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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

It is a very fine line you walk when you agree

Posted By: sm on 2007-01-18
In Reply to: IC status and being asked to commit to specific scheduling question - allie

to this - and you must be prepared to tell the IRS should you ever be audited (knock on wood) that the schedule you are working is the one you desire to work.  I would not commit this to writing - the employer is looking for trouble that way. You need to understand from the companies standpoint they need you to commit to a certain schedule because they need it covered - but I would not go so far as to commit to paper - just tell them you are a professional - you realize they need this coverage - and you will be there for them.


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It's a really fine line.

They're providing you the platform/software, yes and asking that you do it on their website, or wherever.  However, with a true IC position, they don't require set hours.  They don't require set days.  Some may ask the IC how  many lines that IC is going to commit to and then they may ask the IC to stick with that, but it's the IC setting the number of lines per day, not the employer.


There can be a lot of gray area in this issue, certainly.  What I'm pretty confident about, though, is if the employer is saying you MUST work Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, then you're not an IC, you're an employee.


Their pay is just fine and totally in line
and in keeping with every other MTSO out there, lol!

Gosh, will the futile attempts at trashing this company never end?

My paycheck's just fine working for TT. And it's on time every time, too. And accurate to the penny.

Label me a cheerleader if you're so inclined, but I am definitely not management. Just an MT who is very happy working for TT and financially managing just fine.


The expander is the least of it. It works just fine. Line count seems
<>
Should I run while I can still walk?
I took the MQ acute care test and passed. I am a newbie.  I graduated from Andrews.  I was finally offered a position with MQ. I was thrilled, even though I was told I had to start on clinic accounts only.  Let me say again, I passed the acute care test.  Now,  my first week at MQ, there is no work.  I was hired in to do only clinics per my office.  Know this is my first full week and I am begging for work.  There is no clinic work and I sit for hours waiting for work.  When I do get work it is very hard, unclear operative reports, even though I am only allowed clinic work.  I have emailed my supervisor, no answer. I emailed her last week also, and last night.  I am thinking maybe I should take the other job offer I got and run.  Any suggestions. 
Run, do not walk...
To a company that will appreciate you. Did they give you a reason WHY you would be making less? I suspect it is because they want to fill their pockets with more of the sweat from YOUR brow. So it is $15 this time and you allow it. What next? Where will you say no - at 18, 20, 25? Go now with your head held high! :-)
Run don't walk :)
however, my *really bad* experience doesn't mean you would have the same situation.
Run, don't walk. There are much better
This company wants total perfection from the employees, then let them do the work with no errors and see how far they get. LOL. Taking lines away for errors is BIG red flag. I'm not perfect, are you?
RUN do not walk away from them!!!
nm
Run...don't walk...from SPi...sm
This company is terrible.  They are all about taking money away from their MTs/QAs.  They offshore their work....which wouldn't be so bad, but they have accounts that have requested their work be done by USQA, etc...so you know what they do?  Train their people over in Coimbatore, Manila, etc., so they can obtain a CMT and then they use them as USQA.  How crooked is that?  I also know of an assistant lead QA who recently left there and right before she left, she was out due to mental/emotional stress that SPi had placed on her because she was required to work almost double of 80 hours in a 2-week pay period or get let go.  They also have issues paying you what you are due when you leave....so, this place has not changed a bit.  I'm glad I'm gone as I am sure others that have left are glad they are gone, too.
Not sure where they would walk to since
x
Run, don't walk!

Nastiest woman I have ever worked for. I quit and she had a fit ... sent me horrible e-mails on and on.


 


run don't walk
I'm so sorry to hear this.  I want to get out of where I am and was interested that MedScribe used ChartNet, an awesome platform.  Oh well.. so much for that good idea.  Guess I will stick with the sweatshop I'm at now. 
Walk in my shoes

I am very small MTSO and it still gets hairy with turn around time.  All it takes is for one I/C to say, today I don't want to work -- which they can -- like the one above said, I want to work when  I want to and do as much as I want -- and suddenly she decides not to work, well suddenly that leaves 1000 to 3000 lines to be spread around, times that by 2 and what a mess.  You cannot control what and how much the docs dictate.  I would not hire someone unless they were strictly for overflow without somewhat of a committment whether it be the lines or time that the could do on specific days.  Imagine having 15 people with this attitude.  Like I said walk in my shoes, it is a balancing act.  Too much work, they gripe -- too little they gripe.   But someone that wants to work when they want, how much they want could not budget accounts that way.  It would be strictly overflow and then if you weren't available when the work was you probably would not stick around nor again would I keep you around.   Sure an IC can set their own hours but I expect a certain amount of work done in a certain amount of time to meet my TAT and not be docked because we didn't. 


