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

FLEXIBLE HOURS - MYMIND

Posted: Aug 24, 2012

If you are considered an independent contracter, can these companies require you to do the work on set hours? It seems to me they could be a little more flexible with the hours. I realize there is a turn around time, but a block of time would be nice. Where are all the companies like this??

The work is available XXX. If you cant work XXX, you shouldnt have - signed on for the job. IC cant be SM

[ In Reply To ..]
held to schedule but MTSO has to be able to ensure staffing. If you cant work XXX, fine nobody will make you but when you clock on at ZZZ, dont be surprised if no work. And dont be surprised when MTSO locks you out. She needs an MT when the work is there, not just when it is convienent for you to clock in

that goes both ways. If I work XXX, work should be available XXX - not NJA!!!!

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UGH!

I agree. Just like they can lock you out, you are free to leave - at any time. nm

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x

flexiblity - mymind

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Ive never worked as an IC, what do you mean when you say they lock you out? They just dont give you work? Seen so much on here about bad companies, where are all the good ones to work for??

Actually no it doesn't go both ways - ICMT

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As an IC, there is no expectation of work volume (unless in the contract you gave them you stated that you were to be guaranteed xxx work. Of course, since they can't guarantee anyone work, you likely didn't put that in your contract. You did give them a contract, right? ;-)

ICs need to learn to juggle several clients at a time so they can manage the ebb and flow of work. If you aren't getting work from Client A during X time until Y time, then you should have Client B or C to do during that time to ensure you're working during your "work" hours.

Then the MTSO should hire an employee. - nm

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.

IC should not sign on for job that sounds like employee then - complain job that is what job is. nm

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x

True - ICMT

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You know what you're agreeing to. No one holds a gun to your head. You freely sign a contract.

If the IC position isn't working for ya, move on. I know people don't like that response, but while many MTSOs are not nice, MOST are. So if you don't like what you agree to or what your circumstances are, then why agree to them or continue working in them?

SM - Faith

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Then she needs to hire employees, talk about having your cake and eating it too. Employee status is a benefit to MTs but not employers and IC status is a benefit to employers but not necessarily MTs. Either you manage employees or you take a chance with ICs, but you cannot have it both ways.

DOL needs to educate these MTSOs (which they will gladly do) if you MTs would start reporting them. Complaining on MT Stars does not solve problems.

flexiblity - mymind

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Well then these companies should not be hiring as IC, they should hire as employee status, what a bunch of crap. Legally I dont think they can do this. Im not asking to do what just whenever I want, but a little more flexiblity in the hours. Say if they want me to work 5-9 in the evening, why cant they stretch it out and say as long as you do 4 hours from 5 to 11. Seems to me they are getting away with some stuff by doing this practice.

flexible schedule - oldone

[ In Reply To ..]
Most companies hiring IC will tell you when MT is needed and then MT will agree. They can't fire you but they can lock you out of a queue. Don't work IC with any company who won't sign a contract (for your own protection). A company who has you sign a contract will more than likely have the time you have agreed to in the contract. Without a signed contract, a lawyer will more than likely tell you that you have no chance to win in court if you go that far. (Boyfriend is a retired lawyer, I ran this past him.) If you ageed to certain hours, you should not have if you do not intend to work those hours.

If YOU tell them a certain time... - ...then you should be there

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If you need flexibility, then you need to find out before accepting the position if you can work when they need you.

Kind of like if you have a plumbing job you need done, and the IC plumber tells you what time he'll be there, he should be there. Conversely, if he tells you he can only come at 10 a.m., but that doesn't work for you, he doesn't have to take the job.

What a deplorable state of affairs - sm

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Have we really sunk so low as to sit at our desks and wait for "work" to come in at sub-minimum wage. I remember this industry when the client would tell us the job they needed done and we could state the time it would be done. None of this groveling and being glad to just "have a job".. puhlease.

Absolutely an IC can state what time they plan to work but the MTSO has no control, especially with VR, to assure that work will actually be available at a set time. I speak from experience. I had a well oiled transcription system in place until a few weeks ago when "management" decided transcription "was not in the budget". Now I cannot manage workflow for myself or my subcontractors. I am at the end of my rope. And, no, I am not thankful to still have a "job". In fact, I am ticked off, but glad I am in college learning a new field.

Off my soap box now. Thanks for listening.

Deplorable state of affairs - faith

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Way to go, SM. I have about had all the bull i can stand from these companies. Time to move on and let India have this, lolol. not beinga slaveto make someone else rich. Trust me, their day is coming, sweet justice!

amen - I would rather

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clean motel rooms than keep this up much longer. At least you have a schedule, do not have your entire life consumed trying to make up time, etc., etc., well covered on this board.

Flexible - Faith

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They can require a certain amount of work per day, per week or per pay period,BUT they cannot dictate to you WHEN it will be done. Do not argue with them, just verify that with DOL and ask DOL to let the MTSO what they can and cannot do. If it does not change, go back to DOL and file a claim. They cannot terminate your services (legally)for reporting them.

Flexible - mymind

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Excuse me if this sounds stupid but what is DOL? So many dictate what time frame they want you to work, say like 6-10, no lee way and the hire as IC. They crazy tests they make you take are ridiculous too for someone who has years and years of experience. I can see the typing part, but all these questions is silly.

Years and years of experience? - Really?

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Um, OK.

flexibility - mymind

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YES, REALLY!! 20 years to be exact!!

Nothing shocks me more! - NM

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NM

Flexible - Faith

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DOL department of labor. They need to become our bibles and our best friends.

stupid question - typos versus ignorance

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If even you recognize you question is going to be stupid, why do you ask it?? There is this thing called Google. Sounds like another Indian MT to me.

flexibility - mymind

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Well you certainly are reading more into that than you need to. No not Indian.

Flexiblity - Mymind

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Im not asking to just do work whenever I feel like it, Im saying a block of time. I havent signed on yet, looking for those flexible hours. Most of them hire as IC. Thats the major benefit of working from home, flexiblity of hours.

I understand, you are looking for something like a - 12hr window? see msg

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I briefly did a part-time IC job and there was no 12hr window or specific time to be on, no time clock, just log in and work.

The only thing asked was that you get your line count in every day whether it took you 4 hours to get it or 8 hours didn't matter because there was no time clock and you set your own schedule.

As an IC that is the way it is suppose to be, but unfortunately companies are wanting to hire workers as IC but yet treat them as regular employee status. Good luck finding one with a 12hr window or the type of flexibility where you set your own hours, they seem to have become far and few between.

The one I breifly worked for was Archivus and it was basically all clinic accounts with a very poor platform, took forever to get in your line count and pay was only 8cpl, but yet an IC position. All straight typing though.

there is this key on home row far right - called an apostrophe

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for enlightening the rest of us about flexible scheduling.

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