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I am in the same boat. Trying to stick it out

Posted By: mtMOM on 2008-06-17
In Reply to: Same here... - sigh

Glad that we have 2 incomes here. When I was a single mom could not have afforded to do this. What a shame!


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i am in the same boat
i would be greatful for any advice from anyone
i am in the same boat
I am continually amazed at the English and grammar errors made by people in this profession!
Everybody is in that same sorry boat.
x
Same boat as you..
I've worked there seven months, same things.. evenings, weekends, and nonstop STATs.. and when I asked for a raise I got blown off.. Then, they wonder why people arent that faithful to be at their beck and call. I've gotten a hospital job and only work for Focus a little bit now. They sure want a lot but do not want to give anything in return.  Besides that, try checking your line counts. They never seem to add up. I can work for a dog for hours on end and hardly make anything.
Yep, I'm in the same boat as all of you.

   I too have small children and no way to stay on a "fixed" schedule.  Unless perhaps they let me schedule myself work every 20 minutes?  Hey that might work.  Something like:


8:00-8:20 work


8:40-9:00 work


9:20 to 9:40 work


10:00 to 10:20 work


and so on and so on....


Of course, that also means I might have to take breaks IN BETWEEN those breaks (kids need help with the potty, someone is hungry, the bus is coming, etc).  BUT if I can manage to squeeze in 20 minutes here and there, will they keep me? 


Welp, there goes my part-time job.  Who wants my un-done reports?  Anyone?  Anyone? 


was in the same boat with them.......
when I worked for them a little while back. What got me was that they only would give you 1 stupid job in your job at a time! Then, you had to wait for what seemed to be a long time, and I have high-speed internet. Anyway, at first, I was receiving pretty good workflow, but that quickly changed to nonexistent, and I agree with you that they are doing the overhiring thing. I am talking about them, alright, with my family, like they have in their ads, but it certainly is not very positive at all! Sorry, I call them as I see them!
I'm in the same boat
Not pregnant , but looking for QA by the hour.  Have lots of experience doing QA, but am only finding production pay.  If anyone knows of hourly or salaried position, please help!
We are all in the same boat

I think it is absolutely the worst part of working from home.... the fact that everyone thinks we are just sitting here watching TV and not really working.  The constant phone calls.  People say Well, can't you take a coffee break?  It frustrates me to no end.


 


 


I stick to it
While others simply disappear during the day. Its very easy to work a management job and take on another typing job at the same time, or even another management job for another company all within the same hours!!! Dang double dippers, guess they'll be having a wonderful Christmas while I sit here having to put everything on charge cards. I have absolutely no respect for these people and I do know quite a few. I don't talk to them unless I absolutely have to.
Yes - I am in the same boat - sm
Get so tired of these companies testing someone with obvious experience with even 15 minutes of dictation. Not useful and a waste of my time. I refuse to do it anymore. The best companies I have found let you just begin to work, no complicated platforms and if things don't work out on either side, no sweat. You can't tell by a test whether you are going to work out or not. Some have the nerve to test you and never reply OR worse yet, test you and you find out later you get the same rate of pay as someone with half your experience. That really sets me off. One of my biggest pet peeves.
In the same boat
My secondary has had low work for quite some time now. My primary, however, had enough work to carry my lines for awhile. However, the past 2 weeks both accounts have been very slow and I have not had enough work to meet my line commitment. This is very frustrating. I do hope it picks back up soon, as the timing is very bad for us financially. I check throughout the day and work from 8 a.m. to midnight checking for work, but this is hard right now with other commitments.
in the same boat

with Spheris for 4 years and had done very well but the last 6-8 months with one thing or another (changes in accounts, having to do all the most difficult work so it's hard to make a good line count, having to do editing for a while at 100% proofing to sound, and lots of micromanagement), paychecks are $500 or more less than than they used to be. I've made more using PTO but I can't get a day off anymore.  I had taken a part time job to supplement but now it's just making up the difference.  I work for 3 companies now and I am trying to decide what to do...


