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It might differ slightly in each state but - sm

Posted By: poorbeach on 2009-06-26
In Reply to: I am sure it is different in every state, but... - HopeThisHelps

I did happen to review a chart of the 50 states and did not run across anything where they required a set weekly amount.  In my state in the NE, to qualify, you must:


1. Have worked a total of at least 20 weeks within the last 56 weeks (year).


2. The total $ amount you earned during the past year is added up and averaged by the number of weeks you worked. (i.e., if you worked for 30 weeks this past year and earned a total of $15,000, you averaged $500 per week). 


3.  This weekly average is divided by 2 ($500 divided by 2 = $250.)


4.  Any week in which you earned $80 or less is thrown out - so as not to unfairly lower your average. (May be $90 or $95 now, as this was taken from 2005 data.)  For example, if you started your job, say, on a Friday and earned $80 for that day, that would not be counted.)


5.  Your weekly benefit amount is roughly $250.00 for 26-39 weeks (depending length of recession).


* They will always use the separation criteria from your LAST job as reason to deny or grant benefits - whether 1 day or 1 year.  For example, you may quit a job after years of employment, then work at a temp for for a week - get laid off of that temp job after that time for lack of work - you're in luck, since they'll use criteria from that last job for your UE claim.




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It might differ slightly in each state but - sm

I did happen to review a chart of the 50 states and did not run across anything where they required a set weekly amount.  In my state in the NE, to qualify, you must:


1. Have worked a total of at least 20 weeks within the last 56 weeks (year).


2. The total $ amount you earned during the past year is added up and averaged by the number of weeks you worked. (i.e., if you worked for 30 weeks this past year and earned a total of $15,000, you averaged $500 per week). 


3.  This weekly average is divided by 2 ($500 divided by 2 = $250.)


4.  Any week in which you earned $80 or less is thrown out - so as not to unfairly lower your average. (May be $90 or $95 now, as this was taken from 2005 data.)  For example, if you started your job, say, on a Friday and earned $80 for that day, that would not be counted.)


5.  Your weekly benefit amount is roughly $250.00 for 26-39 weeks (depending length of recession).


* They will always use the separation criteria from your LAST job as reason to deny or grant benefits - whether 1 day or 1 year.  For example, you may quit a job after years of employment, then work at a temp for for a week - get laid off of that temp job after that time for lack of work - you're in luck, since they'll use criteria from that last job for your UE claim.


It might differ slightly in each state but - sm

I did happen to review a chart of the 50 states and did not run across anything where they required a set weekly amount.  In my state in the NE, to qualify, you must:


1. Have worked a total of at least 20 weeks within the last 56 weeks (year).


2. The total $ amount you earned during the past year is added up and averaged by the number of weeks you worked. (i.e., if you worked for 30 weeks this past year and earned a total of $15,000, you averaged $500 per week). 


3.  This weekly average is divided by 2 ($500 divided by 2 = $250.)


4.  Any week in which you earned $80 or less is thrown out - so as not to unfairly lower your average. (May be $90 or $95 now, as this was taken from 2005 data.)  For example, if you started your job, say, on a Friday and earned $80 for that day, that would not be counted.)


5.  Your weekly benefit amount is roughly $250.00 for 26-39 weeks (depending length of recession).


* They will always use the separation criteria from your LAST job as reason to deny or grant benefits - whether 1 day or 1 year.  For example, you may quit a job after years of employment, then work at a temp for for a week - get laid off of that temp job after that time for lack of work - you're in luck, since they'll use criteria from that last job for your UE claim.


It's a slightly old article -
.
slightly OT, but can you explain what you mean
I am curious because all I ever do is Ctrl-I (admittedly I am really new to ExText myself) and I don't really understand what you mean by the iChart.

TIA!
a slightly different perspective...

My story:  I started a week ago with sneezing.  At first, I thought it was allergies because we took DH's truck for a long drive (the one he takes the dog to the shop in).  But after 2 doses of Benadryl and 6 hours later, still sneezing.  The sneezing started up again the next day and by the third day I was coughing.  The coughing got worse as the week went on and it got to the point where I was gagging on the mucus.  I self-medicated with OTC stuff -- Robitussin, Mucinex, etc.  By Sunday, I was on the couch the entire day.  My body hurt, my ears hurt, I had chills, still coughing and sneezing.  Finally on Monday, I called my doc and made an appt for that afternoon.


