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

Companies deducting from your wages - IS ILLEGAL

Posted: Aug 13, 2012

On the Company board, someone commented that Global Information Systems is deducting $5.00 per error. THIS IS WRONG and it DOES make your company irreputable. Another person commented their company was reputable and does the same thing. In what world is it sensible to say a company is reputable and then cite how they behave illegally?

This link fills you in. Your company can't deduct your wages unless you signed an agreement saying they could. And if you did that, well, fill in the inevitable response to that.

Unfortunately - people

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must be okay with that since they are still in business. I know the first time they took money out of my check for an error would be when they get a lawyer calling them. Amazing that people would allow this to happen. It is people allowing stuff like this that is causing our pay to go down, down, down.

Companies who deduct - NEPAMT

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I worked for a well-known MTSO who deducts $5.00, $10.00, and then $25.00 (in consecutive occurrences), for entering incorrect patient information into the demographic screen or choosing or not choosing the correct CC recipient. I thought this was somewhat reasonable until the doctor rambled the patient's name/MRN # off so fast you could not make out what was said. I put a note in the comments section and marked for QA stating "inaudible patient information" and still got docked $5.00 for it.

This is a totally unfair practice. If this is done to cut down on patient error, then the MTSO needs to be in constant communication with the client to resolve the issue. If the MTSO is doing it to profit, this is unethical.

Sorry - but I

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don't think it is right in any instance.

No, it is never right. But if MT signs contract saying this is possibility, - they are just getting what they signed up for. nm

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x

I dont work there but I bet agreeing to this is a provision in - all contracts. It probably says SM

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it is a possibility this can happen. I doubt it says it happens with every error. MTs dont read their contracts for the most part. Heck, most dont even know how they are paid and never check their line cts against what the MTSO says their line cts are. I would also bet if an MT made an error here or there, nothing would be deducted. I bet this is a last ditch effort to make those borderline MTs ship up or ship out. Ok, now with all the replies stating how good an MT is. Yes, most are good. This is directed to those MTs who are not so good.

Oops, SHAPE up or ship out. - nm

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x

I recently worked for three companies who had this practice.... - anon

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and there was NOTHING stated in the contract about reducing pay for any errors, critical or otherwise. Most of the time it happened with comma placement, etc...nitpicky trivial errors that are mostly subjective and not written down anywhere, with QA being inconsistent and never having anything the same way twice. I count my lines daily with every client that I have so that I know exactly what to expect. With these same three companies, the line counts were always different from what I had. There was no notification of QA reducing pay due to errors, it just started happening directly after coming off of full QA. So, you are wrong on all of your suppositions. Stop trying to blame the MT and start putting the blame on these companies that try to get away with everything they can to keep their money and not pay you for what you do...oh, and by the way...in EVERY instance with "punitive QA" it was the QA person who acquired the pay and lines deducted from the employees for any perceived errors, so QA had an "incentive" to continue the practice with everyone! grr.

Cool down a sec. Then you should have called a lawyer if there was - nil in contract about that. I am talking SM

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about the MTSO that DOES have that as an option in her contract. They are out there, I have worked for some but excessive errors was never a concern for me. And certainly you dont think every single MT reads her contract when most dont even verify their line cts.

And yes, I do blame MTs that beleive the MTSO has their best interest at heart so they dont verify lc and they dont read contracts. And I blame any MT who would stay with an MTSO who is docking them if no mention was made of that in the contract. If it was in the contract and MT signed, then docking is what they are signing on for.

As more a qa person than MT, but having done both, I agree qa'ing is very subjective but I have to laugh at the notion that editors look for meaningless mistakes in order to pad their paychecks. In DQS, editors get paid for NO changes they make to a document. They get paid based on the document YOU put into the system. So adding commas and whatever else, would be a waste of time with no fininacial benefit. I am sure most other MTSOs pay qa the same way as just another way to take money out of the MT/Editor pockets.

But bless your heart, that you have given so much thought to this. Too bad none of it has any basis in fact.

QA and meaningless changes - anon2

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I have worked in QA at a couple of companies and QA does not get paid for "changes."

However, as an MT I think some QA people get some kind of sick pleasure in failing audits. I have personally never had so many changes to minor things like commas or insignificant wording as I have had this past year (my MTSO basis incentive on QA so they have a motive to fail us).

There are plenty of great QA people out there who understand the goal is to catch critical errors not futz around with commas, but then there is that group of what I can only imagine are frustrated grammar mavens who live in a house filled with cats and tchotchkes who get a high from feeling superior to others.

