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grass isn't greener, BTDT came back, sm

Posted By: Diskriter MT here on 2007-12-13
In Reply to: Diskriter - anon

I have always been frustrated with management. However, they don't pay management enough and that is a huge reason why they don't get quality people in there. One awesome person they had left and now I see she is even back - grass wasn't greener elsewhere for her.

I left awhile back and came back with my tail between my legs. There are far worse companies out there, I tried 3 before I came back.

Why do I like Diskriter -
Pay is average for industry don't expect anything more than average, on time, direct deposit.

QA staff is very good, only 1 person maybe would not be my ideal QA person there because she really doesn't know what she's doing - she's QA because she can't type fast enough (was told that by a management level person who is no longer there).

Their Tech Support people are wonderful and always go out of their way, very personable and more than willing to help no matter time of day or night. Other companies are not that good or personable.

So, I guess I will be a Diskriter MT forever. Many have left and a lot have come back. They aren't for everyone but no one is.

Feel free to email me if you want to know more.


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Greener Grass
I left Transcend's, never having made $16.00 even once. Now I make a minimum of $20.00 an hour, and on bonus time I get $40.00 an hour.

You must be the CEO of Transcend or something. : )
Grass Isn't Always Greener
I work for a major MTSO.  I work all holidays (without extra pay), nights, and weekends.  Its not that much better out there.  A lot of them will promise you a lot when they are recruiting but when you get your foot in the door, you find out what they said isn't true.  Just a word of advice, quitting over the holiday pay change isn't going to reap you any rewards.  If its on top of other things, then definitely think about it.  But quitting a job for that one reason alone when almost all of the other MTSOs don't pay for holidays anyway, is something to think twice about.  There are much worse companies out there than OSI.  And for those who are already going to start the mud slinging, no I don't work for OSi and no I'm not management.  But my advice would just be to think twice before jumping.  Like I said, I've never worked for an MTSO that paid me for not working the holiday.  Some have paid me a little extra when I did work it.  Others, just don't care about holidays at all.  It can always be worse than what you have.  Maybe you'll find something better but during the recruiting phase, it is so hard to find out what is true and what isn't.  Good luck!
for me the grass is so very greener !!
I had 7 yr in MQ and was able to take my Expander file with me -- so didn't feel like i was losing all the investment of time. I am extremely happy now, making more cpl too, but no bene's other than sweeeeet freedom :) i'd never go back. they asked me at least 4 times...
Grass is much greener!

I am making more $$, have paid holidays, but can work them if I want to.   I have 1 account and have can actually create and use normals.  I ran out of work once and that was on Labor day for an hour.  I was scared to leave MQ as well, but I couldn't stand it anymore.  I like my job again, which is great.


 


The Grass is Greener
I did leave MQ in September after 8 1/2 years and the grass is definitely greener. I took a 1/2 cent per line pay cut and now am making more money anyway. If you find the right company I'm sure you will be much happier.
The grass always looks greener
on the other side.

We are in financial straits. My husband was laid off years ago, which set off a huge ball of stress rolling downhill right at us. We ended up filing bankruptcy 3 years ago and are still paying the price, including a high interest loan on our home. He has been working 2+ jobs for years now. For me, it may always look like the right choice to find a hospital job with benefits but in my case it wasn't. I had been employed at a hospital until last week. The work there was short...and they weren't outsourcing, either. We would actually have to go IN to the hospital and work in Medical Records for our hourly time instead of taking PTO, which was depleted from the sporadic days of no work. I can't afford day care, which is why I WORK FROM HOME. They were pushing the inhouse work at least 2 days a week. That wasn't working for me. I had to quit. They won't be filling my position. I have had an IC job on the side for a local doc and have been lucky enough to find another IC job that has the work. So, hopefully I will make roughly the same...only time will tell...just no benefits. But, I now have a more flexible schedule and can be the mom that I have been missing out on being for the last 3+ years. I know there are people out there that would LOVE to work from home to spend more time with their kids. I love the fact that I can hear if they need something or can stop to cuddle for a minute but it's stressful at the same time when you are pushing to get your work done.

All I'm saying is that there are pros and cons to EVERY job, MTs or otherwise. Not everyone is lucky to find their dream job, but it never hurts to keep your eyes on the lookout.
went to where the grass really WAS greener.

went to where the grass really WAS greener.

