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

Has it become a given that we are asked to work OT w/o OT pay? - Only one?

Posted: Nov 10, 2010

Evidently it is an unwritten rule at my company that when you are asked to work hours outside of your shift, or over 40 hours, it is a given that you are to do so with no extra pay. Should I bring it up? Am I the only one?

We all work 40 hours on my account, some nights, and some weekends. Always have. Now the AM is e mailing on the weekend asking us to get on there and get caught up. Extra money is never mentioned - never paid, although if more than 40 hours is on your recorded time, it is rejected. Should I just work the 40 hours and ignore the e mail requests, and not say anything unless I am approached about it? I don't want to sound like I would be a whistle-blower but I also do not want to always be available outside the 40 hours (maybe some but not every time requested).

Sure seems that way! - Idle MT

[ In Reply To ..]
..

OT w/o pay - LK

[ In Reply To ..]
What I would do if I received an e-mail asking for extra help is to send back a polite e-mail stating something like this:

"I would be glad to help, but as I have already worked 40 hours this week and we are not generally allowed to put in for more than 40 hours without prior approval, I will not be able to help. Please let me know if overtime is authorized, in which case I will be glad to come on and work."

OT without OT pay - tired metatarsal

[ In Reply To ..]
That certainly seems to be the norm at most companies. When this would happen to me, I would do as LK suggested and send an email saying I was glad to help once they approved the overtime. If more people would do that, maybe things would change. But, there are always enough people that just work it and so things continue to go down the tubes.

I wouldn't if I wasn't getting paid. we are asked - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
to cover weekends all the time, but then we just don't work a full 8-hour day through the week. If not paid OT, don't work it.

At my company, they would send 'blanket emails' - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
If you had your hours and lines, then you could ignore it or do what LK stated. The emails were for those MT's that had to flex during the week and/or didn't meet their hours or lines.

Advice ... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are an employee, not paying you for overtime (as defined by your state) is illegal.

You only have 2 options here:
1. Suffer along and lose money.
2. Speak up. I would start by going to the HR department and discussing with them, request a copy of the OT policy (they should have one). Tell them what has happened about not getting your OT money in the past. They should rectify past monies due and clarify to you if you work OT, you will be paid OT.

Chances are, it is the AM who is at fault here. Most companies don't want to mess with the law in that respect. However, an ignorant or even shady manager/supervisor can easily upset that applecart. Usually managers approve timecards/timekeeping to Payroll so if the mgr refuses to sign off, the OT is not paid and chalked up to MT recording error.

Personally, I would advise you to:
1. Begin an immediate job search to replace your current position.
2. Speak with HR.
3. If you don't get anywhere with HR, contact the Federal Wage and Labor board (Google it). Ask for help with recovering earned but unpaid OT wages.
4. Work your schedule but simply do not respond to emails or answer the phone (hopefully you have caller ID) outside of your work shift. Just don't do the work.

Good luck.

great advice but sounds taylored to in-house employees - - small message

[ In Reply To ..]
Most MTSOs I have worked do not have a Human Resources Department, close would be recruiter - if that. And in my 20 years, have only run across 2 that use timecards.

Agree, tho - if OP is employee status, take it straight to the Board of Labor.

Triple Damages - Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Just wanted to point out, if Department of Labor rules in your favor and they tend to in these cases, then you get triple the amount of overtime owed you.

If you can contact others who work for this company and have them file a complaint also, that would really work in your favor.

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