A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

5 THINGS AN MT DOES NOT WANT TO SEE IN JOB POSTINGS - MTSucks

Posted: Apr 21, 2014

1. Companies that brag on themselves. "XYZ Transcription, a an industry leader, has been in business since the first Christmas and therefore is the best. We therefore deserve only the best MTs that love playing on our team regardless of how much they want to play for the only team that matters to them, I.E, their family; adhering to turn-around times under penalty of death; and really don't give a hoot about anything but the MT Companies. We are growing and growing and growing and are so wonderful that it hurts." News flash... WE DO NOT CARE! Go toot your horns somewhere that matters. I have actually seen a particular MTSO that comes out right and says they are looking for the best of the best. Well, now, really? How arrogant can you get? An average MT should be making no less than $20/hour. Never happen of course! Does that mean you wouldn't mind paying for the best of the best, more than $20/hour? Oh, gee, speechless are we?
2. Competitive line rates. Look at this from our point of view? What does that even mean? For this MT, it's nothing but code for, "We will pay you as little as possible while finding reasons to pay you even less." Take your competitive line rates and shove 'em! Oh, wait, you can't do that because then you would have to commit to a line rate that doesn't suck and actually stick to it. Worse yet, you would have to pay us in a way that doesn't punish us for horrid dictation, lack of work, systems that go down, doing research, verifying demographics, reading through scores of feedback reports, or any of the other myriad of things we MTs have to do for free or that slow us down for reasons we can't help.
3. Companies that say they realize their MTs are a valuable part of their business. I have one wordd for you: LIARS! I actually saw a post this morning on that other MT Job site that came right out and said that their employees are their most valuable asset. What a crock! Reality is that the client is what matters because they are the ones who have your actual most valuable asset, the US dollar. Sure, you realize that without the MT you wouldn't have anyone to make work for you and then take half or more of what you actually charge the client for yourselves. Don't bother with this one. We simply don't believe you.
4. Companies that say they have plenty of work. So what? It still doesn't pay enough. The dictators are still egocentric shaved apes without a thought for anything but getting done with their yucky dictation as soon as they can do it and still keep their admitting privileges. The conditions are still perfectly fair to everyone but the ones doing the real work.
5. Companies that say they treat their MTs like people rather than numbers. Frankly, we don't care if you are willing to jump between us and a rocket launcher wielding maniac. Kindness doesn't feed the kids. Besides, that's another lie. There is no MTSO that treats people like people anymore than the CEO of AIG would get out of bed for less than eight figures.

You tell it like it is (sm) - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
We ought to start an MTSO - the EESA (Editing for egocentric shaved apes).

Let me add one: Must produce 125 LPH transcribing and 250 LPH editing.

What also gets me is the "competitive line rates" - competitive with what? 1970?

Rose - Lakesha

[ In Reply To ..]
My goodness, if you cannot do 125 lph, you are in the wrong field.

The point was they quote double lines for editing than transcription. - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
I've edited less than 125 LPH when I have a slow database, lousy dictator, no demographics and endless searches required to get first name & titles for cc's. You can't just say one figure is good or bad without considering the variables, but that wasn't my point. My peeve is that they continue to claim we can edit in half the speed as we dictate.

Rose they made over 0.30 cpl in the 1970s - sm - InkMT

[ In Reply To ..]
go talk to some oldtimers when it was done on the typewriter with carbons and 5 different colors of white-out. They made a lot more then as it took so much longer to do, no internet, just books to use to look up terms and other MTs for input. I'd kill to make what they made then, lol. With today's advantages, internet, spellcheck, computer, etc., you could make a serious killing making 0.30cpl.

In 1975 I started out at my company making - 0.6 cpl, then raised to 0.7, and - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
0.75, until I left for an even better hourly MT job onsite at a hospital.

If you think anyone can even make a living on 0.3 cpl EVER, let alone in 2014, I have some beachfront property in Kansas I'll sell you real cheap.

Your unrealistic view of "fair pay" makes me think maybe you live in Bangalore or Mumbai.

wow, you got ripped back then. even in 1980s I was making 15 cpl - in 1975 I was in-house hourly. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
.

And I thought I was an "Old Timer" (sm) - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
Thirty cents per line in the '70s??? I started in the 80's and the going rate was .10 cents per line. I was paid hourly in the 70's in jobs that included typing and remember the multi-sheet reports with different colored carbon paper and my pink, blue and yellow "white" out. What a pain!

One thing those with the power hate to see - eeeeeee

[ In Reply To ..]
The word "sucks" in any kind of professional context. That alone gives me reason not to hire you.

