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What are MTs thoughts on this? sm - VTMT

Posted: Sep 10, 2011

If Obama's job act goes through and employers are rewarded for hiring the unemployed, do you think that will make a difference to the companies that off shore and cause the hiring of more US MTs?

Good question. Hadn't thought of that. - sm

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I wonder if it means the MTSOs will figure out a way to get rid of those of us who are dinosaurs and making decent pay when we can get the work, just to replace us w/ cheap, inexperienced newbies. The new hire pays are nearly what they would be for an MT in India (I've been trying to find a new employer & checking around), and yet India's cost of living is significantly less than a US MT's.

I dont think that will happen - They could do that now

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They have always had that option open to them, so if they were going to do that, they would be doing so already.

Does bring up the question, though, why they prefer to offshore as opposed to training newbies instead.. they both charge about the same.

Why offshoring is perferable. - though not for us.

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I can think of one reason why they'd want to offshore instead of hire US newbies.. payroll taxes. When you're an American EE, your employer pays 1/2 of your Medical/SS contribution. Hire Indians in India, you don't have to pay that since they're not eligible.

I mean Preferable! Sorry about that. - nm

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nm

policy should be for not off shoring - which would domino into - hiring the unemployed. at least for mt work

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.

Among other things, that way they have a lot of cheap - offshore managers, techs & coordinators. nm

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What are MTs thoughts on this - Cricket

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In my opinion, I do not think it will. This is just my opinion. I used to have an in-house MT position, pay per hour. Worked there for over 24 years. Loved my job and benefits. All the MTs were like a big family, then hospital decided to outsource. They said it was cheaper, but I doubt it in the long run. I have been in a financial mess ever since. I know people have to support themselves and families, but I feel the USA companies need quit outsourcing to foreign countries. I know it is cheaper, but look what it has done to the average American people trying to find jobs and working more than 1 job just to break even. quit taking everything overseas. I feel this has been a major downfall for the USA. In my opinion it has a lot to do with greed, pure and simple, more bucks for the rich people. Most rich people could care less about the average hard workers out here as long as their make the $$$$$$$. A lot of it has do with politics pure and simple. It is the incentives America gets from foreign counters and visa versa. I really don't feel it is going to get much better anytime soon. America needs to support Americans, plain and simple.

when there is a tax credit - anony

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on the tax forms every year offering a credit to employers who send work to India, no, it will not change anything. NAFTA was what started all the work going overseas many years ago. Fair trade...HA....the only fair trade we got out of that deal was to lose all our jobs here in the USA, and to pay more to the other countries. It was like, "here is all our work, here is all our money..thanks for sending your cheap crap here for us to buy at twice the price!" Think about it.

They need to change HIPAA regs - oldie

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HIPAA regulations allow the outsourcing. I checked it out with my Senators. IMO, outsourcing puts at risk for not only incorrect drug names, but also identity theft. Think of all of the personal info we have when we access record interfaces. It should not be permitted. I wrote a letter to the editor in my local paper, and I think we all should to make everyone aware that their info such as SS # and DOB, etc is not safe in this situation. Just my opinion, though.

Totally agree! - sm

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I said something about US citizens' records going overseas on my FB page. Even those in large cities had no clue (I'm in a very rural area where a letter to the editor would do no good), and they were shocked to know it happens. I had no clue before I posted it that so many didn't realize what was going on. I think if more Americans realized what was happening w/ their info, the industry would have to listen.

You are correct. - oldie

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I wonder if we found a way to mobilize in an effort to educate the public and media about this if it would help.

The Ed Show..Ed Schultz is very vocal about - doing something SM

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about offshoring. I think his show has a website where we could all voice our concerns. I think he would be very interested in our MR going overseas.

Thanks, I sent him an email - oldie

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Let's hope it gets some traction.

Besides the risk to patient confidentiality - JS

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and safety specifically regarding the MT field, I think we should start addressing offshoring not only costing American jobs, but costing American "green" jobs. As at-home MTs, we are considered very environmentally friendly. Without having to drive to work each day, I use as much energy during 8 hours M-F that it takes to power my computer and a light bulb... that's it. I think I spent at total of $30 on gas last month during a time of record-high gas prices. Now, you take all of us collectively... that's a lot of energy we're saving and pollution we're not creating. And if you then combine that with other careers that can be done remotely that have been offshored, that's even more green jobs that are now gone. Why should we be penalized by losing our jobs (for no other reason but company greed) when we're collectively doing a lot right for the environment? Bad for the economy and bad for the planet... 2 topics that are going to be big issues with the upcoming election, so the timing may be right to put both of these into any letters as well as the issues you talked about in your post. Just a thought. We need to do something.

