might get an appointment by then.


Things = think
x
not going to tell . . . things are very very LOW where I am now also nm
nm
Things at MQ
My best advice is for people to set up Google alerts, ask their own financial planners and advisers(mine said he would not invest in MQ on a bet)and stay informed. I wish things could be okay at MQ for all of my friends who stayed;however, I truly could not recommend this company to anybody now. Before the New Rewards, I loved it. And so it goes.....Now I am with a small regional MTSO and am really happier. Above all else, stay informed. You want to make your move before MQ makes its move, much like Heartland did some time ago.
This is one of many things in our S/M
society that just make me soooo angry.  What an employee does on his/her own time is simply none of the employer's business unless it is such a business that the employee's behavior would have an impact on the credibility of the company.  What about the work that is off-shored or the foreign workers who are brought in to work for cheaper wages?  Do they get the same invasive investigations?  I doubt it.  I think it is just one more way to devalue the American workers.  Shoot, the MTs don't even know who their co-workers are anymore.  We are very isolated, no one really KNOWS us.  If one applies for a LOAN from a bank or a mortgage company, then by all means, they have the right to investigate one's credit worthiness or maybe even their employees, but in this MT business where we are nothing to the hospital except a number or perhaps 2 initials, what the holy heck legitimate reason could an MTSO possibly have to invade one's privacy in this way???!   Reminds me of a company I worked for years ago.  One of THE best MTs had a habit of getting out on the weekends and getting drunk and disorderly.  Monday a.m. the MTSO owner would go on down to the jail and post her bail so she could get on back to work.  But...........that was the old days......and a different breed of MTs.
Wow.... so all the things said above and
That's SCARY, dude.
What things?
Anything maybe someone here can help you with?  Or things that someone else should know?
Um, a few things...
You don't get fired as an IC; your contract can be terminated, however. And look at your contract. I imagine it'll say in there that the relationship can be terminated for any reason by either party at any time. If you were instead an employee, it would likely say the same thing anyway.

As ICs you can get unemployment, but you weren't fired. Your contract was terminated.

Maybe if you go into your next business relationship looking at yourself as a business and conduct yourself that way, you won't find yourself in this situation again. She somehow felt that she had the freedom to talk to you unprofessionally about personal matters in others' lives. I think if you're conducting yourself very professionally and businesslike in all dealings, you're not going to be sending out that signal that you're just like her and, therefore, a welcome person to discuss things of this nature.
With things like this from VR
head piece zoster which cleaned up is really

herpes zoster

We are not going anywhere fast.
You keep saying things like this.
If you're so knowledgeable, how come yours lost 40%?
My take on things

I recently had to go to the ER with some stomach pains.   By the time we filled out the paperwork, I was feeling slightly better but decided just in case to have a TALK with the doctor.  Unfortunately, my husband has insurance and I do not so we had to give them a good faith payment with our credit card.  Went in and saw the doctor, had a chat with him, told him I was feeling a lot better, explained what led up to me being in the ER and then left.  The ONLY thing they did was take my BP.  We got the bill a week later.............(here is where you insert the dramatic music).......$126 for the visit and $150 for the doctor's services.


Now, I had a vacation to the Caribbean in 2007 and fell (will not say what I was doing....hmmmm), but suffice to say, ended up in the ER there and well.....got a x-rays, got a cast put on my wrist, got pain meds, saw the doctor (a specialist no less) and guess what the cost was.......FREE.......they have government run healthcare system.  That 3rd world country.....


Now, I don't expect to get things free.  That is not my point.  My point is I expect when a doctor just smiles and nods while I explain to him what is wrong with me, HE not charge me an arm and a leg for services not rendered.


things are different now
Congress/senate dem. Lobbyists are on their way out as well. That game don't play anymore. These wheels are spinning fast and although I don't expect this to impact us tomorrow, this is not business as usual. This is not a stagnant administration. This IS going to happen.
How do you even know all these things

apply to this one particular poster when he/she did not even give her name?  Even if these things did all prove to be true, how would a team member, a fellow employee, know all these things unless management was so unprofessional than to talk to other employees about internal personnel issues?


I'm sorry but your post sounds like management trying to back pedal their way out of a lawsuit.  If not management, then someone who is taking this issue way to personally.