I'm in the same boat.
I do my 5 jobs, but then there are only about 2 or more left when I'm done, which leaves me to wonder how in the world there's going to be enough work to get my full lines in after training. I'm very concerned.
in the same boat
so to the single mom if you forgo insurance and now work as IC what do you do if you become ill? How are you covering yourself for insurance?

I am a single mom in the same boat. I found a great company. Low ESL. Basically one account. I don't want to switch but they offer NO insurance. My kids are also covered under their Dad. But I have been without any healthcare for over a year now. THis cannot go on. If get sick it will be a diseaster without health insurance. So I am going to be forced to move no. The problem I have encountered are similar to yours in that many companies that offer employee status want a specific 8 hour shift but many times work is not available for a single mom this is devastating because most of us need to do the bulk of our work during school hours which if there is no work this means we up all night making up time and exhausted the next day. Secondly, they pay for employee status keeps getting lower and lower. I have bene in transcription for 10 years and as my kids are getting a bit older I guess it's time to find a career change as this simply is not viable employment for a single-parent family. It's fine if you are married and on your hubby's insurance and just need a second income but those of who need to support a family and are the sole breadwinners this certainly is becoming less and less viable of an option to support yourself. Just my opinion.

I have tried and tried to break into QA hoping for an hourly position but those are also few and far between these days. The only options I see are to go into another field. It's a shame and a waste of experience and time to give up on career but given that offshoring and now VR I think the field is just dying out.
in the same boat
Apologize for the typos before I get blasted. Typing on the fly.
You and I are in the same boat.
I could have written your post, actually have written a post similar to that.    Good luck in your next aventure.  I am looking elsewhere as well. 
Yes in the same boat sm
I feel like I'm on the Titanic and the last one to jump off. I've been there 9 years and I know the ebb and flow of work and work has been low for the past few months. Just started on the new platform and have yet to make line count. I'm looking around, it's time for me to get out before I owe them the paper my paycheck is printed on.
Same boat
Tested with MD-IT and have heard nothing. I have also applied for two other jobs and again, nothing. Have you sent emails to follow up? I have just today, so stil waiting. Good luck to you - hope you find something soon!
I'm in the boat with you!
I worked for Spheris for 5 years and another company that sends work offshore. I put in my resignation and vowed to never work for a company that offshores again. I currently work for Webmedx and absolutely love this company. My work is slow only during the normal times in this business, and I have 2 great accounts.

So hooray for you!!
I am in the same boat, too sm
I just changed jobs from one that wanted me to work a strict schedule (also had low work volume) to an IC position with a flexible schedule but of course when I am available to type, the work isn't there!   
I'm in the same boat.......
I am more stressed over this job than I have ever been in the past 10 years. I try to explain to my husband also that I have to make a certain amount of money no matter how long it takes to pay the bills. I'm sick of working 12+ hours some days just to make a base count which pays crap.
We are in the same boat. I just did a sm
175 line report according to Word and their program only gave me credit for 135 lines. Stinks of something fishy.
same boat here
does anyone know if this constant NSA thing is only on the Enterprise side?  Saw that some are thinking of switching to the Chartmatrix side below. 
Same boat here at MDI
I was afraid to say anything, until I saw the responses about no work at MDI. I said something recently about my accounts, and they couldn't undestand why I had no work, and I even verified that I had no work. I have been asking about this for 2 months now. I know they took on new accounts and I responded I wanted to be on one of those and the next thing I know is that those positions were filled! I feel so depressed in the evening and sit at the computer waiting for work, and I have not met my line count for quite awhile now. This used to be a decent company to work for, and now no work at all. I wonder if they hired too many people. I'm down too, so I sympathize.
Don't quite know where to stick this, but
does anyone know if there are different legalities on this sort of thing depending on who owns the computer that was used; such as, personally owned PC or one owned by the company that has a problem with what was said on it?
I am in your boat...
I, too, have declined job offers because of the weekend situation. I go to church on Saturday and wouldn't work, even if I stayed home. I don't believe in working on Saturday. I realize doctors and nurses have to because sickness and disease don't take days off, but I am neither. I also don't want to work on Sunday because that is the only day I have to clean, do laundry, or spend any time with family. This is just a job and most people get, at least, 2 days off of any job. My son gets 4 days off from his job. I just happen to need the weekend off and am happy to work the remaining 5. I understand, if no one else does.
Same boat as you,
only for me it was 36 years working strictly locally. Last fall my long-time boss closed his practice so I got thrown out here into the real world, less than a year ago....