Let's define professional - MTSucks

[ In Reply To ..]
Professional also means not committing deception or theft while running a sweat shop and treating independent contractors like employees while avoiding paying W2 taxes, workman's comp, or benefits, along with getting away with even paying the meager federal minimum wage while telling us when to work, what tools to use, and in what manner to accomplish that work, i.e. reaping all the benefits of an employer-employee relationship without adhering to any of the legally mandated employer responsibilities. Simultaneously using independent contractors rather than employees to do work that is a key part of your company's very existence, an illegal activity by the way, also dissociates the word "professional" from the "context" of your company. Hire me? Gee, sorry, I already have a job, which I acquired in an actual professional context with a professional resume listing qualifications that speak for themselves in a professional manner, not in an informal MT forum. I do my best on that job because of the most innocent part of the whole equation, i.e., the patient, not the doctor and certainly not the money grubbing MTSO. Professional? Don't you have some hard working medical language specialist to shaft?

To MTS**** - Observer

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow, I have never seen such bitterness. What can you possibly contribute to this conversation that is constructive? Your attitude will poison you. And no, I am not one of your hated MTSOs, just a simple MT--one who does not have a filthy mouth.

same here and I agree. It's immature and these people - never amount to anything much in a professional wo

[ In Reply To ..]
...in the professional world. my opinion borne of the attitude they are projecting.

Two sides to bringing us (MTs) down, making us (MTs) look bad. It's embarrassing to the rest of us.

Generally people who speak this way - Linda

[ In Reply To ..]
Have either no self-esteem or no education or perhaps lack both. They sound like they belong in a pool hall, not in the professional world.

Doesn't matter. Those in power suck, and so - do their lousy companies.

[ In Reply To ..]
XYZ

You betcha it matters - Linda

[ In Reply To ..]
Your attitude stinks.

you know, do right by the rest of us MTs who know how to talk decently - and become something else in life. quit

[ In Reply To ..]
attacking - PERIOD. Truly not necessary other than it makes you feel better about your sorry self.

The minute you open your mouth in that manner you leave the rest of us to think...well no wonder. And that's what sticks. You kill your own issues and are regarded/remembered as nothing else but trouble, questioning if that is why you have it so bad every job you get. You are not helping us (MTs) get taken seriously.

Emotions need to be checked at the door, but do bring the issues. Can't talk w/o flying off emotionally, then you are not ready to discuss anything. No one, business or not, should have to sort through your waves of emotional rants to get to the root of the problem you are having with whatever. Certainly no desire to work with or alongside that.

I am an MT, not an MTSO. I have or have had a lot of your complaints, some worked out, some not, but discussed decently and heard at my workplace. And yes it does matter - I used to be you, Chicken Little.

You know, you're right - Also a professional

[ In Reply To ..]
Trash talk would not make me want to hire this person. Truly, is such low-life speech common among MTs? I would like to think not.

but it does suck - TOTALLY SUX!

[ In Reply To ..]
xo

Well, I guess you have your standards - xxxxxx

[ In Reply To ..]
Glad you don't work for us.

agree. and they seem to be high for everyone - but herself. she stands out tho.

[ In Reply To ..]
pity.

What I do not like in all these wonderful job ads - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
A complete and total job description, which is usually going to require second or third shift, or a weekend day; however, the type of work or account is rarely mentioned. Worst of all, they want you to test before the pay is even discussed. Why such a big secret? It's not like whoever you hire is not going to find out anyway. I am tired of jumping through hoops. Employers, please make your ads complete and honest. Competitive pay? Really......? According to who?

The competition is to see how low THEY can go. - and still get warm bodies to do their grunt work.

[ In Reply To ..]
I wish we could all leave en masse. It's the only way to make an impact. Yes, I know the patient would probably suffer, so that screws us because we care.

and this person who calls herself MTSucks is doing that grunt work obviously. - NM

[ In Reply To ..]
Single frigging handedly. Poor baby...pitchin' her tizzy all over the place.

if the name fits...and it does.

I could think of more pleasurable grunt work that pays much - more that would work for her

[ In Reply To ..]
type. And it's tax free as well.
winkie-winkie.

(I take her that seriously.)

Pay is a big secret because what they usually - pay is below state & federal min. wage.

[ In Reply To ..]
XYZ

Not all pay low - a2 plus b2

[ In Reply To ..]
I get 9 cpl plus bennies. Not all companies are ogres.

you know this for a fact, do you? statement not credible. - when I apply, they negotiate. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
fact of my life.

5 things - catherine

[ In Reply To ..]
You tell them sister! But you forgot my favorite...we treat our MTs like FAMILY...screw that. I have a family. This is a JOB. I don't need your friendship OR your family...I need work, I need to be paid on time and I need to be treated with a modicum of respect and STOP the every 20 minute emails and chats and don't even think about treating me like FAMILY. Treat me like the PROFESSIONAL that I am.

Yep. All hat and no cattle. No msg. - nn

[ In Reply To ..]
No msg.

