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

How do you use your waiting time? - new home MT

Posted: Jul 02, 2010

Hi, I am an old MT but new to working at home. Didn't know beans about any company, but have gotten hired by a company that (as I found out on these forums) apparently overhires. As I understand it, this means that my "8-hour shift" may stretch to fill the entire day, as I wait for dictation to become available, because we have to do a certain number of lines, if there's work or not.

My question to anyone in the same situation is, What do you do during the time you are waiting? Is it enough to get anything else done, or do you just have to hang around your computer and check it every few minutes? I do not understand how this works. I've always had an 8-hour shift, and if there wasn't enough work, you just packed it in for the day and took it out of your PTO. The *last* thing the hospital wanted was people sticking around getting paid for nothing. This latest doesn't sound like an ideal situation but I am wondering if at least I can "multitask" during a slow day, to get my other projects done or do schoolwork. Thanks for any advice on time management!

You can do stuff around the house. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Even when there is work, I've had no problems stopping to go toss laundry in, switch it over, let the dogs out, etc.

When I've had longer wait times, I've gone outside (fresh air!!) and put in about half hour on the mower and then checked again, done dishes, took a shower, etc. If by doing schoolwork you mean right there instead of getting in the car and driving to class, I'd say no problem. Heck, if it were an on-line class and it wasn't the companies computer, I'd say go ahead with it, too.

Pretty much anything you can do within the boundaries of your 'homestead' is do-able.

Surf the web. Work my local account. - Watch bears on a webcam

[ In Reply To ..]
I am not kidding about the bears. Look up the San Diego Zoo and hunt down the live Pandacam.

Or don't. Because you WILL become addicted to watching.

Usually surf the web or MT Stars. If I have any money - (which is rare), I turn of the computer - (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
and go to Wal-Mart. I'm addicted to buying flowers in the garden section.

time is on my side - new home MT

[ In Reply To ..]
That is so funny about watching the bears. Maybe the out-of-jobs situation won't be so bad for me, 'cause I used to hate the grind of sitting 8 hours in a hospital, and my legs would start to ache from bad circulation, and if I got up to walk around for 10 minutes, it put me behind on my production. So maybe this will be a blessing in disguise.

Thankfully don't have that problem much - waiting

[ In Reply To ..]
But when it happens I do small jobs around the house and keep checking back for work. I also sit at my desk and read. Like I said, it doesn't happen often but I hate when it does.

TODAY I'm sitting here refreshing every few minutes - frustration!

[ In Reply To ..]
I know it is a Holiday weekend, and Saturdays are ALWAYS slow, however for some reason there is someone else on and trying to grab a job as soon as it pops up is irritating enough, but when someone else is also doing that??

I literally do sit here. I surf the internet (which ohmygod gets OLD) ... I daydream about where I'm going to move to that I can afford to live off this salary... then I hit refresh and hope something kicks in. On weekdays this doesn't last too long, but a day like this is just horrible. I would like to get up and clean the house... walk my dogs, maybe even lay out in the sun, but I can't miss that one job you know? I just dont have the income to be blase about it...

You'll find your own stride hopefully!

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