Run, don't walk away from this company.
x
All I can say is RUN, dont walk
Also a note to future hires, if you get put on the EditScript platform make sure you don't get the team lead who's name is T...wont say name dont want to get banned...but she is terrible.
I can tell you run don't walk from Chronicle
xx
Did you just walk into the end of this conversation? You really
nm
I can't walk at the moment but

I'm definitely gearing up.  What burns me the most is that D says she's for the MTs, but where has she been these last few months when MTs have been starving for work?  Was she giving it to Transcend then?  How long have we been going without work because she was giving it to them?  And all along, she's been playing the supportive and caring act.  I think she quit caring back in April or May when we got that first shocking State of the Union about VR, cutting pay, etc.  It must have been in the works then. 


What a complete disappointment.  I came to this company because of their loyalty to the MTs and now this.  Back to the pavement.


constantly over-hire run don't walk nm
nm
You mean the woman who took her time to walk me
through a problem at midnight one night? She spent her time helping me at their website and she did not have to do that. You call that hateful?

You people are too much.
Run, don't walk, away and read the archieves!
Not a good company to work for at all.  Psycho management. Very inconsistent and unfair. 
Run don't walk away from Fast Chart.
I tested with them--and then I found out they were going to pay 6 cpl for IC work. Not only that, if you don't meet a certain quota, they actually charge you a fee to use their platform! They were rather fuzzy on the topic of whether this fee was waived if the failure to meet quota was THEIR fault, i.e. lack of work....

No experience beyond that; never worked for them, and never will, if that's the best they can do.
I agree - Diskriter is definitely top of the line
Great place to work!
I agree...no work at $20/line would be bad
KS seems to want to make sure you have plenty
I agree with all of your post except the last line!
It means they do not have control of their money, will probably never be satisfied with their work and may have garnishments and other legal issues for me to have to contend with.

Your credit score is a very good indicator of how responsible you are.


Totally agree. No line wages please!
No way no how for me anyhow!
Here is my advice.......RUN, do not walk to the nearest phone book. sm
Look up Legal Aid of whatever city or state you live in. They are a group of lawyers and paralegals that do work for free or sliding scale, etc. They will do all the leg work for you. You supply them with copies of your documentation and any other records you have kept regarding email, snail mail, or phone calls.

The most important thing... when you talk to and deal with these people, document, document, document. Document EVERYTHING

Then go to the Better Business Bureau and let them know what is going on.

Call your state Atty General's office and tell them what is going on and give them copies of any documentation you have.

Then I would quit. I know she probably can't afford to and it is experience she may not be able to get anywhere else, but as the post below said, they aren't going to give her a good reference anyway if they have not responded to her mail and phone calls.

Let us know how it goes. Keep us posted.

I agree, but it is what it is.....the companies don't care about anything but TAT and lines, line
Unfortunately, it all boils down to the bottom line, money.

I believe a "thank you" is warranted in many cases, but don't hold your breath for one.

It is sad, very sad.
I agree - hard to get decent line count with ExText...sm
Good to know other people are having the same issue as I thought I was just getting slower in my old age!  Seems like I can do almost twice as much with DocQScribe and escription.
I agree, horrid sound and crooked line counts

The line counter was a ripoff.  The sound quality was bad because it was copied over like a generation or 2.  Copies of copies or played into a phone or something.  Awful.  AND they scolded and sent nasty emails.  I swear I was in a depression during the time I worked for them.  Real bad, real bad.


 


I agree. The line counter is a pain, but I've checked lots of reports against MS Word
nm
A line is a line is a line. Doesn't matter if we are talking about radiology or acute care.

1600 is not a fair minimum requirement.  Sure you can achieve 1600, it shouldn't be the required minimum.