There's the door... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]

We get it, OP. Some of us are not yet to the level of negativity that you are, although it is a dying industry. Since we know the MT industry is on its way out, we have 2 choices:

1. Get out.
2. Stay in.

There are other careers, believe it or not, if you make up your mind to look outside the MT industry. None of us are getting rich in this career, and most of us are barely making it. I made the decision a few years ago to change careers. I work at a university in a job totally unrelated to MT, and still work a few hours at home per week for an MTSO. It can be done. We've had years of warning that this day would come. I didn't wait to the last minute to change careers. I didn't want to wait until my heart was as full of hatred and misery as yours is. No job is worth that much pain.

To There's The Door - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
It is very nice that you have a job outside of MT now, only doing it part-time. We know our choices. However, you do not know why people are still here. Your condescending tone is that this is somehow are fault. The OP has a right to be negative. She was actually talking about job ads for MT positions.

It appears that you simply wish to rub it in our faces that you are out, and doing fine. That was your choice. Let other people makes their's. You do not know everyone's situation, so tone it down a bit will you? Posts like your's get very old.

You both have good points, I agree that - sm - InkMT

[ In Reply To ..]
"there's the door" could have put it a bit better. Reminds me of an old boss at an office job...if we asked for a raise (we'd go 4 or more years w/o anything on a regular basis) he'd say, "If you want more money, there's the door.". Needless to say, moral really stunk there. I eventually got out of there, though some diehards are still there. He ended up dying from pancreatitis about 7 years later (drank a lot and did a lot of prescription drugs, worked about 20 hours a day) at a young-ish age, was about 60 then I believe. Karma finally bit him in the butt, he was only nice to his family, was a huge supporter of family, though only his own, lol. If you had a sick kid or were sick yourself, he expected you at work no matter what.

Agree though, if you are unhappy, get out. I know some cannot due to their personal circumstances, but there are other at-home jobs, some call centers use home workers, or if you have a hankering for being a phone sex operator you can probably triple your income, lol, you can tutor online too, etc. I am getting out soon myself though not completely, I expect to be able to leave my FT MT job in about 2-3 months, but will hang onto my secondary MT job and keep my hand in as well as earn gas money, though my gas usage will be about the same I believe as it is now (I drive a lot despite working at home). MT has been good to me for the past 12 years but it is time to get out, it takes me working 3 jobs to make what I made a few years ago, sad. So sick of it, know my family is sick of hearing me say, sorry I have to work or hear me complain about it a lot. So going to change all that and move on from MT being my main income. I know where I am is moving towards getting rid of us, lots of changes afoot so time is ripe to plan my escape! Good luck to us all.

I am trying to get out of MT too but it is hard - my resume is treated like a leper

[ In Reply To ..]
And before any of you start with the whole "your resume is not blacklisted, it's your attitude" blah blah blah, I have been trying to get out for 4 years, only had 1 interview that didn't hire me, and I've applied to over 50 jobs since 2013 so yeah I'm trying to get out, need to get out, and will stay in MT until I can get out because at least it's an income but the only thing I get offered is from a temp agency for $9/hr jobs. I make more than that doing MT plus have insurance so that's why I stay in, but I keep trying! You name it, I've applied for it (except stripper or waitress), pretty much any and all types of jobs, shifts, companies, and even the same hospital postings over and over again! You'd think that they would get the hint that I want to work for them when I apply to their same job posting every 4 months (as it reappears over and over again). I can't change my resume any more...

Sure, she has a RIGHT to be negative, but - Apples

[ In Reply To ..]
what does it accomplish? If she would put as much energy and passion into getting a job in another field, going back to school, etc. she could be building something for herself rather than wallowing in her negativity. How about that saying: IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, CHANGE IT. If the only thing you can change in this equation is to leave, then do it.

I love this. Thank you. nm, none needed! - IMANMT2

[ In Reply To ..]
:)

I love this - catherine

[ In Reply To ..]
I did too IMANMT2. Really really really loved it. I was positive I would do this until I retired years and years and years from now. Because I loved it so much, I overlook warning signs until I could no longer avoid looking at them. Now my options are very limited. Be aware...no matter how much you love it...just be aware of what is happening around you. A plan B is not at all out of the question either. Ask yourself...WHAT IF...and have a back up plan. I hope your transcription career lasts as long as you want it to...but if it ended tomorrow...What then??