The company that hired me got gobbled up by Transcend earlier this year, and so far, nothing has really changed for me. Yes, it was scary. Have any of those fears actually come true? No, not for me. Am I still nervous, in view of all the 'just you wait, they'll screw you over sooner or later' talk I hear? Maybe a little... but I can't live my life in a constant state of fear, so I just keep on going and try not to think about it. Why borrow trouble when it's not actually staring me in the face?

How to prepare? That's hard to answer. If you're the kind of person who thrives on change in general (I am not) then you might be better prepared than the rest of us. I can only offer the somewhat trite-sounding advice to just do your job and take it one day at a time; keep your eyes open to other possibilities, and if at any time you find yourself in an untenable position, start exploring those other possibilities.

And all this and 50 cents will get you tomorrow's newspaper. Just remember to breathe. Sorry I don't have any better answer than that. But best of luck to you, and to all those whose lives are being turned upside down.
Exactly..please stick to the truth.
nm
don't stick by their words
There is way too much of that in this industry.
I am new and do not want to rock the boat but I am going to sm
point my lead to this board and let them know. I had a few inconsistencies when Penny talked to me and let them go because I knew about the company. But this is different. I should have said something and didn't but nw I wonder if I should have. What would you do?
Of course you stick it out with a smile. Really. That's what I would do. sm
Remember, she probably won't last long and then you one day may have her job. Don't let one person out of other really good ones spoil your new position. If it continues longer than a month or so, go above her head and speak your concerns. She's probably just testing you. You know if you are doing a good job or not, and if you KNOW you are doing a good job, then just take her comments with a grain of salt and continue working. Don't make a huge deal out of QA people who are rude. I swear, if I did that, I would have had over 50 jobs by now! Each and every single company I've worked for (3) have had at least one Grinch of a QA person and at first I would get all upset and then I grew up and realized that they are just grinches and the kind of people who probably really, really dislike themselves, so how can they like anyone else????


This is true - the IRS can stick it to them
Contact an accountant or the IRS directly (slow time of year anyway). Ask them - there are 21 points companies have to comply with for independent contractors - find out what those are. I know they cannot tell you when to work, discuss how you work, ask about working for others, etc. - there MUST be something in there about the pay issues, as well. DO NOT LET ANYONE GET AWAY WITH THIS. They will push it as far as they can, and will only stop when they are threatened with trouble with IRS - so make sure they are not violating IRS guidelines for working with ICs.
I'm in the same boat, not trying to take it personally. nm
nm
Why do ppl have to stick OSI on every post
nm
Im in the same sinking boat
I imagine one day all of this stuff will either be VR or physician generated as a lot of physicians are going to these templates and fillintheblank and a lot of incompetent MTs without babysitters, clothes or transportation just happy as peaches to have a job. Shame on these companies!!!
In the same boat as you, over 30 years
and I have seen my salary go steadily down. Soooo glad now it is not imperative to earn the really big bucks as in the past (I can work part-time and have starting this year) but if I had to work and get this, make a living, I know I would be working probably 60+ hrs a week. I work 32 hrs per week now and my salary is about 24 thousand a year whereas in the past I made 40 thousand plus with just about 8 more hrs a week. This is not the job it used to be and would not tell anyone to try this and want to make a living anymore. Too much unrest, companies outsourcing, pay going down.
Me, too. That's a very crowded boat. I'm getting off before
nm
I would try to stick it out as long sm
as you have your foot in there.  Most companies won't even consider you for acute care if all they see is clinic - you might actually like acute care once you get past the learning curve.  Good luck!
Perhaps you might stick to citing the law instead of SM
psychotic-like ramblings.
I agree..I am in the same boat...(sm)

