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Okay then, why did you jump in? sticking up for slave labor?

Posted By: Peg on 2009-05-14
In Reply to: I was thinking exactly the same when reading - HG

that's what it is


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If offshore owned, they want to play by their rules, treating MTs like slave labor, much like
:+
I'm sticking with MQ, too! nm
x
Sticking it out too
Thanks so much for your post. I, too, am in no position to leave MDI. I have a family to consider and I also find it very disconcerting to look for other jobs out there when most of the other companies either pay not enough to make it worth our while, or are just so rigid with their schedules that it would be impossible to have any kind of flexibility.

Am I scared...sure. But I am just going to tighten my belt a little bit tighter, hop back on my horse, and see where this ride takes me. Tar and feather me...that's fine. This is a decision I have to make for me and my family.
Just another way the Natls are sticking it to the MT
x
So, RadGuy, are you sticking it out at MQ? sm
I know that a while back, you were sticking it out, but how about now? I left and am glad I did, but curious how many are staying. Is it getting any better? Worse?
keyboard sticking .. thus the errors!!
My apologies .. I am going to buy a modem and will get a new keyboard as well .. probably need an eye appt. too!!
Thanks fellow MQ employee for sticking up
for the company. I also work for MQ and got tired of defending it and having to duck from all the daggers thrown by other posters. I work for another company, started last week, and have been out of work 3 times. They send out constant e-mails, ...we have 8 jobs would each of you do 2 so we can get them off the system? 8 jobs and they're freaking out. Or, we have no work, would you please check your e-mails to see when work is available and flex your schedule? Don't have this at MQ.
Slave no more!
I recently left Spheris after 8 years. At this time last year, I loved my job there. Then we were all moved over to the new Cornerstone platform. I watched my paycheck fall $500+ per pay period. On top of having to learn the new platform, we also had a new SR engine. It is a complete joke. I sat in on many conference calls where we were told to just be glad we had a job in this economy. Guess what? This economy has not had any impact on the need for highly skilled, trained, acute care transcriptionists! I am now working for another company. I was given a huge sign-on bonus and have been told again and again how much my expertise, experience, and skills are appreciated. I feel valued and respected, something I never felt at Spheris. The platform is so easy and reminds me a lot of TWS, the old Spheris platform. The speech rec actually works the way it's supposed to.
When I gave my notice, my supervisor started to cry. She said that the upper management has been warned that they are going to keep losing their best talent - their biggest asset, and they do not seem to care. This was the 1st time in 7 years my supe ever said that she appreciated my work, and I was one of the highest producing MTs on her team! They are using MTs to train their speech rec engine, and not paying what they should be. The new platform relies on tagged ShortHand commands -and you will work twice as hard to make the pay you're used to getting.
Please do not buy into that garbage about how we should just take whatever little Spheris is willing to hand out and be happy with it. If you have experience, I strongly urge you to leave Spheris. I did, and it was the best decision I ever made. I now work for a company where almost every employee is a former MT. I don't want to say the name of the company as someone may think I'm a recruiter, which I'm not. I'm just an MT who is now happy to go to work every day instead of dreading it.
As an experienced MT, you have options. Don't ever believe that what we do is something that just anyone can do, or that we should just be happy to have jobs. There are companies out there that value their MTs and will compensate us what we deserve. I was told the company I went to would never pay me what I was making at Spheris, but when I asked for it, they gave it to me. If you have the skills and the quality - you hold the cards.
No. That's SLAVE CHANGE.
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Ugh --- SLAVE wages. - (nm)
nm
Slave No Longer

Ditto to your post.  This new compensation plan is insane.  I am now having to work 12 hours a day instead of 8, while all the while making less $.  I probably make less than the greeters at Wal-Mart.  They expect us to be on standby during our scheduled shift, yet there is no work, and we are not compensated for this time with no work.  Now I have work at midnight and on weekends in order to get my quota, and end up working what should be paid as overtime.  I am going to call the labor board in my state because this cannot be legal.   I suggest we all do the same. 