Means a line is a line is a line, even if it only has one word on the line
it is considered a line. 
i have it and like it just fine
the preventative maintence is paid in full. I don't remember any long waiting periods. I do think you have to have the insurance a year before you can use it for braces tho, which i also did, and i think the max payout was $1000/yr on the braces (not absolutely sure i remember correctly). it has served me well and the monthly rate was fair.
Fine
So that's what was rude.  Okay.  But did you read my second post?  I DID say work was slow.  I DO know it.  How many ways can I say it?????  But, I am still able to get my line counts in.  So are many, many other MTs at Transcend?  I see many MTs asking questions for word  help/account specific questions, as they are typing.  They are typing.  Why are they?  Why are many of us able to get our lines in?  Why can't you?  Ask for another account.  They said in the email sent out yesterday that if you want or need another account to email them, training will begin today?  Why aren't you training on a new account?  I have been with Transcend for awhile and have had no problems getting my line count in at all.  That is what I am saying.  I am not going to get on here and say anything else, as that would not be the truth from my side of it.  I am not saying that you aren't having a hard time pulling work.  All I am saying is that it is still possible even though slow, as I am doing it and so are others. 
I think $13.50 is just fine, especially when....sm

I don't have to buy "work" clothes per se, don't have to drive into the office to work, and can be home when my kids get off the bus, thereby saving money for after-school babysitting.   I live just fine on my salary and it's not for you to knock what I make or how I live...and yes, we go to the movies AND buy popcorn/sodas there! 


I have friends who make $20-25 an hour in their jobs and they drive in to work (we live in the suburbs of a major city), have to wear business clothes, and pay for daycare.   Not only do they spend 2 hours a day in the car commuting to/from work but with the costs of them workintg they actually end up making less money than I do - it's all how you look at it and do the math.   I on the other hand buy a tank of gas and it lasts usually 3 weeks, sometimes 4 and yet we're not deprived. 


That's quite fine...sm
Not my loss
VPN is fine as well.
/
Yep, still here. Doing fine. nm
xxx
Why is that fine?

Aren't they about the only U.S. MTSO that does that?  Are they willing to make their books available to determine how soon after they are paid they pay the MTs?  Sounds like it is problematic, and a well run company (which granted is not them, since they're only overflow) would be able to handle this, just like 99% of other employers or businesses do.  Why is it fine?  Can we tell our utility company or car note company that we'll pay them when we get paid?  


 


I like it fine
Nothing really exciting but nice people to work with.  Plenty of work with overtime and incentives quite often.  Always paid on time and correctly.  Rate is 0.09 for some account and 0.10 for a harder one.  Every account has a few hard dictators but overall pretty good.  ExText platform.  401K with 100% match of up to 4% after a year of employment.  Not very good insurance.  I feel secure and comfortable - just not making a lot of money.  Not sure about raises.  I haven't had one.  Anybody else know if and when?
What co was that for? I'm sure you did fine.
zzz
You are going to be just fine sm
Every job takes some getting used to and you are never too old to learn new programs. It's just unlearning the old program and relearning the new. You'll get there. TT is very patient.
That's fine
if you are going to judge 'my tone' from posts without benefit of any one on one discussion, you are free to research the possibility of a union on your own.

I'm a straight-shooter, and sometimes that translates to some as harsh... others take my posts with a large grain of salt and/or withhold judgement. Your choice :)

I'm not willing to hold the reins here anyway, merely to help a serious interest proceed.

And by the way, the ant hill is plenty stirred up from my viewpoint. My whole intent was to see if the ants wanted to see a possible solution, or merely to continue venting...
Everything is fine at MQ now sm
We are also being paid downtime for the time we were down, so it wasn't so bad at all!
It's fine :)
Some people have no personality and just love to be negative. I guess it really bothers her that you made a career change. (holy crap)
I think we will be fine and do even better
I think we will have our pick of jobs. I am not worried about any of the names unionized workers resort to calling.

Just keep on keepin' on.

If okay with you, then fine with me
I don’t work for the company but with jobs disappearing overseas today and with most concerned about lack of work, falling salaries, and so on I would think only a matter of time before all go that way.
That's fine.
If they don't have work for me during the hours I want to work, fine. I end up taking the day off. Just part of being IC.

But the problem the OP had was MTSO dictating what hours the MT is to work such as must working from 8-5. They cannot do that. If they need someone to work a shift from 8-5, then they need an EMPLOYEE, not an independent contractor.
Sure, that would be fine
nm
Working fine for me
I haven't had any problems since beginning with Diskriter in January this year.  My benefits are great and they just switched to Highmark Blue Cross because employees surveyed wanted a wider coverage area program.   I meet my incentive almost every week. Working for me!