A thousand thanks for all your support - MTSucks

[ In Reply To ..]
I have gotten so much support from fellow MTs on this thread. I truly wish I had the time to reply to all of you individually to say thank you. Please know that your kind words and defending of my initial post has not gone unnoticed and certainly not gone unappreciated. To the detractors, the self righteous ones who have passed judgment on me, to those who assume I am not making plans or taking steps to get out, to those that think I'm just a miserable person being poisoned by my own hate, I say this: Look at the number of dislikes to the number of likes on the posts you made berating, belittling, taunting, and otherwise browbeating us for daring to express anger at being abused. I think that says quite enough about your haughty attitudes. If there are any humble managers of MTSOs reading this (if such even exist) and other conversations like it, you know and perhaps care what the industry and the MTSO is doing to us. If you have the ability, do something about it. We are between a rock and a hard place every second of every day. No one likes to be miserable, but not everyone has the ability to take steps to make it go away immediately or maybe even ever. Most of us don't have anyone who will help us survive while we take the serious time necessary to learn a new skill, for instance, as mortgages, car payments, and hungry children don't go into suspended animation to accommodate us. If I suddenly strike it rich, I would give as many MTs as I could enough money to survive for one month while we all boycott our jobs. That might perhaps get the attention of a few people who are concerned about record keeping, turn around time, and patient care, as well as their own precious unsnatched purse strings. Thanks for reading, everyone.

Thoughts? - REX

[ In Reply To ..]
Can I for one minute address the other side of the coin? As the owner of a 100% domestic transcription company, I fought for YEARS to keep the work in this country in order to keep 72 MTs and myself employed and produce a consistently high quality product. My accounts were yanked from me one by one due to not being able to compete with offshore prices. I am now in the process of rebuilding my business with two partners who have already invested $250,000.00 in the EMR/EHR software but again, I am stumped as to how to keep the work here if MTs are not willing to work for a lower cpl. How do domestic transcription companies compete to stay in business as we need to make a profit also. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Feedback - MTsucks

[ In Reply To ..]
It is not even a matter of being willing to work for a lower CPL. The current CPLs are already way too low for very difficult and skill-intensive work. They don't let us pay the bills unless we happen to have an account with lots of free lines/templates or work 12 to 16 hour days. By the way, if you're a medical facility representative reading this, you're the root cause of it all. Angry as we are at the MTSOs charging twice as much as they pay us, it's you, doctor (and I use the term loosely) who have started this snowball effect. Does this sound familiar? "I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity." It's from the Declaration of Geneva. You probably took this oath way back when you were about 25 or 26 years old. Some servant you turned out to be. If you're a hospital administrator...Well nevermind. You're not even worth addressing.

Bottom line? You can't. That ship has sailed. - All MTSOs shot themselves in the - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
foot when they started getting greedy, and when they started caving in to the unrealistic demands being made on them by the client hospitals. If MTSOs had stood together on what constituted a fair price for MT, and refused to be haggled down in price, there would've been no need to start the cannibalistic undercutting and low-bid wars that followed.

You had the market cornered, simply by offering a service that was mandatory for hospitals. That they couldn't get accredited without having done correctly and up-to-date. You could've charged anything you wanted, had you not tried to beat out the other guy.

But no, you started the downward slide of charges, MT pay, and - eventually - your own profits. And MTSOs that embraced the VR software that accelerated the speed with which MT was circling the drain are the most deserving of getting flushed down first.

Just as we MTs say to each other these days, I'll say this to you: If you want to own a decent business (both profit-wise and ethically speaking), you're in the wrong business. MT is going to be dead in a short amount of time.

I feel sorry for all the trusting, hard-working MTs you guys dragged down with you while you ruined this profession, but I don't feel one bit sorry for you or others like you. You all are getting what you deserve: FAILURE.

Just have to address this - not an MTSO

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm just a regular MT working at home like the rest of you. But something really bothered me about this post. When you said, "You could've charged anything you wanted, had you not tried to beat out the other guy." Um, no, that's not how it works. If the other guy offers a better price, then the other guy gets the job. That's the nature of competition.

I do feel that part of the problem is the big MTSOs who have gobbled up the smaller transcription companies and are able to offer the cheapest rate to the hospitals. The little guys just can't compete. The big guys started shipping the work overseas (which I think should be illegal with the HIPAA rules) in order to get the price down even lower. And then along comes VR. They made big promises to the hospitals that they could cut their transcription costs in half because VR was doing most of the work (the lie of the century), and tried to sell us on the fact that it would be so much easier for us to just follow along and change the occasional error that the computer made (tied for first place as the lie of the century). Because they offered this service to hospitals at half the cost, they had to cut the pay in half to make it work. So we all went along because we had no choice. How many of you out there have gotten the dreaded email... Wonderful News! We're switching to VR!

So, please don't bash this poor guy who was just trying to make a living like the rest of us. Competition is the name of the game in this country (and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way), but greed and technology have abducted this once-great career and turned it into sweat-shop labor.

I think there will always be a need for MTs to at least edit the crap that VR puts out. It will never be perfect. But the technology will get better or will change altogether in the future. I won't stick around for it, though. I refuse to do VR and when I can no longer make a decent income as an MT, I will find something else or retire.