Yes, they seem to have put in place a director of OPs that came from MQ, only to now be doing her damage at SPi.  I understand she is also busy putting into place managers from MQ, so it is obvious what her agenda is...to mimic MQ, so we know where the direction of SPi is going, and it seems to hold true with this new comp plan.


In a matter of 18 months, SPi has successfully turned what was once a well-respected, successful company with a talented team of MTs and mangers that was once Cymed and turned it into a cold, disorganized machine.  They have had to have have lost millions in revenue with all the clients and MTS who have quit them due to poor service and disorganization, including ongoing unresolved IT issues.  It's almost as if they want to fail!


Folks, it's tiime we all stand up for what is right and make someone pay attention. What is a transcription company without transcriptionists?  We are not slaves and we do have options.  If SPi wants to be another MQ, then let's let them have it and see where they end up in the court system.  


I have been in this profession long enough to know that you can be successful at whatever you do by working hard, treating people with respect, and never compromising your integrity, a virtue that is foreign to SPi.  I for one am sick for us all at the latest turn of events and am going to spend this time when there are no jobs available making the necessary calls and then submit my resignation.  


Let's all stand together and see how long this compensation plan works for them when there is no one to do the little work they have.   They may have people offshore who will do it for even less than the slave wages they are paying us, so I say let them have it and suffer the consequences when what business they have left walks out the door. 


slave wages
These companies really want a return to slavery for the worker. The sad thing is that if you need any income, you'll take it and there is desperation out there, which they are counting on.javascript:editor_insertHTML('text','');
Slave wages??? Not here,
Why are you earning slave wages? Maybe you should take a look at YOURSELF and what is holding YOU back! Probably easier to blame the big bad corrupt MTSO for your problems. I am not earning slave wages. I consider the $20 I make per hour to be decent. For 18 months of schooling, it's not that bad. My husband is a company executive and just took a 15% cut in pay. Hey, maybe he should organize a union for beaten down and repressed executives. Now there's an idea!
Anyone else finding their work drying up in the NE region. Are you sticking around or moving out. I
am not sure what to do yet.
I've decided that MTSOs are sticking it to all of us and blaming the economy -

Here's my thinking -- they all have boats, or houses, or a lifestyle they love so they think HEY... LET'S SCREW THE LITTLE GUY... cut benefits, cut pay, cut jobs, just cut cut cut cut... so that MY life is sweet.  In the process people lose healthcare, income, homes, cars, MARRIAGES....


so thank you, MTSO owner, for shoving it right up our southpole... we love you for always looking out for us... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


Oh, and MTSO -- the only reason we don't move on is because there's nowhere to move TO.  Everyone has followed your lead and decided shafting the worker bee is a great idea.  Well .. it's not.  And someday you'll get it back 10 fold.


Hate to be a slave driver, but

Our apologies for letting her out.  She has no sense of humor.


Glad you're sticking to your guns. We all need to turn down these unacceptable offers!
s
you are working slave wages! Companies sm
were paying that wage in 1980 where I lived at and that was on the gross line not 65 character. I just got hired by a company today that their base rate is 8 cpl and goes higher for experience. You are getting ripped off for sure!
We're ALL earning slave wages. Our job should
You can make more money standing in the middle of highway construction zone with a 'slow' and 'stop' sign in your hand and your finger up your nose, than you can at even best-paying MTSO, these days.
editing rates are 1.5 cents per line....can you say SLAVE WAGES??
 
