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

Does anyone else feel like this? - DeeAriah

Posted: Jan 11, 2012

I know a lot of you work for companies right now that do not have enough work and I can truly empathize with you, have been in that boat as well. But the company I work for begs us to do overtime every single solitary weekend, aka Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I have been in this field for almost 30 years and quite honestly I am burnt out. I put in my 40 hours a week and feel the rest of my life is my time. I have neck problems and back problems as well, but still manage to do my best and am also a high producer. Am I wrong for not wanting to devote time to doing overtime? Having had 2 paycuts this year, after doing the math it is just not worth the extra few bucks to work more hours to make what I used to make during a regular 40 hour week. I just wanted to know if anyone else feels this way. I think if a company had a more productive platform all this overtime would not be happening, as well as if the companies werent so competitive in their turn-around times we wouldnt be under the slave whip all the time.

Thanks for the vent!

Overtime - DiggerMT

[ In Reply To ..]
My company doesn't ask for overtime very often, and it is never mandatory, with them, but I absolutely hate to work overtime. I have a life outside of work and have too much to do to work overtime. You're right, the minimal extra amount they pay to work overtime is absolutely not worth it to me. Just my opinion.

Don't do it - just my opinion - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
The staffing problems, either too much work/not enough, are created by the desire to maximize profits TO A RIDICULOUS DEGREE up at the top. I think it's great to maximize profits, good, go for it!!! But there is a certain point where it becomes destructive...AND WE ARE AT THAT POINT - either too much/too little...It wasn't like this 5, 7 years ago....

don't give them overtime, they so don't deserve it, and you have a life!!!!!!

*just my opinion*

Overtime - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
My thoughts completely.

Thanks so much! - DeeAriah

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you all for seeing things as I do. It is getting insane the way we are treated as slaves and not as real human beings. I am all for being a team player, but will not be used and abused!

Are you putting the blame for your guilt on others? - Thatisnotnecessary

[ In Reply To ..]
They can't make you work OT, so don't. End of story, no guilt, no problem. You are probably putting the guilt trip on yourself. You will probably continue to get emails asking for help, so just don't help and realize those emails are for those that need/want overtime pay.

Its like this... - DeeAriah

[ In Reply To ..]
It is not mandatory so I know I dont HAVE to do overtime. But it is quite intimidating when after receiving the daily emails asking for overtime your manager writes a specific email to you "inviting" you to do overtime whenever you want. That put a guilt trip on me for sure. But I still have not "accepted" the invitation.

You need to hear the other side of the story. - abouthavingtoaskallthetime

[ In Reply To ..]
On the flip side, you should feel for those that are told to keep asking when you know very few are interested. I hate doing that. With the tight TATs these days, we really need to overstaff the account instead of begging for overtime all the time. I know that makes FTimers PTimers, but what choice does a company have? Clients these days get a cut rate on everything that goes out of TAT.

Totally agree - DeeAriah

[ In Reply To ..]
I have to say I totally agree. My SM is great and I have had empathy for her having to send us emails every day begging. It is not her fault, it is the company, making ridiculous TAT times to satisfy the client in order to get their business. If all the MTSO's were not so greedy we would not be dealing with overhiring, low work, no work or too much work. JMHO.

Overtime and platforms - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm with DeeAriah. I worked for a company that their server went down a lot for three weeks. We were expected to make up our lines and hours even though it was not our fault. I refuse to work 10-12 hours a day to make 1000 lines when their platforms are slower than molassis in January and I even messed up my left wrist when I first started with them. I worked over when I felt like it. I have done this work for nearly 30 years too and am burnt out but there are no other jobs out there. Right now, I have nothing and am looking frantically for work. I just bought a new computer and software for a practice here in town and low and behold there is not enough work for me there although the pay was good. Let me say this .12 cpl is not worth much if there is no work. Feel for you.

Overtime and platforms - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
First let me say, I did not post my name here as I am currently employed by a company that appears on this board quite often. Pretty much stuck right now, but I continue to look for a job like a mad dog after a steak! I have encountered exactly the same problems posted here, only magnified. Very, very disheartening when you give 150% and get back about 20%, and the company continually goes on about how much they care for you. The jury is still out on that. I have not missed a day in over 5 years, am not late, do not call off and ALWAYS work over. Our production quotas have been increased so much, and our pays cut so far, that with all of the extra time, I still cannot make the requirements. I think these companies purposely do not want you to succeed, want you to get disgusted, quit and then they hire someone at a lesser rate. No wonder they lose the accounts (and we lose our minds)!! I trained employees for many years, and every time these companies lose seasoned workers and need to replace them, it is a minimum cost to the company of $25,000. You think one of the big shots would actually sit down and do the math. Figures and stats are out there for the taking for all fields! Obviously, $25,000 is an approximation; so, need to write me that it is $20,000 or $27,000 or any other figure; just giving an idea here. I'm feeling your pain, just wish they would feel some of ours for a change!!!!!

