A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
ON CALL WITHOUT PAY? - ALICE
Posted: Mar 25, 2011
An account manager sent out an email suggesting that we monitor our emails on our weekend days off, and then log on to help if requested. Am I the only one who expects to not check emails or work during my one weekend day off? Even though I have a required schedule, should I expect to work 7 days a week in this industry, including on my days off? Am I asking too much to be allowed to not turn on my computer on my day off, or to be allowed to go out without worry about rushing home to check emails? Yes, I could ignore her request, but she will use that as an "excuse" to hire more help, and then I will be without a job. This is just so unfair and ridiculous. In answer to my own question, I think it is important and totally appropriate that, at the beginning of a new job, IC or employee, that we set limits with employers/clients. They need to know just how far they can push us. If they succeed in pushing us beyond our acceptable limits, then it is our fault for allowing it, for teaching them how to treat us badly.
I work 7 days a week without being asked...sm - alias
[ In Reply To ..]because that is the only way I can get enough lines to pay my bills with, and even then, with all the overhiring and constant lack of work, I am still struggling to make the lines I used to get. I would be totally happy if I even had ONE day off at all, but still would be around checking for incoming work, simply because I HAVE to.
I agree with you Alice. I work 6 full days a - week and take off SM
[ In Reply To ..]one full day, no checking emails, not even getting near the computer. Of course, I could make more money working 7 days a week, and I do need it. However, I balance that with my mental health, pros and cons, and I definitely have more pros in the need for a day off column. This isn't the kind of job where working entails showing up in an office, doing a bit of work, chatting, getting coffee, taking phone calls, etc. It is labor intensive and I physically and mentally need the day off.
Agree with both - me
[ In Reply To ..]Unfortunately, I have to agree with BOTH Alice AND Alias. I too find this job physically and mentally very taxing, but now with my pay being cut in half courtesy of Transcend I have to work 7 days a week, even though I did do that before the pay cut, but now it is even more necessary in order to pay those ever-rising living expenses.
Every 2-3 weeks my husband FORCES me - See message
[ In Reply To ..]To go up into the mountains to visit my sister and her family. All they have up there is a laptop and a satellite internet which is sporadic at best. If I stay home it's a compulsion to keep checking for work and feeling terrible if my rump isn't glued to my chair 20 hours a day, 7 days a week trying to grab every line I can just to make ends meet or save up for a real treat...you know, something HUGE, like lunch at Denny's *eye roll*
At least when he drags me up to the mountains I have no choice but to let go and relax. It's only an overnight trip (around 24 hours), but the peace and quiet and tranquility of it allow me to regroup a bit before I hit the keyboard again.
However, if she ever gets high speed internet up there...heheheheh
Agree with all of you - Alice
[ In Reply To ..]Thank you all for your responses. I agree with many points of both sides of this issue. I also work 6-7 days a week in order to make enough pay to cover my basic bills. Yet, that is my choice, and I expect to be allowed the freedom of choice as an IC. So when I actually do have a day off, which is rare, I do not want to turn on my computer. It is an IC position, with a set schedule, so agreeing to that was probably another mistake. To check emails on my day off and log in to work if they ask seems wrong. I think the only reason why the account manager thinks that asking such a thing is okay is because MTs continue to comply with this request so readily. It is a difficult lesson for me to learn how to accept being disrespected, but it seems that accepting the fact that I am going to be used as a commodity without receiving respect as a human being from this MTSO is necessary these days in order to survive in this business, especially when I really want to work from home. I'm thinking that, in my next IC MT job, if there should be one, as Walmart is looking better all the time, I will make it known at the beginning that I will not be compliant with requests to turn on my computer or check emails on my day off unless I want to do so.
weekend work - old and tired
[ In Reply To ..]My company doesn't ask us to work weekends. I do it to get my line count - otherwise I'd be short. Also, if we don't make TAT we'll lose the accounts and then we will be short work again. It's a real catch 22!! But if they are going to require you too then you should be compensated. But good luck trying to get it!
Not on call unless you put yourself there - MT
[ In Reply To ..]I turn off my computer and I do not turn it back on unless or until I am interested in working OT. Enough of this mandatory OT. I used to check to be sure things were running smoothly on the weekends, but since that is never the case, I have stopped doing that. This OT issue has been going on since January, always with assurances that next week things will be better, more workers hired to cover, and the company is in dire need of us to give up our lives to save our accounts and the threats about if we don't, just maybe that acct will disappear. But 3 months of working OT is good for the paycheck but bad for the soul and the body (and for relationships). No one makes you turn on your computer to look to see if once again you are being asked to give up your free time for shortcomings on the company's part. This is not a new problem, however, an ongoing one for many years. I understand the occasional need for OT, but I have a life, as well as a job.
not required to be on-call during off-duty time - jac
[ In Reply To ..]Each state has a Board of Labor to protect us. Generally speaking, if you worked in an office, you are required to be there on time - not early - and do your job until your shift ends. Whether you work in an office or at home, they cannot require you to report to work early (or your shift begins then with pay) nor can they require you to check your emails on your off time until you report back for duty. Sometimes the person telling you this does not know the law and you can always try checking with your employer's HR department, although some companies just want you to be their slave and tell you that is being a team player. If you were a team, there would be good stuff coming back for us, but with some places it is a one-way street for their benefit and we are just stupid slaves to them. DON'T THINK SO!
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