My doc did a thorough exam on me and told me that what I had was more than likely viral and that antibiotics would do me no good (I'm old school, I say give me the Z-pack and send me on my way), but not this newbie.  He gave me an inhaler.  We have 3 of those in my house already and told me to continue with my OTC stuff.  I paid my copay and left.


Needless to say, the next time I get sick, I'll wait until I'm dead to go to the doctor's because I'm sure it's just a virus and we can't really treat a virus.  Maybe that's the prob with the workload.  People aren't going to their doctors because the doctors aren't doing much to help.  Save your money and wait it out.


Would do it slightly differently
If you say NOTHING about rates it's off-putting for a potential client who just wants to know up front if they can afford you.

Instead offer some type of range - with the disclaimer that service is customized and rates are too...

You could say as low as for example - you can explain when they contact you what the parameters are for the lowest rate.

You do need a good accountant and if you will require contracts, you need an attorney as well.
Slightly off the topic, but another MDI-MD question...SM
As far as them now requiring 700 lines/day, or 3500 lines/week, if you aren't scheduling yourself the 5 days to work one week if you needed a day off, how do you make up your lines to get your weekly requirement? How many days off can you really end up taking without feeling like you are jeopardizing anything? What if you took 1 day each month, would that be excessive?
Unless something has changed, health insurance rates vary state by state, so we may not have the
info you need.  I'm an IC so I don't have benefits.
Do they still dock pay for slightly lower than normal

expected QA scores, and use stars and apples as QA scores or do they come in real numbers now?


In the past I always opted for a slightly lower
line count in order to produce the highest-quality work. But that was before our cpl was chopped last year. If I did MT for a hobby, I would probably still spend that extra time proofing everything. But I've got to make a living at this, and when pay dips as low as it is now, and I'm already working far in excess of 8 hr per day, the only option left in order to survive is to just crank 'em out, and *hope* they're correct. My guess is QA is pretty much in the same boat, if they're paid on production and not by the hour.
You are correct. The state that rules is the state the employee lives in.
My state laws has is spelled out in their Code. If another state does not withhold, they are fined heavily and if they don't withhold for years, their fines are pretty bad. I worked for a Florida co that did not withhold income tax for my state even after I brought it to their attention in the state code. They kept saying that they would eventually and never did. After two plus years and when I left, I made it known to my state all the conversations, the state refunded me all late fees they charged me and then said they were going after the company in Florida because they had many employees in our state. They deserved it. They knew better.
If MQ has no jobs thus no money, how much worse can Amphion be with slightly lower pay?
:)
The state you live in or the state where the MTSO is located? nm
nm
If company is in state that has no state taxes
they are not required to take out state taxes.  It's enough to keep up with your own state tax law code, could you imagine having to stay abreast of 49 other state tax codes?  The cost would be huge and ultimately passed on to us by lower line rates.  Regardless of who owes the tax, someone has to pay it.  Just a matter of convenience I guess. 
Not state by state, federal labor law - sm
and you don't have to be asked. If you work it, asked or not, they have to pay time and a half OT rate for hours worked over 40 in a week.

Taken right from U.S. Dept of Labor -
An employer who requires or PERMITS an employee to work overtime is generally required to pay the employee premium pay for such overtime work. Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)MUST receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek of at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay. The FLSA does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest.

Extra pay for working weekends or nights is a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee (or the employee's representative). The FLSA does not require extra pay for weekend or night work or double time pay.

Different state to state. You would be surprised to find

IC can be defined differently state to state.  Even the IRS cannot come up with a definitive set of rules.  You would be surprised how many ICs actually get unemployment in some states.  If the unemployment claim form asks specifically if you are an independent contractor, do not lie, but if it does not, do not volunteer it.  Let the company prove you are a true IC according to the rules of your state.  All you lose is a few minutes filling out the claim form.  I would only do it as a last resort.  If you can find work fast, by all means go for it, but the way things are now with all the VR and off-shoring, it is a backup if you cannot find work.  No one should go hungry because they are afraid to file for Unemployment as an IC. 