Excellent Points! - nm - CB

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x

I agree Cricket. Offshoring is a huge reason - this country is a mess NM

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x

I say technology, which opened the door to off shoring. - and took many other jobs on shore as well.

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think about it.

No, that was politics... - MT

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Technology opened the way for people to work remotely, from home, while they travel, etc. Politics drove it out of the country. Can you imagine years ago if you said to someone that once technology advanced, our jobs (and CONFIDENTIAL MEDICAL RECORDS) would be be read and accessible to those in other countries and we would have no say? You'd be laughed at. It's really crazy.

I'm wondering... - JS

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if this will be even more of an incentive for MTSOs to overhire, since the DOL does next to nothing for us since we are considered production workers. Yes, I've checked on this in my state, arguing that since I am a full-time employee who has to work set hours and have to meet a line minimum per day, I should be compensated at least minimum wage for the time I sit with no work being provided. They basically told me that since I work from home and my pay is on production, I'm SOL. I couldn't disagree more, but what's a girl to do?

Don't know the details of Obama's plan, but hopefully there will be some sort of guidelines where this could not happen. If not, depending on how ethical your company is, prepare yourself for NJA just in case.

Unless it specifically applies to only hiring American - MTs, then no, I do not. In fact, -sm

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I'm concerned that it may have the opposite effect. If they get $4000-5000 incentive PER WORKER, (which is how I understand it to be), they'll likely step up what they've already been doing.... starving out the more experienced, "higher-paid" MTs (if you call 8-9 cpl "high" pay), and hire TWO in India for half that. AND get the government cash incentive. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that once again, we are SCR=WED.

Yes, it specifically only applies to hiring - Americans. nm

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.

that is a dangerous way of doing things - sm

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Will it be prohibitive of hiring foreign workers? Will we be training our own replacements? The republicans are for it, so it is suspicious. Whatever happens, I am sure it is just another way to knife us in the back, and with Obama turning out to be a closet republican, we have to watch it from all sides now.

Obama a Closet Republican? - Say what???

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Could you explain your theory on that one? Because I sure don't see it.

He always bows the knee to Wallstent, - I mean Wall Street

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It is interesting to me that despite republican rhetoric, they all are in favor of socializing corporate debt. They're all socialists when it suits them. Pubs and Dems are all the same. They just keep us divided 50-50 so they can tip public opinion any way they want.

Obama is a Republican-socialist-communist-Democrat. Makes sense to me. - nm

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Like all presidents, he wants to please everyone.

Even then - sm

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this reward will be less than what they are making by offshoring and what about millions they have already invested there in developing infrastructure.

offshoring a huge problem in MANY jobs - jan

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I think we have all had it with calling for technical help and getting Punjab who can barely speak English. Computer work is done there too.

My nephew is an electrical engineer for Proctor and Gamble, and he had to go to India and they are hiring new grads right out of school at half what they are paying US grads, and then some of them are brought over here, and it is bringing down all the salaries of the electrical and chemical engineers as well (although they make a lot more so at least they are not at risk of starving like MTs!).

I guess my point is that a LOT of people are affected by this problem, not just MTs, and our country needs to wake up and the politicians need to do something about this! If some constraints aren't put on this, greed will make the rich richer and the rest of us will be begging in the streets

send e-mails to all your reps! - I do on a regular basis

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When the American Jobs Act was first announced, I researched it and read the whole darn thing. I then shot off e-mails to Obama, my US Senator and US Representatives. My e-mails are short and very to the point. STOP overseas outsourcing. This will Keep American Jobs in America. This will keep American Money in America. Once our money leaves the US it will not come back to help our economy!

I have lost MANY jobs to overseas - 1 big account where I was the IC and hired 3-4 people to handle the account to Pakistan. Another ER account to India. Just recently lost an account I've held for 15 years also to India. No wonder America is in such a MESS!

Nothing will change - empirelady

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Nothing will change in the foreseeable future. We let the tiger out of the cage when we allowed Wall Street and big banks/corps run our government. There are very few politicians who do not subscribe to allowing these entities make all the decisions and enforce them. I'm not sure we can ever get that tiger back in the cage again. Corruption has been a part of politics since its inception, but it became openly rampant in the 20th century. Capitalism at its finest is not a bad thing; capitalism at its worst is happening as we speak, that is, allowing financiers to run a country and manipulate the election of politicians who will do their bidding. Again, not making a "blanket" statement, I think there are a few politicians who try their hardest, but they tend not to last very long.

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