Sure!!!!!!!!!! Jump right on in!!!!!!!!!!
After the wage and hour uproar they most likely won't ask you to work overtime and not record your hours
May I jump in here...
I have already applied to TT, finished the testing, etc. Does anyone know how I might follow up on my application? Has anyone here done so. I know a lot of people have applied here and they are probably swamped. It has been about a week since I finished my testing. Should I wait another week or try to pursue a followup?
Would jump on more pay
if it doesn't work out can always rely back on your MT skills. As long as work load isn't too much and too stressful, as QA can be much of the time.
may I jump in?
it is not just medical; this is everywhere, I think it is a direct result of shabby schooling. The kids are not getting the same basics we did. At my 30 year reunion, this was a big topic of conversation. Some things are better and more in depth, especially social studies and math and sciences, but good basic English has gone by the way side. and then, of course, there is the internet which I guess actually has more people using some writing skills that otherwise they would not have. and I don't care what anybody says, the boston tea party was not an accident! You really have to be aware of what your kids aer being taught now. Our parents would have been down to the school so fast. Now they are teaching some religion, just not Christian. Big dispute on Houston radio last week. well, enough of that for awhile. Just had to vent.
Where exactly are they all going to jump to?
This has been coming for a long time. I for one am going to try to go into with a good attitude at least and give it a shot. I left my last company (MQ) not only because of VR, but because on top of it they put everybody in huge work pools (otherwise known as the cesspool). It was an impossible situation. They will all be doing it before you know it. Nowhere to go but out of the profession altogether.
Hope you're enjoying those slave wages you're earning.
.
I am so tired of having to jump
accounts to get a laughable report count. With the company I work for I have to work on 4 different accounts to even get the minimal amount of work daily. I cannot stand it anymore. I have to be the most flexible person in the world but enough is enough. Are there any companies out there that allow you to work 1 Radiology account and actually get a decent report count by the end of your shift. I am lucky if I hit 80 reports a day and that is just not cutting it for this single mom.

I guess I just needed to say it outloud. TIA.
Just jump right in. They're okay. nm
:L
Why don't you just jump over to MDI side!
You think Transcend is bad, honey work a week with MDI and then let's compare jelly beans.
Sorry to jump in, but it really IS common
sense not to post account info or patient names.  Yes, the rules of posting are plastered everywhere, and any Transcriptionist of 15 years should know NOT to post private client names anywhere. So, you are arguing and looking more silly.
Jump ship
Their pay plan is horrible to work with. The bonus is based on your QA score, if I'm not mistaken from the month previous and that goes through the whole next month. So if you have a bad month, it will haunt you for the next month!
its sad when ppl jump on a company
just because they can't or won't do their job right! As part of the management at Shapin, I really don't understand where anyone could honestly say we have poor management. We strive to help each and every MT and editor....So...if you're bitter...you must be a bitter person!
Jump on board!
Same with me -- no test, immediate offer, so I jumped and I'm glad I did! 
Oh, I would jump at that chance if available!!
nm
jump ship now
you won't be sorry. 
I would jump on it - MDI-MD is very selective
in whom they hire & would consider myself fortunate to be offered a job with them. Their entire staff from recruiter,liaison,& technical support convey that they are the best!

I've been with MDI-MD for 3 yrs & couldn't be happier! Workflow on my account is 98.9% & is predominately steady; however,there are seasonal periods when work is low or nonexistent. I do have a secondary account, but if that account is low also, I've made sure I've ensured myself a safety net by working extra when the accounts have been bombarded with dictation. There again, I could ask for another account to fill any deficit if I felt it was necessary to do so.

Simply speaking,it boils down as to whether you are truly a SE & are willing to work hours other than 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I have adjusted my body clock & work late afternoon & evenings with plenty of work left over from those signing off at 5 p.m.

Everyone with this company is just fantastic to work with. I can e-mail the manager personally, my liaison or tech support,& know I will receive a reply via e-mail,if not a phone call,within a short period of time, if not minutes, of doing so.

If you have any other questions,please feel free to e-mail me and I'll try to answer them or guide you to the appropriate person at MDI more qualified to answer such.