 


beg to differ
They were Transcriptions Limited.
I beg to differ with you... MTs
xoxoxoxoxoxox
I beg to differ!
I was hired by a reputable transcription company right after receiving my diploma from PCDI. To be quite honest, it is all that I could afford and so be it! I wouldn't change a single thing. I have been doing transcription for over 7 years now and couldn't be happier. I get to stay at home with my 3 kids and LOVE IT!

Don't discredit PCDI just because they aren't as popular as other schools. Any school is better than none!

Peace!
Differ if you will
I also work in QA (not the same person as above), and she is absolutely correct. I'm sure it's not true for all MTs, but we see the work of numerous high-producing, low-quality MTs come through. We know who the high producers are and who the low quality MTs are, information that is not available to most production MTs. The highest producers at our company very rarely receive 100% audit scores.
I beg to differ.

at this point are to stay at home.  This is not the only profession that is advertising this.  Many people telecommute (a nicer term).  Also, the fact that you use the word sucks just shows your maturity level. 


It is really not the business of the client or MTSO (when you are an IC) to know what your personal life is or why you need to not take the jobs offered that day.  It is the client's (or MTSO) problem if they have no one for back-up.  Poor planning on their part does not constitute an emergency on mine.  As an IC, you have a right to accept a job (which could be a voice file or 100 voice files) on any particular day if so desired. 


Please let's be realistic here.  An employee is expected.  An IC should be asked.  Assigned work is for employees not ICs. 


So many here want IC work, and then get upset when it is not there. 


Oh, and there are many productive MTs with children at home even under the age of 5 that love medical as well.  This is a great profession to get into if you want to work from home as well as other professions that allow it.  Let's look in terms of pollution and just plain saving money on whatever it may be, clothes, gas, make-up, etc., etc.  The list goes on and on. 


I've seen everything from special needs children needing their parent at home to grandparents taking care of grandchildren from home because they can MT how they see fit. 


Signed,


Luvin' my stay at home MT life and rearing children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Ahhh, the best of both worlds!


Well I beg to differ, especially since

they have an AcusisIndia website that obviously shows they do.  There is a link on the top of the page to Acusis US.  Now unless they are two companies called Acusis they most certainly do offshore.


They offered me a position a few months before they laid off a bunch of people and I did some investigating them.  I don't remember this website, but I remember reading lots of information about them offshoring.  I have also talked with at least 2 of their MTs and they said that YES THEY DO OFFSHORE. 


 


and I beg to differ with you!
There are two parts to Acusis....Acusis/India...and Acusis/US.  We are owned by the same company.  Acusis US does the accounts that do not allow outsourcing.  None of our work was sent to India.  We just lost a major account.  We are fine though.  Sorry you didn't except the position...you wouldn't have regreted it at all. 
I beg to differ. sm
I feel that the jobs that offer employee status are becoming harder and harder to find. Most of the jobs I have looked at offer IC status and still the insulting rates of 7 and 8 cpl. I have 15 years of experience and I have been working at home for 9 years. When I started 9 years ago, I made 7 cpl. Now, 9 years later, my base is 8.5. That is ridiculous. Last year, I made 40K, which some of you think is good. Just 2 years ago, I made 62K. It has been really hard losing 20K in just 2 years. It just keeps going further and further down. It is so utterly discouraging. I wish had the ability to get out of this industry. Unfortunately due to health problems, I am really not able to venture out of this industry, so I just keep plugging away.

I do agree, however, that it is not always a great rate that makes more money. I had a job making 10 cpl, but the dictators were so bad and the line counting methods did not add up, I was making less than I am making now with my 8.25 cpl as a base. I do reach anywhere from 9 to 9.5 with incentive, but still, you'd think wages would have come up more than than in 9 years! Hang in there and look long and hard. It takes a lot of work and trial and error to find a decent company.
I beg to differ with both of you! This is a
new company that is just getting started. Great owner - very nice, very fair (and before you spout off - yes I do work for her and she is the best). Get your facts straight before you start bad-mouthing people and/or companies you can't know anything about.
I beg to differ!
What do you mean the latest acquisitions, mergers, or other business/financial developments that may or may not occur are of no concern to us? Oh that really is arrogant, because it is of concern. Any employee should be concerned and has a stake in these types of things because it could mean their job is on the line. Apparently you must be in management at Webmedx or M-TEC, or else you wouldn't dare say something like that.