Someone who finally makes sense - REX

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for finally understanding that we are not the enemy here. We are just a much a victim as the MT is. I didn't sell out, didn't go offshore and didn't use VR - so how can I possibly be blamed for contributing to this chaos - how could anyone possibly suggest that I could have "charged anything that I want" - how does that make one iota of sense?? All I'm trying to ascertain is that if I am able bring some work back to MTs in this country by partnering with two others, is it possible to hire MTs that we can afford to pay and still make any profit (pretty important so have a profit to maintain a business!)

Pros to attract MTs - CB

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you'd be able to attract quality MTs at the going (low) rate if you offer such things as:
A highly accurate VR platform (minimal changes, which entails NO over-editing and NO nitpicky QA).
An MT-friendly platform.
Flexibility to schedules. For example, a 12-hour window to get your 8 hours in.
Rotating weekends and holidays.
Encourage feedback to clients regarding proper dictating skills.
Assigned primaries so MTs can become familiar with accounts and physicians.
What the dictator says is what is transcribed (not putting all the burden on the MT to move headers around, take out the patient name, put in the patient name, change format of dates, etc.).

For example, I used to work at a great company where physicians knew that we would simply transcribe what they dictated in the order they dictated, used the same standardized formats and headings, had assigned primaries, no arbitrary 'rules' or heavy-handed QA, and worked on a great VR platform which required very little editing. I averaged 450 lph on that VR program. On the other hand, I've worked at M*Modal with 20+ primaries, pages of account specifics, a platform that makes the MT jump through unpaid hoops, offshore ILPs who incorrectly QA'd reports, a dock in pay for sending/asking questions of QA, and lots of stress. I averaged 200 lph on a good day. Although I was paid 5 cpl for VR at both companies (+ weekend differential with the good one), the difference was $22.50 vs $10. I quit M*Modal.

Thank you Pros - REX

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for the helpful information - when I am looking for MTs I would never even consider hiring someone who is so overtly nasty and bitter as some on this board, to the point where it would clearly affect their work. While we may not like the rules that we are being forced to play with, possibly affecting patient care by working in an industry which you clearly despise, would all be taken into consideration which I am looking for staff. What I can't understand is those that are on this board to make such negative comments, when obviously they're not even working as MTs anymore. In my opinion, that time could be better spent moving on to a career or job that would make them a much happier person with maybe a little less hatred for everyone and everything around them. Please keep in touch by Email and I will keep you apprised of the progress in this new venture.

You didn't do all those things, but YOU are - asking us to work

[ In Reply To ..]
for less money so YOU can stay in business and make a profit while we can barely get by as it is. Just as bad.

REX - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I am really tired of people who speak of ALL MTSOs as being the devil incarnate. We ran an honest business, paid well, and took good care of our people. When the big companies came along to snatch our clients and take the work offshore, many small mom and pops and mid-sized MTSOs were harmed just as much as the MTs. I think it is disingenuous for people to paint with such a broad brush as they do when they say "ALL those MTSOs......" It shows a lack of logic, a lack of basic reasoning skills, and most of all, a lack of compassion. The small/mid-sized MTSOs are not and never were, the enemy.

"Great" point of view - REX

[ In Reply To ..]
Maybe you should know more about who you are speaking to before making that sort of comment. I didn't drag ANYONE down - I kept everyone working as long as possible with very decent pay. And I NEVER used VR so there goes that argument also. When accounts are pulled from someone who ran a business for more than 30 years to send the work offshore in order to save money for their practice, how could that possibly be the MTSO's fault? I had the option for many years of going offshore to increase my profit and save my business, but I chose not to. So maybe you should have more info before making that sort of blanket statement. Thanks.

can't help but think - cmt

[ In Reply To ..]
maybe there are some physicians/hospitals who don't want their patient information going out of this country. Maybe that should be the main focus. I feel sure most patients wouldn't want that. MAYBE some physicians/hospitals would be willing to pay more to keep it here and wouldn't want to have their name associated with pretty much a "sweat shop". Just an idea...

cmt - REX

[ In Reply To ..]
That is exactly the direction I'm trying to go in - thanks.

Re: Thoughts - nn

[ In Reply To ..]
Many, if not all, of these MTs have legitimate concerns. I have been an MT for over 30 years and, a darned good one, I might add. I have gone from making $1000 a week at 10-12 cents a line, down to making half that at 0.7 cents a line. When I started working from home as an MT in the late 80s, I was making 0.5 CPL. What does that tell you? Our wages have gone down to the point that many of us are either on the brink of being homeless or ARE homeless because of wages and VR.

EVERY company has "costs" involved -- that's part of being in business. I, and I am sure the other MTS, really don't want to hear about how you "just had to invest 250K for a call-in system. You, I am sure, took out a loan for that, which can be paid back over SEVERAL years. You didn't have to come up with that amount of money in one lump sum.