I am not so sure I'd jump on the KS bandwagon...
I applied and they said they only wanted full-time and would I consider that?  So they talk out of both sides of their mouths.  I have 15 years of experience with Meditech and I would have agreed to a set schedule including a weekend day for employee status and worked on Meditech since I know it, and the recruiter told me no part-time and I sent my resume through their site and she responded right away.  So, if this is a sign of how they operate, I am not so sure I'd want to work there at this point.  That is not fair at all.  I have a lot of experience and for them to just shrug me off yet turn around and hire a part-time person, that's just wrong! 
I think others can jump to another company
but what I see coming in your companies is probably VR right behind them. What I would suggest if people are so against even trying is that, if they are younger, to train for another profession. Nursing would be an excellent choice, nurses always needed, any type of medical field because even in hard times people still have need of people in this field. Ultrasound, MRI techs, anything if so hard to grasp the idea of technology coming down the pike. I personally think by changing jobs will not take care of the problem but changing professions might.
I saw the typo, so don't jump all over me, lol. NM
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Oh yes. I believe I'd jump at the chance.
I really have to say that. Although I have dedicated my life to this job, that fact is easily lost with the smallest infraction by people who scream at me in CAPS. I want to enjoy doing the work I do with such care.
MQ IC's jump on the system and "hog" up
It is like that at any company I have been with, whether we were all IC's or all employees. How some people can wait until the last minute like that EVERY pay period is beyond me.
Before you jump into transcription you should know that we have all been told that
all transcription work is going to VR Editor with very, very little transcription and that we are all going to take a cut in money! Most people at Medware are great and most of them are not the ones making the decisions that will impact us. Going to transcription is certainly not a longterm save for your paycheck!
Don't think I want to jump into the MQ frying pan with all that's been happening lately. nm
s
Oh, so your not seriously looking for another job, just trying to jump start them into paying more..
Not sure that works because there are still way too many transcription companies using Escription that pay less so they probably don't feel to motivated to increase their pay. Although I do know a lot of MTs that have turned them down because of the low pay. Personally, I applied but I couldn't take the pay cut.
I have to jump right in this cesspole & answer
This is what I know and/or what I was told by 2 ex-managers there.

1. You are expected to be on call 24 hours a day.

2. You are raked over the coals if accounts go out of TAT (if your MTs decide not to work for whatever reason on the same day).

3. You make a LOT more money as an MT.

4. You do not have to relocate but you will have to go to Douglasville for a week to get the inside scoop.

5. If you've been a thorn in their side, they won't hire you, so don't even bother - SERIOUSLY. See #6.

6. They hire only patsies and brown-nosers for managers.

7. There are MUCH BETTER companies out there. I feel like a frickin bird out of prison and have never looked back.
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! :)
Why did so many MQ employees jump ship? sm
I have heard made mention on here numerous times about the exodus of transcriptionists from Medquist..  Am curious why it happened?  Medquist from what I remember from years ago used to be THE place to work.  What happened?  Did they start sending work overseas or something?
I'll jump on that wagon . . . sm
I have taken a chance, been here 2 years, things plummeted very badly in the past year but I have decided to hang in there. I told them what I wanted and so far they are, in my opinion, looking out for me, as I am meeting my minimum (that I set with THEM) requirements. I HATE thinking the grass is greener on the other side and finding out what a complete joke some of these companies are. I pray that I made the right decision, because the job hunt is way to stressful. If I have to do it again, I will probably leave the MT field altogether.
Don't jump to conclusions about Wbx being responsible here - sm
you never know what is true in advertising. I'd be questioning the integrity of the J&J recruiters, rather than Webmedx!
Complex issue - don't jump for
First, this isn't as certain to happen as some might think because it's up to Congress and it has stiff opposition.

Second, if it does happen, it won't necessarily impact jobs all that much, although you'll hear this administration spinning the jobs numbers to try to drum up support. A tax provision is ALWAYS about revenue first, and the secondary effects are ALWAYS unpredictable. So this will probably increase revenues somewhat, but there will be ways around it.

The impact on jobs is very uncertain. For instance, in our industry one of the main reasons for offshoring has been the shortage of MTs here; the tax benefits have been a secondary consideration. This tax change won't do anything about that, although, again, you can expect to hear a lot of numbers being rattled off by the White House that can never be proven because they have cleverly included jobs saved with jobs created, making it necessary to try to prove a negative (that thanks to them a job was not lost) in order to challenge their numbers. The employment numbers game has always been very murky and they added a layer of muck to the murk by deciding to lump jobs saved and jobs created together. The upshot has been that you can no longer rely on any estimate of what impact bailouts, stimulus spending, etc. has had on jobs at all.
I'd jump on it as I think I'm making $10 an hour after sm
I made $30 an hour last year. The pay keeps getting lower with this home based MT work. VR is going to nail the coffin in for me. I'd jump on that job if I were you. I'm dealing with 300 doctors right now and nobody to ask a question. Just me wanting to shoot myself.