Grass aint no greener
From my experience, to hop around, unless you know someone personally, no, two people, maybe even more that work for a particular company you are probably better off where you are, no matter how unhappy you are at the moment. This too will pass...
VERY well said. The grass is NOT always greener. I am happy s/m
to work for Webmedx, even thought things are slow right now. I can recall when I worked for another company sitting for DAYS at a time with NO work --ZERO WORK-- so I am quite happy running out for a few minutes at a time. The world is not perfect.
I work there and I love it. The grass is greener.
xxx
Grass wasn't greener - the poo was deeper though

I was in-house for 3 years.  We each had to work a major holiday every year, 2 if we were understaffed.  And we had to rotate weekends because we could never find part-timers willing to work the weekend, and then we had take an odd day off in the middle of the week so they didn't have to pay us OT.  Plus we had to back one another up in case someone called in sick - ruining our weekends off because we were on call and could make any real plans.  Our schedules constantly changed and it was impossible to plan anything in advance because we never knew when a last minute change in the schedule would affect us.  Often I'd get a call from the boss to come in early because someone called in sick.


I couldn't make any money in house.  My hourly paycheck was set in stone, and they whined and griped if they had to pay any overtime, but would rather force me to take unplanned time off to make up for the 12 hour day they required me to work the day before.  Then someone else had to come in early to cover MY being forced to take off half a day.  It was a circus that never ended and we all felt like clowns.


Now I have some control of how much I make and when I make it - at least a lot more control than I had in-house.


Many MTs do jump around a lot, often thinking the grass is greener. sm
I recruit for a small MTSO (100 MT's) and look at each resume individually. I have a list of which companies do not pay, which companies send work overseas, which companies run out of work (have a lot of complaints about that here). If someone is changing often and has a string of bad luck, that is one thing, but when I see that someone is hopping from one big company to another every 3 months, that's a different story.

Many, if not most, of the resumes I get are from MT's who have either been with one or two companies or hospitals for a long time, or at least have one long-term job on their resume.

I have also found that someone who works full-time for another company or hospital is probably not a good applicant for us, as the full-time job will occasionally need OT, need the MT to fill in for someone else, have meetings, etc. and we are left trying to get coverage. For that reason, I will always choose someone who does not have another job over someone who does, if all other things are equal.

Also, you mention that IC's move around a lot. The MTSO I work for only hires employees, and after being at MTIA last year, he came back and said that most companies are moving to employees only, not ICs, as the IRS and state governments are finding that most IC's are actually employees, and it is not worth the risk of a large fine to have that determination made, even after following all the rules.

There are a lot of great MT's out there right now looking for work. Most of us look for stability, length of experience, flexibility and willing to work and are fortunate enough to have enough applicants to be choosy. When I interview, the MT's who give me their entire life story, complain about everything from their current place of employment to the cost of cat food, list their medical ailments and/or have a chip on their shoulder are put on the bottom of my pile or discarded completely. With so many resumes, there is no reason to hire someone who is negative from the very first contact.
I feel your pain but the grass may not been greener elsewhere!

I am getting a little worried too.  If you can, wait until after Labor Day before you make such a major decision just in case it is simply last minute vacations before the kids go back to school.  I hope that will take care of some of it.  Good luck!


The grass, in my opinion, is definitely not greener. I left QT and a short time later, sm
I came back and was never happier that I did. I should never have left in the first place. I think QT is, by far, one of the most flexible, good-paying, understanding company to work for. I actually enjoy when it is a little slow and volunteer to have a day off. I love to have a day to myself every once and a while.