I totally agree. And any MTSO that bases incentive on qa, you - know is up to no good. Red Flag. NM

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x

Exactly, which is why I left them in record time... - anon

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never saw it coming...had no expectations that it would...and left as soon as it started happening. One place even told me that I had made a "critical error" of using the term "plane xrays" as opposed to "plain xrays" and asked me why I had gotten it right in my "test" and failed to use the right one in regular dictations. I went back to locate my test and no mention had ever been made of "plain xrays" "plane xrays" or otherwise, as the imaging portion of the dictation had specifically stated "Xrays dictated on a separate dictation." I checked the whole document several times and no mention of plain xrays or plane xrays had ever been mentioned in my test. So I knew they were lying and just looking for excuses to be punitive. Plain xrays was one of the very first things I had learned and after 10 years of doing transcription, I have never used "plane xrays." I quit right then and there. People, watch your line counts, as many places do NOT tell you they have punitive QA, probably count on you not keeping track, and deduct from your line count for simplistic "errors". Keep copies of your transcriptions, if you can, because you may need to prove you did not do what they said you did, but of course, if you challenge them in any way, shape, or form, you may be looking at getting fired. These places do not like to be questioned about anything.

blaming the MT - just do not get it

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OK, so say an MT doesn't have it in their contract they likely didn't read, WHY would you stay once it happened once? Don't give me cause I need a job because if you do, then you ARE to blame. (I'm not big into the word blame as it's useless but responding to your use of it.)

If you allow your check to be docked, if you allow yourself to have lines ripped off, then YOU are the one who is accountable for the remedy. And that might mean leaving your oh so wonderful job (not!) As long as people keep letting services get away with this stuff, there's no reason for them to stop it.

You CHOOSE who you work for and you CHOOSE who you stay working for. You CHOOSE to allow yourself to be abused -- or you CHOOSE to get out.

you obviously did not read my post very carefully.... - anon

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as I clearly stated that as soon as I realized they were a punitive QA and were taking money from me due to perceived errors, I did, in fact, QUIT! three different places, three different times, with not one of them for more than 30 days each! I CHOSE not to be abused by these places, and I can name names, if you want, and I did CHOOSE to get out, so stop trying to find a way to blame me, and go find another horse to climb up on! I choose not to be abused by you either. !!!

I would think - by now

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it would be obvious when it was a generic "you" and not a personal "you" but obviously there I go ASSUMING again.

Good for you if you got out. Pretty interesting odds that you had this "same issue" with three separate companies but you (personal you) got yourself out of the situation so kudos to you.

BTW- I did read your post carefully and you demanded MTs not be blamed, which was my point - sometimes they share the blame.

you forgot the word "sometimes" and yes... - anon

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you assume too much....sometimes.

I now currently work for three other places with consistent QA and do not have funds taken from me for any errors. My QA scores are actually quite good. and yes, it is pretty interesting odds that I had this "same issue" with three different places, and I cannot explain why, except that I was "guided" to these places by others and perhaps did not investigate the company backgrounds a bit more before carefully before applying. It won't ever happen again. These were rather large companies, as well, which probably made them feel like they could get away with it. Well, not with this lady! for sure!

You are so outraged that this happened but what did you do to - stop it? Call lawyer, DOL? SM

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No, you just bailed, leaving your sister MTs to suffer this abuse. If you think it so horrible, why not try to stop the abuse?

because I don't have the time or money for a lawyer...do u? - anon

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"sister MTs" can fend for themselves, much like I did. Nobody had MY back. Nobody warned ME, but actually LED me into it, as so-called "friends." can't trust anybody these days. I will give you the names of the companies....YOU contact lawyer. Not worth it to me.

you don't need a lawyer - dept of labor will handle it - fyi everyone

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that's what the DOL is for.

No they will not handle it. Plenty of MTs have - reported abuses and SM

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nothing is ever done.

Such a generic excuse to not do anything!. How many are plenty? - Where do you get your info? nm

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x

Request for your expertise - daisy

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Would love to get your thoughts on our live one-on-one legal advice platform http://www.expertbooth.com/Legal-Services/

You can contact me at ceo@expertbooth.com

Choices.... - me

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You must be young and healthy... or otherwise.....have other means to support yourself or have somebody support you while you "protect/fight your rights." Life is not always black and white---but several shades of gray.

50 even! - nm

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nm

Choices - just do not get it

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No, I"m mid 50s, have done this for 35 years, mostly average health, single, self-supporting.

Do only the young have choices?

MTSO deducting for errors. - TF

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IMHO, if an MT is consistently making those kinds of errors they should be FIRED. End of story. Sounds to me like the MTSO's are profiting off of this. My company actually will dock triple lines for incorrect patient info (why not FIRE the moron??), double for incorrect CC, sending with wrong dictator, etc (again, FIRE THEM!), and just the lines for blatant errors (baloney amputation anyone??).

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