We MTs have "expenses" as well. Rent/mortgage, utility bills, etc. Do you think that our landlords, mortgage holders or the utility companies are going to "wait for their money?" Answer is a resounding NO! We can't take out "loans," and pay our day-to-day expenses over time.

I for one, have a physical disability that makes it difficult for me to do VR editing. I have been terminated from a company because I cannot meet their stupid "X number of lines an hour" line requirement.

The AVERAGE cost of an apartment where I live (and by no means a castle), is close to $800 a month. Add to that electricity, gas, cable, water, food, medications, etc. At 7 cents a line, I have to work 12-14 hours a day -- sometimes longer, to meet the goals that I need to make where I can keep a roof over my head.

I guess I consider myself fortunate in that I am the only one that I have to support, but I have lost my home, I am "technically homeless," and I am having to stay with family right now, until I can get some kind of a nest egg built up again.

You ask if MTs would be willing to work for lower wages if they were guaranteed work?

My question to you, sir, is how much lower do you think the wages can go?!

Answer to nn - REX

[ In Reply To ..]
I didn't invest anything - someone who I may partner with did. My house is in foreclosure - probably would be hard for me to get a loan, don't you think? I did absolutely nothing to cause this downslide in transcription except do everything right - so maybe you should know more facts before you make comments like that. Thanks.

Rex, in reply to your response to me - nn

[ In Reply To ..]
Rex, first of all, I am sorry to hear of your housing situation. Secondly, you were right, I do not know all the facts involved. I truly think what many of the MTs resent, is the fact that many, if not most, of the MTSOs are making huge profits and taking home 6,7, and even 8 figure salaries all at the expense of the people that work for them. They aren't out there in the "trenches" like the rest of us. I have to agree too, that what I have seen with companies and read on here, is that there is way too much "middle management/micromanagers/middlemen." Those costs could be trimmed significantly and provide a profit for you and both the MT. I am just thinking more in terms of the "big 2" but why do they have QA, then another level of QA, and then yet ANOTHER level of QA? These are costs that could be eliminated and hence, your company is saving money, you are hopefully making some kind of a profit :) and those things at some point, down the road could be passed on to the people who work for you in terms of a higher wage.

One More Thing - MTSucks

[ In Reply To ..]
I appreciate your good intentions here and your courage in posting. The grim fact is that MT just really doesn't pay enough. One MTSO is not capable of effecting change. It would have to be done on an industry wide scale. My contention is that the majority of MTSOs must be doing all right, or they would want to effect change as badly as we MTs want that change, which is why things are going from bad to worse. This is some food for thought. The industry is indeed dying, and when it finally does, the MTSOs will die with it. We MTs are not going to be the only victims. If I were running an MTSO, I would find that a rather sobering thought, and I do feel bad for anyone who makes a huge financial investment only for it to go south. That hurts. Still, no one is really on the side of the MT. We are medical people entrusted with the responsibility of even making sure that what a highly trained medical doctor is saying is not complete crap, but no one cares about that. All we are to the MTSOs are disembodied hands on a keyboard, and all we are to the highly trained doctors are complete nonentities.

Thoughts - mtinmi

[ In Reply To ..]
So you had 72 MTs, so you must have some accounts that were facilities where in-house MTs lost their jobs or you hired them for less pay. Then someone underbid you, so you got a taste of your own medicine, nasty isn't it. Maybe you were a good employer but the underlying fact is what your business is/was, the same with the other MTSO that do this and underbid one-another, the "savings" to the client with no regard to the MT that is doing the work. I commend you for wanting to keep the work in America but kind of a double-edged sword; the MT to take less pay, I will pat myself on the back for keeping the work in America, but still make my hefty profit. Try living on the $$ you would want to pay MTs to do your work and see how you would feel being asked to live on such slim-pickings.

I don't know about Rex, but... sm - not an MTSO

[ In Reply To ..]
My husband owns his own business (not an MT business). It's quite small and he has one employee. He used to have him classified as an independent contractor, but made him an employee because he was told the laws were changing and it was best that he do this. So now it costs him thousands of dollars more per year for this one person to do the same work, because now he has to pay unemployment taxes, worker's comp insurance, etc., that he didn't have to pay before.

You might think as a business owner that my husband is making lots of money. But he pays himself about the same amount of money as his employee (he makes less than $20 more per week than the employee). But because he owns the business, he also owns all the headaches. The other guy comes in and works his 40 hours and goes home. My husband still has to take care of the books, order all the supplies, make sure the equipment is in working order, go out and find more work, and work nights and weekends when there's a lot of work. I've seen him pull 24-hour shifts. He's responsible for the loans, the lease on the building, and making sure all the bills get paid. He has to bid on all the jobs he does. In that bid, he has to figure out what it will cost to do the job, plus enough extra to cover the overhead, payroll, and hopefully make a little bit of profit so that we can retire someday. If he bids too low, he ends up doing the work for free, but if he bids too high, he doesn't get the job.