I left MQ over 2 years ago after several years and went with another company.  Found myself in the same situation there..no work, then went to the company I am currently working for.  Had plenty of work for a while but due to overhiring and low hospital census, I'm back to square one.  I never thought this would happen at the company I am working for now.  Everyone else there claims they have plenty of work.  After much soul searching I have decided this company just doesn't want ME anymore.  I guess they are trying to phase me out of my job.  I was the first person hired on this account when I started with them over 2 years ago and now I'm completely indispensable. I thought I was a good MT, have 20 years experience.  They must feel otherwise because they say there are no other accounts I can go on.  I love this company and don't want to leave but if there is no work in my account and they can't give me any more accounts, I have to look again for another job. I'm over 55 years old and it's unbelievable to me that I can't find a company that has steady accounts. I wish anyone looking for a new job in the New Year lots of luck!


 


Not to be a stick in the mud but what new account? sm
I know we were supposed to get 3 new accounts before November, but what is the rest of the story? Please e-mail me if you cannot post because I had no idea there was something going live.
I have to stick up for angry.
I am happy but I get unhappy when someone tries to push something off that is simply not true. She started her post with an untruth by saying she was in the trenches when it was pointed out in several posts that she is a team lead which is far from the trenches if you read the position open ads from Transcend - it is a lower management position that is used as a stepping stool.

She does not even give the same information about outsourcing that is given by the higher levels of management.

And her worry about offshoring or outsourcing or whatever word you want to use for sending our work to foreigners so they can take our jobs away is a croc - since the company was with before had a school in offshore.

If these positive thinkers would just post the truth it would be a lot better. When you start reading management posts that are not true, you wonder how much more is being hidden that you will uncover the longer you work for them.

You cannot say that any company is without problems. All you can say is how much effort is being made to correct what is wrong and let people make up their minds from that.





All we get is the short end of the stick. - nm

glad I didn't stick
around too long at TT.  I thought it was bad organization myself.  Just my little input from experience!
Stick up lke they did to DMV outsourcing to Mexico
Everybody was outraged when they found out DMV was sending work and private info to Mexico. Wake up people! I have access to more information than DMV on the health records, yet nobody cares that transcription is being outsourced every where outside the US. You should see my medical records from my treating physicians that are transcribed overseas. i have never seen such a mess. It is no wonder that I flatlined on my last surgery. Somebody typed the wrong doses of medication, and the anesthesiologist gave me too much sedation.
I chose to stick with Clinic.....sm
because, in my experience, they are almost always closed or at least very, very slow on holidays.

So, over the years I decided I wanted a M-F schedule with holidays off. That's why I stick with Clinic notes.

Good luck!
New accts. Can I beat myself with a stick now? A-G-G-H
nm
Why do you guys stick around to be treated like this? sm
How awful! Come to Webmedx where people are nice and answer your questions!
Don't jump the boat too quick...sm
Good morning! I feel your frustration. I have been in a situation like that and actually did have to leave the company. Being that it was just a holiday weekend, I would suggest just hanging in there a little longer. The company I work for takes about a good two or three weeks to get back to normal after a holiday, especially if not many MTs took PTO. Maybe give it a couple more weeks and see if it improves. Ask for a backup account to learn while you're out so you at least have that for next time. I know it's hard to be patient, but it might pan out. :)

Blessings! :)
LOL. Perhaps I should stick with MQ--easier to spell...sm

 


Thank you, me, for the info in your previous posts. 


There is no way in HE double hockey stick that I would EVER take that job
You say you need the job, but I can guarantee you with that account you'd make more at McDonald's. So, think hard before you step into that. They'd have to offer me 40 cpl to do that job, and it still wouldnt be worth having to buy wigs and Tylenol when I yanked out all of my own hair and banged my head on the desk all day LOL...keep us posted..