The problem is, see, companies are so secretive that they don't tell their employees what is about to happen, because if they tell them, there might be a huge flight of staff, and they certainly don't want that to spoil the deal. So then the employees get hit from out of nowhere. That is the sad part. You wake up one morning....surprise, surprise!

Cheers!
AG
I beg to differ
I've never accepted the hideous ESLs as part of the job, nor do many of the MTs I know and I've been in this profession a L-O-N-G time.  ESLs have just been foisted upon us and either we deal with it or get out of the profession, but it doesn't mean I've consented and think its absolutely peachy-keen wonderful.  Speak for yourself!
Beg to differ... at 6 cpl?
Not flaming, but I can't dignify that post with a comment. Why not 5.5, 5 or better yet...pretty soon, we'll be paying THEM to let US work for THEM.
i beg to differ
I'm an IC. A real one.

I responded to a company looking for a transcriptionist. I named the rate. I gave them MY terms. We negotiated each other's needs.

I do not ONLY work for that company. My services are available to other services.

I use my equipment, make my own hours.

I hold MTs accountable who want to be CALLED an IC yet ACT like an employee until it doesn't suit then get upset because the expectation of employee relationship is also coming from the employer.

If you're an IC you should be presenting YOUR TERMS to these companies and negotiating the things you need to make it work for you. And I've had 2 instances where having that piece of paper made ALL the difference in the world, so don't believe it means nothing.
I beg to differ
The ORIGINAL post was not responded to - versus as you state: Her original question was not truly *discussed* at all, but ridiculed with rude responses, and nothing more.

Let me say that again in case it was missed: HER ORIGINAL POST went unanswered. It was not ridiculed or given rude responses. THAT came after she posted a SECOND time - and in such a way to invite impolite responses (not justifying them).

The second sarcastic post was clearly out of frustration - assuming that people who read her post purposely chose not to answer her. Wrong on two counts, but at the very least her SECOND post was immature and assumptive.

Let's place responsibility where it belongs: THE ORIGINAL POSTER started this and he/she bears a good deal of the responsibility for the escalation.

I do agree that it seems likely some of the SAME PEOPLE who didn't take/have the time to answer the first post have responded to the subsequent post(s)so there's that.

if the ORIGINAL poster would admit they could have handled things better, maybe the rest of the bees would stop swarming and make the same statement.

This bee is outa here!
I beg to differ with the other posters (sm)
I've been with MQ for four years and I am very happy. No one hounds me, heck, yesterday I was gone to lunch for two hours, and NO ONE called me asking where I was.  As it has been stated before numerous times, things differ from office to office at MQ! That's just the nature of the game.  Don't judge MQ by what other people say, I almost did, and probably would have lived to regret it.  I'd say give them a try, what have you got to lose? Good Luck!!!
Excuse me.... but I beg to differ!
MDI MA is a great company, pay 10 cpl, and I am assuming the software depends on the particular account, as I work in BayScribe and it is very user-friendly and productive, everything right at your fingertips. Everything is on one page, i.e. your demographics and transcription page, one click and you have your physician roster, one click spell check, one click to bring up a previous report. I am loving it.
I beg to differ about the emails sm
Not sure what you mean by "since certain people are gone now," but those goofy, slightly threatening emails have started up again. How many so far today, 5 perhaps? They have been toned down on the nastiness somewhat, but they look like they were written by an ESL: poor grammar, not spellchecked, improper use of the apostrophe - and this from an alleged long-time MT/QA (or at least that is my understanding)!

And, no, these goofy emails don't have a direct effect on my work, but I just find them annoying, heavy-handed, and unprofessional.

And speaking of ESL, I think you forgot to mention the extremely high volume of ESL involved in working at SS.


I totally beg to differ......
I've worked in many pathology departments, referral labls, and the like.  And I'm here to tell you that there isn't a single pathologist that I have met that is willing to go with VR let alone outsource their dictation.  NOTHING will convince me otherwise.  As for radiology, I am seeing too much of it being outsourced to ever believe it will go totally VR.  Besides, VR is an absolute joke!  Y'know that old phrase?  Garbage in/Garbage out?  Well, there are many docs who have already found out that's just VR works.  Just TRY, and I mean just TRY and take out the human element out of the picture (meaning the transcriptionist) and you will have reports coming back that are even worse than what is coming back from India!!!!!  A question here....a very serious one......don't you think that if VR was more effective in transcribing reports that all the companies outsourcing overseas would go with VR before they did that?  Something to think about.  I've been around since 1990 in this field and they have been saying that VR was going to replace transcriptionists back then.  Well, here we are 15 years later and quite frankly, VR hasn't even made it past first base yet.  The doctors, the naysayers if you will, the big companies, etc.  will be trying to find anyway they can to save money, cut costs and so on and the bottom line it, it will NEVER HAPPEN.  The Transcriptionist is here to stay.  There is absolutely no way you can take the human element out of this picture and have the absolute best quality reports/charts/medical information system on the planet....PERIOD.
It's differ, not defer. nm