In regard to the person who waits 30 minutes for work, just call again. Sometimes, the office people get side tracked and then might forget that they didn't get work routed. L told me once, if I didn't have work in 10 minutes, call again. Usually, if this happens to me, the person says something line, Oh, I got busy and totally forgot, I'm sorry, I'll do it right away. Sorry about the long post, I just happen to think that QT is the best company out there! ;)
The grass is always greener over the septic tank. Go find another job if you are unhappy.
MT jobs are easy to find, so very easy to find.
To BTDT
Thank you so much for your very helpful suggestions. I'm very happy to learn you finally found a good match. Would it be possible for you to disclose the name of your company, if we did it privately by e-mail? I've been an employee Transcriptionist for 15 years and am very nervous about making a move to contractor, for many of the reasons you've stated (for example, being taken advantage of), but would be much more inclined to do so with a company that comes with a good recommendation from a current IC. Please let me know if you would do this and I'll forward you my e-mail. If not, thank you again for your time and thoughts.
BTDT
Wow, sounds like we could be twins! I feel good about my decision. I cannot continue to live on the edge, wondering if I can pay my bills or not. I have loved MDI and wish all good for it. I also wish all good for myself. I will do the very best I can for MDI and also for the side-job I have. I wish the times in which we live did not make two jobs necessary; but, alas, they do. A. Sertive, yes, we do work together in a manner of speaking. I can only hope for the best for all of us--the MTs AND the MTSOs. We live in a scary economy and my hope is that everything will work out well. Again, I want to thank everyone on this thread for being so civil.
I agree with BTDT
Be very careful with KS. I worked for them for a short time and gladly went back to MQ. Had a witch of a lead (very threatening) and work which was so sporadic, I went days without any. Perhaps I just ended up on a bad account, but be very, very careful with this one. Get an employee manual and all things in writing as I was lied to at the beginning by their HR person about all things, including the benefit package.
Again, Lee is a very nice person, but still proceed with caution and keep your old job for a while after you begin with KS, just in case.
Spheris-BTDT-got away
I just quit after working there for 6 years.  They're HEAVY into India.  It became very difficult to make a living.  Good accounts would just disappear and when you would ask about them, you'd get lied to and then find out later they went to India.  I  only had one good supervisor the whole 6 years and I had about 8 of them.  My last supervisor wouldn't let second shifters take a day off unless we got someone to cover for us.  They treat their employees very poorly and its getting worse.
Same experience as BTDT
nm
BTDT, I'd love to know why you are such an expert....
you post a lot of negativity, but doubtful that you have worked for BOTH MDI and Transcend.
Maybe so, but I've BTDT with TransTech...
and THEIR ESLs are particularly difficult. It's not just one doc, either - it's a BUNCH!~
the offshore work - BTDT -

I've BTDT. I'm sorry you're going SM

through the same thing.  Here is my advice (for what it's worth).  I would not actually quit until you find a new job.  Then, respectfully, let the old company know that although you feel bad about leaving them that you have to give 2 weeks notice because there is just not enough work to pay your bills.  You could also say that if they do not need you due to low work volume that you could quit effective immediately, but that due to professional courtesy you would be happy to complete 2 weeks (something along those lines).  Just be polite about it.  They know that the majority of us work for a living and cannot expect us to continue to work for a company that does not have work. 


Good luck to you!


Chickadee


BTDT with TT - started out great, but like others....sm
constantly ran out of work or was given the dredges. When earnings were affected, I said ta-ta and never looked back! I'm happy that it's working for you, but believe me these complaints about this company on this board are VERY legitimate. As has been said many MANY times here, one company does not work for every MT - and there are better ones out there. I know - I found one!
If at all possible, hold on to your existing job and try out the other job. BTDT. nm
/
Oh, THAT! BTDT!!! Good luck. There are better companies out there. nm
x
The grass is not green in Radiology
Your friend may make triple what you do, but I can assure you she/he is the exception, not the rule. I have many years' experience in radiology and I can tell you this is one of the hardest specialities in which to earn a living because it is the most vulnerable to voice recognition takeover. Don't quit the 'day job' till you really do your homework about rad jobs.
I have narrowed it to those 3 companies. I am not interested in Webmedx - BTDT. nm
nm
I echo BTDT and left a few months ago. Don't bother. NM
nm
greener where?
I was offered a position with FutureNet. I am not sure though. I know the acct that they are going to put me on is ESLs, not fun!! Where did you find the greener grass, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks much!!
Greener
If I might ask, email if you don't feel comfortable posting. Thanks!
greener pastures
I left MQ about 5 months ago for TransTech, couldn't be happier. They are extremely busy right now, hope it lasts!
To Greener Pastures
It sounds like you have been in this business long enough to know what it has become and how fast it can change.  Don't expect it to be any different with the next company you wok for.  All good things eventually come to an end.  I just started with a small U.S. Company who does not offshore.  Yes, I hope to make it 10 years there, but I doubt it.  I stayed 10 years with the previous company.  The last 2-3 years were awful.  When it gets to the point that you hate to go to work every day and your life is miserable - it's time to look for greener pastures.  They are very hard to find I agree.  I would tell you to look at the smaller U.S. companies who do not outsource.  They pay better and for the most part the work is steady.  They are also a little more flexible with their scheduling if you need that.  They can not afford to over-hire and waste an MT's time.  If you lose your account, they will still do everything they can to keep you.  You may have to go through a couple of companies to find your home and be happy, but save your money for the next change too.
Mind if I ask where the greener pastures are?
with as much flexibility? i could use a backup plan. thanks.
there are NO greener pastures anymore
too many horrid platforms, low pay, so on and so on
not a good company...look for greener pastures
nm
I quit and found greener pastures! Good luck to you. nm
x
I worked in QA for Transcending back in 2000-2001. They were paying hourly back then. SM

The accounts weren't too horribly bad.  The reason I ended up leaving was because slowly but surely they began to inch closer and closer to paying QA by production.  When I first started, the quota was something like 30 reports a day.   We simply had to make sure that we QA'd all reports that were close to being out of TAT first and then do the rest.  Then, my supervisor left and they hired a new one who immediately called a big teleconference meeting and said we had to up production to 60 reports a day.  Then, they started counting lines.  Which was fine because they were still paying hourly.