Feel your pain nm - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
I was soooooo frustrated with this company and their expectations that I messed up my left wrist with tendonitis trying to get the 1000 lines and it hurts everytime I play my guitar which is something I love and have done for years and everytime it hurts, I get mad at THAT COMPANY. I had to buy three new ergo keyboards after taking out my frustration on them and threw books at the wall. I cried a lot too. The pay was so much less than I earned after working 24 years for three orthopedists and lost that job. I feel something is not right about these companies. They took our accounts away from us and outsourced it out of greed. I am from the old school in that I feel we should still keep transcription and patient records private and when they are out on the internet they are there for anyone to see. I feel pain for us all.

I feel your pain. Here's what you should do. - Re OT

[ In Reply To ..]
We are paid an incentive to work extra, but DO NOT exceed 40 hours. However, I have been with a company who would constantly ask for help on the weekends even though they knew many of us had already done 40 hours, they just expected you NOT to put it on your time sheet.

Now if I have not done 40 hours, I feel it is my duty to work extra to try to make TAT. It's called job security, and good customer service to the client. I love my account and do not want to lose it. Having said that, if a couple of people on the account quit and we got behind, that is a different story. Anything over 40 hours, and I would expect time and a half pay for it.

The next time your AM asks you to work extra, and you have already put in 40 hours, simply WRITE to her, requesting a response, indicating that you have already worked 40 hours, and IS SHE APPROVING OVERTIME? Try to force her to put in writing that she knows you have worked 40 hours and wants you to work anyway. Make it clear that this will go on your timesheet. Have you ever been paid time and a half, probably not, and this is a way to put a stop to this abuse.

My previous company made us clock out if there was no work, and then clock back in when there was work. If we did not get the minimum line count during our shift, we were expected to make it up. Really??? How??? Basically, what they were doing was making it so you rarely ever had 40 hours, so then you were available to work any time they wanted you to. I was having to work (not consistently) from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., clocking in and out, in and out when there was work. When I asked to bring a third party in on this practice, I was laid off.

I would get the over 40 hours request in writing, or do not do it. If you are asked why you did not work the overtime, simply state that you had already done the 40 hours. I guarantee you there will be no argument.

Re OT - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
That is exactly what I do to have an email trail of all the times I was asked to "change" my time sheets. I often wonder how long it is going to take the Labor Dept. to start checking into this. They did this with 1 company I worked with years ago and boy did it get nasty. I am very proud of my work and would not slough off any of my responsibilities; however, I do believe in PYA...no one else is going to, especially in a company that may be audited for doing these things. If I get enough OT and it is worth my while, I jump all over it and keep those emails, too. Shows the manipulation when it benefits the company.

Have you contacted DOL? How do you expect them to check into - something they dont know about? nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

DOL - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
Why would you assume that was not done? Not everything should be posted here.

DOL - Been there, done that. - RE OT

[ In Reply To ..]
That was the third party I was talking about, and I was laid off.

I would not advise you to bring that up with your company though. Skirt around that issue and simply say, "I already have 40 hours this week. Are you approving overtime?" Problem solved.

Why did you ask? Why not just take your documentation - to DOL without their knowing? nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Re DOL, You live and learn. - no message

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Does anyone else feel like this? - MTtotaxidermist

[ In Reply To ..]
This story is as old as MTing has been in existence. I worked at it for 20 years, made some good money but worked 7 days a week 365 days a year. I finally got tired of it when my last account went to India - now I'm a happy taxidermist. The dead animals do not talk to you, give you much of a deadline, or give you 101 reasons why there is no work or too much. I would change professions - it isn't going to get any better. I also bet that there are a few prima dona MTs with this company who never work weekends.

MTtotaxidermist - LeeLee

[ In Reply To ..]
LOVE your post. Got a good laugh out of this. Sometimes a good laugh puts all things in perspective.

I'm grossed out everytime I see the MTtotaxidermist moniker - Not my cup of tea

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

I think I know what company you work for. - Overtime is voluntary.

[ In Reply To ..]
No one has to work OT if they don't want to, and many don't. It is understood, at least at the company I think you are talking about, that many do not want or need the extra hours or the extra pay that comes with overtime.

It's not a problem, really. Don't feel guilty at all. I need my days off, too, and they know how crabby I get if I don't get my days off. I have been encouraged not to work OT if it turns me into that kind of monster, and it does.

It's all good.

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