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

ICs, do you stick to your schedules? - krbr

Posted: Jul 21, 2011

I'm just curious how well other ICs stick to their schedules, do you ask for time off or just let management know you won't be there, do you work extra when management asks??? Sometimes I feel like I behave as if I am an employee, but without any of the benefits. I'd like to know what the norm is out there. Thanks!

I pretty much stick to it - mtmom

[ In Reply To ..]
However, my schedule is kinda vague in the fact that I work "evenings". Sometimes that means I start at 7pm, sometimes 9pm, but I will still always produce the same no matter what. As for time off, I tell them I need to take time off. As an IC, I have the right to take time off as I choose, but they have the right to replace me as they wish as well. My job is good at letting me take time, but I don't do it much at all. I've not ever been asked to work extra, but I would work extra if asked if it was convenient for me.

I have no schedule - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
I work when I want and don't work when I don't want. If I plan to be off for several days, then I let the MTSO know (an actual vacation or for if I move). Otherwise, I have no contact with the service. I know when the work is available and if I want to earn a paycheck, I have to work when it's there. If I don't do it, there are other MTs who will take the work and it won't be there for me later. That is a strong motivation for me to work. I usually work split shifts: work an hour, take a break, work 2 hours, go to the pool, wake up at 4 a.m. with insomnia and work.

I also have a small private account that I handle the same way. We only have contact when I submit my invoice and he pays it.

I would stick to my schedule, but it was the schedule that I provided. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I haven't been an IC for 5 years or so. I needed the benefits after a divorce, so I went to employee status. When I was an IC though, I would tell them the schedule I planned to work for the upcoming week and how many minutes of work I would want each day. They would provide the allotted minutes, and more if I ran out and still wanted work on a particular day, and then I would have a set turn-around time to get it back to them (usually 12-24 hours depending on work type). If I was taking a day off or a vacation, I just let them know when I sent them my schedule for the upcoming week.

So basically, I would tell them what days I was going to work, but didn't have to commit to any time, just a certain agreed-upon turnaround time. I adhered to the "scheduled" days I had provided, but didn't have to stick to any actual scheduled hours for those days.

My experience with IC has been a complete joke. sm - Bella

[ In Reply To ..]
I am currently an IC and have always been an IC due to needing part-time when I was raising my babies, etc., and needing a flexible schedule. What a joke. By all rights, I AM an employee. I am here every day, I have a line count I have to meet and do meet every day, and now I have been told what time to start, which is late in the evening and absolutely does not work for me.

I work hard, diligently and professionally -- always have, always will.

I am going to stop this IC nonsense once and for all and become an employee. I have no problem with a schedule and line commitment. Heck, I do that anyway. What would be nice is to receive a little perk every now and then for my commitment, professionalism and hard work.

IC? Never, ever again. What a joke. From my 10 years' experience, it only works in the employer's favor. Most of these companies that offer IC should be reported, but I guess work is work and any check is better than no check. Sometimes I feel like an immigrant getting paid to pick berries. Work harder and faster for what? Pennies, no benefits, no rewards, just work harder and faster, forget weekends and planned afternoons, work, work, work. Work until the work is done, no matter how long it takes.

Okay, I'll shut my pie hole now and get back to work.

So how do you become an employee? - krbr

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree, I have a schedule set by the company and line counts to meet. I wouldn't mind if I was getting the benefits of an employee, but I am sick of acting like one and having nothing to show for it.

Right there with you...sm - Bella

[ In Reply To ..]
As soon as the kids go back to school, I am going to apply aggressively at companies that offer employee status only. My first priority would be finding a schedule I can adhere to, but almost any schedule would be a breath of fresh air when compared to this "work until the work is done" mentality.

I remember back in the 1980s when I had a nice secretarial job and got a paid vacation, actually got paid to sit on the beach.....what a wonderful feeling!

For what it's worth, though, the employee thing is more of the same - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You may officially have a schedule, but read the many posts here about people that have to essentially throw the schedule out the window and work seemingly around-the-clock, all with the threat to pull the employee benefits out from under people if they don't make their line commitments, whether or not the dictation is there.

Allegedly there are companies where this not the case, where they still pay 12 cpl, offer 15 days PTO the first year, and offer 9-5 M-F schedules. However, since no company names have ever been put forth to confirm this, I put it in the same category as Bigfoot.

I AGREE - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been an IC for 6 years and am in the process of moving into an employee position. I have no benefits and by the time I pay my own taxes I am making less than I would with an MTSO.

It isn't worth it any more. Like you said we have to have set schedules and min line counts that mirror that of an employee, why on earth do it?

They can't dictate terms like that to you, otherwise you are an EMPLOYEE. Report them - mtmom

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

My IC agreements - ICMt2

[ In Reply To ..]
I work as an IC for one company, set my own schedule as was agreed upon with them when they replied to my resume submission. There are times they call for a stat and I don't mind getting on if I'm not on. I mostly work the same schedule every day so they know when I'm on and when I'm not.

My other job is as an employee and I name those hours too.

As an IC, I try to let that service know well in advance of needing some time off so they can get my work covered. I could be an employee with them if I wanted but I make more money as a contractor.

May I ask why you agreed to contractor status if you wanted to be an employee?

To be honest, I didn't know any better - krbr

[ In Reply To ..]
I had been working for maybe a year as a contractor with my own hours, but the pay was horrible. This company came along and the pay was much better, so I based my decision solely on the money.

I don't have a schedule. - Quit last IC job as they tried to implement schedu

[ In Reply To ..]
I work as an IC specifically because I need some flexibility in my day. My last IC job instituted schedules for all ICs and I quit. If I wanted to work a schedule, I would become an employee and get the benefits that go along with that. Never understood the benefit of being an IC if you are being forced to work a schedule. Why not just work as an employee?

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