Next, there was an MT who used VR software because she was blind - yes blind.  Again, when I first started, I was told we had to edit her entire reports because she used the VR software and we had to make sure that everything was correct and made sense.  Then, we are told only check the blanks.  I wasn't comfortable with that and I continued to completely proof every word.  Then I was called on the carpet not because I wasn't meeting the production quota, but because I was ONLY meeting the production quota.  I told them I was proofing all of the MT's work that used VR, I was told that no one ever told me to proof every word of the VR reports and that I needed to fill in blanks and move on.  When I voiced my concerns, I was told that was my job, to fill in blanks and I should move on and strive to product above the standards.  Next thing you know, rumors abounded about changing the QA staff to being paid on production.  So I left. 


There just seemed to me to be too little concern for quality and more emphasis on quantity and I just didn't want to be part of company who would take money out of my pocket just to line their own and that's what they were doing by putting QA on production.  I also am not comfortable with the job of QA being thought of as a blank filler.  There is much more to the QA profession than just simply filling in blanks. 


I don't know if Transcend ever did start paying QA by production, but I could see that the idea was being floated there.  Maybe there was a enough protest that they didn't change from hourly. 


Good luck to you!


Phoenix Medcom- Another apply a few months back, ask to take a test and never heard back??
I applied a month or two ago, received an email from someone asking if I would take a test and said she was getting ready to go on vacation for a week, so I hurried and immediately and told her I'd love to take the test. I never heard back. I waiting thinking she went on vacation and would contact me when she got back to do the test but nothing...very strange..Just wondered if this happened to anyone else.
Has everyone heard back from Keystrokes yet regarding the email we received a while back?
Just wandering why I haven't heard any response yet.
I sent them an email back in August and never heard back sm
Is this company on Long Island? I checked out their website and even tried calling once. Were you successful in contacting them? All i know is that the company is owned by some doctors.

Hopefully, you will hear back. Unfortunately, I immediately heard back from MD-IT
but somehow with over 16 years of experience, I blew the test.  I was soooo disappoionted and yet pretty stunned.  I am by no means perfect but I haven't flunked a test in years.  I expected it in my early years but not this far down the road. I was so confident and they will not tell you which part you did not pass and why so it really just blew my mind.  I must have been in shock for like two hours after I got the email. Oh well, someone will want me....hopefully.  I was thinking about OSi but I don't think I could take another rejection if I never heard back. 
I had the same thing happen, went back to MQ, went back to KS and could not be sm

happier.  I am on a different account then the first time and it is as if it is a different company.  I have a great lead who leaves us alone most of the time but is there when I need her.  It showed me that you can have a different experience within the same company.


I have to say that in the few weeks since they have the new office, it is much more organized probably because there are a lot of people there all the time.  I had the pleasure of speaking to the new HR manager who was HR at a hospital, got my questions answered about insurance as I am going to full time and had a live voice pick up the phone.


Not all change is bad.  This is one company that has changed for the better. 


I was reading about the back up help. I would like also to have some back up work.
I am not getting anywhere near 12,000 lines this go around.  My goal is 12,000 lines each pay period.
Back away from the hoops!! Back away!
I worked for them about 6 months - same mess to get hired - FBI check is right! It was unreal. I was so excited, though - they promised me the moon, and I really thought I had found my new home after centuries with that other company who shall not be named.  What a disappointment, to say the least. All around horrible experience, and I would NEVER recommend them. Certainly they were not worth the hoops at all. Total waste of effort.
Back to ya!
--
Thanks for getting back with me!
x
Has anyone gone back
to Transcend after receiving letter asking you to come back?  If so, how are things this time around?
I'm not looking for a pat on the back and
I know it is like that everywhere but I'm sick and tired of cleaning up after this person, getting phone calls begging me to fix this or that because they can't count on this other MT; I mean the list goes on and on. I know that in this field flexibility is everything but I'm also not bending over and taking it anymore, I'm flexed out!