Beg to differ full QA with The T co. SM

The T. will put you on full QA and KEEP YOU THERE (like they say in England, Until her majesty's pleasure becomes known.)


And there is a certain QA queen bee there that loves doing this, bec. it gives her something to do, and let mgmt. justify her job.  The MTs will be unfairly be put on QA for usually a minor, demographic issue, that is the client's responsibility in the first place, and which work is UNPAID WORK to begin with.  But, MTs will put up with it as long as they allow this kind of treatment.


I would politely beg to differ
about companies not wanting experience. I started MTing in the late 60s. I was given an excellent job at an extremely attractive wage, and I listed every single job I had ever had since the late sixties. Good companies are willing to pay for experience.
politely beg to differ.....
Acute care has a lot more terminology than clinic. Acute care includes more detail in the different specialties and includes operative notes, which is a whole new set of terminology. If you can do acute care, you can do clinic but not necessarily vice versa. Acute care used to pay much more (not anymore I know, don't yell at me). This is why some MTSOs tier their MTs and have a different pay scale for each tier.
I beg to differ, politely though :-)
No, the work at MDI-MD has gone from slow to non-existent in the past couple of months.

If it was not going to Transcend, pray tell, where WAS it going? Straight to India?

Perhaps YOU did not work on an MDI-MD account, but SOMEONE there was. That work did not just evaporate into thin air.
I beg to differ - they are "okay" to work for if you want
the bait and switch game. Some of their accounts are overflow accounts, so you get the no work syndrome often.

The owner is great, but her sister is a witch!
I beg to differ on "you people" There
may be only 1 or 2 complainers, maybe a few more, but most everyone is happy there, so don't put all of us in that group.
I beg to differ, I make more money on VR sm
than regular transcription now.
Beg to differ- we are running OT right now. TODAY. NM
.
I beg to differ. My company is big, and theyre
its usually good. That doesnt mean its perfect, but compared to what we all read here, its better than most. So I think the OP is right: the less said here about an MTSO, the better your chances they'll be decent to work for. Also, theres nothing wrong with 'small'. Smaller companies seem to appreciate their workers a lot more than the big ones do. Some of them pay better, too.
I'm wish you, only wish to differ partly on 1 point - SM

VR advocates DO take into consideration the MT's long-time work experience, skills and knowledge - but to ONLY THEIR OWN advantage.  Else, VR editing would fly offshore (India, Phillies, the moon, wherever) at 1 cpl.  So they NEED highly-skilled US MTs to clean up the crap.


By its very nature, VR technology is designed to save MTSOs having to pay full transcription wages & fool the rest of the world into thinking that we don't deserve full pay since we only clean up while the machine does the actual work. 


They should take out state taxes for the state
nm
It varies from state to state
nm
Varies from state to state
My own state recognizes partial unemployment, too, when your work gets cut down to half of your regular workload/income.
Beg to differ - Transtech had the worst case of
Lazy? Want a lot of lines? Want to send to QA without repercussions? Transtech is the place for you. I did like the Extext but since half the reports had a bunch of errors I moved on. Disgruntled? No. Believer in quality? You betcha.
I'm sorry to differ, the Happy M-day You Rock message
First time anybody where I worked ever wished me a happy mother's day and I really thought it was very kind...I love TT and consider it a blessing to have my job with them. I do pay all my bills too. Happy Mother's Day to all moms!
I beg to differ. Acute Care versus Clinic
You may have the same terminology in clinic as with Acute care, but I promise you, you will have terminology in Acute Care that you will never see in clinic. The terminology in Acute care is more extensive than in clinic. I have done the both, but I specialize in Acute Care with Ops. I've been in the business 30 years. Multispeciality clinic is quicker and easier terminology, therefore the pay is less.