I understand your frustration as an MT. Many of us can't make a living on what these companies are offering. But nobody is forcing you to accept 3/6 per line. You either agree that is a fair wage, or you say no thank you and find something else. Every company is in business to make money. That's the point. If they aren't making money, they go out of business.

My husband's business is not much different from the MT business, in that he is also dealing with changing technologies that are making it harder for his industry to keep going. But we can't sit around complaining about how computers have taken over, or how the bigger companies are undercutting his prices. It's just the way it is. We either have to adapt to the changes or move on.

I can see Rex's point of view. He has a very legitimate question. How can he continue to pay a decent wage to American-based workers and still make some money for himself? I'm afraid I don't have the answers for him or for us MTs who are seeing the pay scale dropping insanely low. I would bet the horse and buggy salesmen, telephone operators, and typewriter companies all went through this, too.

pay? - PAR

[ In Reply To ..]
I understand what you are saying. What do you offer for U.S. MT compensation?

We need a legal solution - Valley Girl

[ In Reply To ..]
Tariffs, maybe the impossibility of enforcing HIPPA overseas.

REX - Old Pro

[ In Reply To ..]
I hear you 100%. A similar thing happened to me, with the exception that I was (thank G-d) old enough to just close up shop and retire. I didn't want to retire, even at 70, but I just did not want to go through what you are going through now. I wish I had some good answers for you. I do have some animosity, however, for the AAMT/AHDI, who led the parade right into outsourcing. To this day I will not give them one cent. (Yes, I realize that comment is off-topic, but since I hold them quite responsible for what has happened in the MT world, I had to say it.) I do hope you can keep your business going. I have been there and done that. Our best clients were taken by the squid when they began to offshore. Enough said about that. Good luck to you.

To MTSUCKS/SUX: The only way to get control of your situation is to - take control of yourself.

[ In Reply To ..]
It's the only thing you really do have control over to make it work.

You're absolutely right - MTSucks

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for that, and yes, I'm working on a way to make a change. I'm afraid to jinx it, so I won't say anything else. When I have the time, I do indeed use it to endeavor to learn a trade in which freelancing is more effective. No more middle men for me once I get under way. I'm not all hat and no cattle, as someone on here says. I just really needed to express anger about a situation in which I feel trapped and over which I have no control. that's natural, and the all hat no cattle person has gone and will go through that herself. I just reserve the cattle for my family. Ag, that's good advice, and I appreciate it. thanks.

Similar Messages:

Aug 23, 2013

Considering making a move to this company. Spoke with owner and she sounds delightful. Just wondering if anyone has any info on the company...anything at all! Thank you! ...

Nov 23, 2011

I noticed that MQ keeps advertising for the same positions every few weeks or so. What's up with that? Can't they hold on to any help? Anyone have any insight on that? TIA ...

Jul 01, 2013

It sure seems that the companies that advertise for QA help who are paying "by the line" are requesting that you have rediculous requirements! Line rate and IC.....why dont they just include in their ads that they expect the world but are not willing to pay anything for it..... its the same meaning..... ...

Oct 27, 2009

Is it just my view or have there not been any new job postings in a week. Seems odd to me since there is alway a few a day. The well must have completely dried up. LOL ...

Dec 01, 2009

I have been reading all of the posts especially the ones about grammar. Maybe I have not finished transcription school or even paid my dues as a seasoned "elder" (I hate that phrase--not being in my 20s myself), but I was one of the 70,000 that was laid off on black Monday back in January 2009. I was looking for a career that would (I thought) not be hurt by the economy as severely. I very much appreciate any advice my "more experienced" friends can give. Even with m ...

Aug 06, 2010

I wonder why companies post on internet job sites for in-house employees? Why don't they just advertise locally in their community paper, etc. ...

May 20, 2014

needing MTs immediately. What's up with that?? Kind of nice to see that maybe some of these MTSO are paying the price for loss of workers. Would make me a bit suspicious as to why they are left in this position. Too bad that could not be a negotiating tool for better pay but I doubt it is. ...

Dec 01, 2011

I have responded to several job postings and have not heard back from ANY of them? I have many years experience and in most cases over qualified for the work. I am willing to work evenings and weekends. What is wrong with this picture? ...

Jun 04, 2014

That has got to be a typo or someone used canned text cut and pasted into an ad that they forgot to edit. I'd hate to work for a manager that sloppy and disorganized or just plain careless about how they compose a hiring post. Does not look good at all. ...

Apr 10, 2013

Because their feed looks like a LuvFest for all things Mmodal. I mean at least some exMTs must have voiced their opinion about working experience with Mmodal..but their FB is nauseatingly POSITIVE with a capital FAKE. ...

Apr 25, 2011

Has anyone heard back after applying to either of these today? I have over 20 years of solid psych experience, applied to both, but have heard nothing. What am I doing wrong? ...

Dec 30, 2014

only some accounts move to this new exciting pay grid junk? ...

Mar 27, 2015

midnight tonight? If we've had to have mandatory OT for 2 weeks, what is going to all of a sudden change? ...

Feb 10, 2010

Does anyone have current information on the working conditions at Transtech? Is their insurance okay? Do they have enough work? ...

Feb 17, 2010

I recently lost my MT job with a pretty decent company. It was due to lack of work. I know this is happening a lot these days, and I've been reading a lot of the posts here. I know that no field is perfect, but I have to do something. How many of you plan on (or can) stick around to see how things go, and how many of you are going back to school or getting into a different field? ...

May 19, 2010

Have ya ever wondered, WHY is it that we get "audited" when we are having really, really bad work days? Why does the "computer randomly chose" (ha!) the most difficult, awful report to review? My latest audit was on a dictator I had NEVER EVER DONE before, on a brand spanking new account, was 1098 minutes and ASR and ESL! I got an 84%. (Hey! as far as I'm concerned that should have been an A+++!! Least I gave them something that looked like a report.) I a ...

Sep 30, 2010

I worked for MQ many, many years ago when they bought the company I was working for. From reading this board, it appears some things never change and only get worse. I remember having to switch from one account to the other constantly and trying to keep track of client profiles. Glad I am out of there!! ...

Oct 15, 2010

All headers are now no longer counted in the line count. We're already out of work most of the time and now this. We don't get paid for cc's that we add or all the info on the pt before we ever start typing. I'd say when we do have work they're getting a lot of free work from us. ...

Sep 14, 2011

First off, I am truly disgusted with our government for allowing offshoring to such a degree that it has taken most of our jobs away. We have written and complained to no avail. We do need to do some things on our own too. I recently went shopping for my son's school supplies. I read the labels to make sure things were made in America. Ink pens: The only ink pens I found made in America were Pilot pens, BIC were made in China. I bought the Pilot pe ...

Feb 07, 2012

xx ...

Apr 08, 2012

Im know for my big mouth and speaking my mind...Everyone including me is on here bitching, that is counterproductive and makes for a long day..This job is an IMPORTANT job, not just every idiot can do it..I enjoy the challenges that come with it, even though there are times I would like to pull my hair out...With that I'm opening my mouth and making a move...So I am asking what you guys want me to include in my email...Constructive critism only please...I know most of the problems, but I do ...

Aug 18, 2012

I know this b/c I specifically could not find a doctors name in the database for one particular job and I blanked it, wrote it down so I would remember the job number and what I blanked and when my corrections came through today, that name was filled in as if I put it there, there was no blank no more with a correction that I put in the incorrect name. I know that I blanked it. This is rediculous!!! I can't wait to find another job! ...

Dec 28, 2012

since I found out last night that I am having unexpected overnight houseguests tonight. In-laws suddenly don't have room....Not only is my house a mess from entertaining both xmas eve and xmas while trying to get in work which was nearly impossible because there wasn't any, but I was low on food, my son had a doc's appt for a cough that he has had for 3 weeks now, and we are expecting a snowstorm tomorrow. I ran around like a wild woman al ...

Jan 08, 2013

shorted on PTO accrual - waiting for call from HR - and QA now searching out very short reports, due to the 'nuance improved' QA calculation, 1 minor 0.25 error made my score 97.73! ...

Feb 27, 2013

â�¢ Respect: We treat each other and our customers with respect, valuing individual and cultural differences and approaches to work. â�¢ Teamwork: We strive to create an environment in which everyone has a chance to showcase their individual talents. We build better relationships and produce greater results for our customers when we work together as a team. Our goal is to empower our people to work smarter and more effectively. â�¢ Customer Focus: We always seek ways to enhance the ...

Feb 28, 2013

How are things at Accentus? I have an interview. ...

Apr 24, 2014

I have recently been switched to almost all back end speech, no problem, but when did the rules change? I was taught milligrams not mg, milliliter not mL, gravida II/para II not gravida 2, para 2. It seems with the advent of back end speech, the rules are being relaxed. Will JCACHO accept this? Isn't it our reputation at stake? ...

Sep 03, 2014

FedEx ICs http://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2014/09/03/fedex-latest-company-slammed-over-independent-employees/?google_editors_picks=true ...

Jan 17, 2015

You're sitting here with a job waiting for you in your queue and you don't even CARE because you decide to watch a training/motivational video on changing careers to help you get the H311 out of this god-forsaken field. As God as my witness, I WILL be out of this company by year's end. I'd rather empty trash cans in the ladies' room than do this for even one more day and I've worked for this company for 16 years. Stick a fork in me ... I'm don ...

Feb 12, 2015

I am reading so many negative comments. Are there any good things about working for this company? (M Modal) ...