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

MT industry - sad

Posted: Feb 17, 2011

As a group, we need to talk, fax, email our state representatives to explain what is going on in our industry. Give them your personal story. We should all do this 3/1/2010 and the first of every month until something is done. If they get enough complaints/responses, they will help us. They will start and talk to each other and realize how many of us are being abused. We need to have state and federal regulations to protect us from these companies. Due to outsourcing to India, I have lost my job and yes working part time. For those not making minimum wage, go to Unemployment and get partial benefits. For those waiting for work, go to Unemployment and get partial benefits. Any other problems regarding wages, insurances, etc. Call Labor and Industry. I have actually been working with my state representative. They can help. May God bless each and every one of us. Lets unite as individuals for the common cause of fair wages, insurance, plenty of work.

Can IC's get partial unemployment? - Dallas

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I'm out of work all the time and go without due to not making enough money.

I don't believe so. Do you pay unemployment taxes - as an IC??? NM

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x

No. - xmtso

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Unless you're paying UE on yourself (and in my case I did pay UE on myself and was told I was not eligible since I was a "principle" in the company.)

why did you.... - sick of it 2

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apply for UE? It sounds from your other posts that you have no problem with making a living or wages..just sayin!!

Are you required to work a schedule? nm - IC

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.

No! An IC is an independent business! Bennies - are ONLY for employees!

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Don't even WANT to try to push for ICs to have benefits!

MT industry - sad

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Unfortunately not. (Unless you have begun working recently as an IC). UC goes back so many quarters and you use those benefits.
I would say pay our UC benefits yourself (don't know about that though) if you plan on continuing being an IC. Check that out with your tax people. Try to get a job that is not IC. If you are an employee and required to work 40 hours, if you don't have work, you are elligible for UC benefits. Or not making minimal wage, your are elligible for UC benefits. Good luck.

I'm with you on that one. Unfortunately, too many of - our peers seem to be happy w/the status-quo. :(

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So you can of course expect certain MTs (or suits-disguised-as-MTs who lurk on this board) to try to shoot down what you posted. But just know that what you're saying is RIGHT. It's what we MTs should be doing, rather than just bending over, grabbing our ankles, and taking it. We should fight back!

MT industry - sad

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I have a firm belief, especially since I recently lost by job to outsourcing. The government requires you to make minimum wage for 40 hour week (the rules). Will the companies fight that if you go to UC? I have friends who wait and wait for a job, do 20 hours of work, the other 20 hours of working waiting. Labor and Industry will investigate. How much more burden needs to be put on the government by companies who stop insurances, pay unfair wages in the US? The only recourse is to "live" off the government i.e. insurances, UC benefits. The companies are all about profits--that is why India is doing so well. They even advertise America does not have enough transcriptionists. Bullcrap. Tax these companies sending their work overseas. It will help pay our UC benefits and Gateway costs.

What would you like them to do? - xmtso

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Seriously. What is it you would like done?

I agree if you are not making minimum wage, you should follow up on that by applying for UE and/or contacting the DOL. But what is it you would like the government to do otherwise?

Stop technology? Stop off-shoring? Neither is going to happen.

Just as other professions before us have seen their livelihoods change, be redefined, and in some cases be eliminated, it's happening to ours. It's not the governments place to make sure you stay employed happily till you die. (I'm a die-hard Democrat so these are interesting words coming from my mouth.)

No company is required to provide you with benefits. No company is required to provide you "plenty of work." And fair wages, well, it's really up to you to find and maintain a position and then decide how you define "fair."

I don't see a governmental role in MT and the role I see that could come, is not one I would welcome. I'm fairly paid, make sure I have enough options for available work, and provide my own insurance.

Times, they are a changin' - it's not the government issue to make sure you're happy about it.

I for one would like to see them all - sm

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SIT & SPIN.

well that's an intelligent reply and should - xmtso

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be exceedingly effective :)

Maybe you should try it. - ***********

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(S & S, that is)

This may be true but.... - sick of it 2

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How can you find and maintain a position when every single company out there is doing the same thing? I agree with you on most points, but it should be illegal to falsely post ads and people are giving up perfectly good jobs and benefits, and maybe their unemployment benefits, or even government assistance to come to these places for jobs only to find out there is no work, no insurance, no money. Then they are left high and dry and nobody is accountable?? That should be fraud.

I am not positive but sm - soon to be EXMT

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I think companies with a certain amount of employees legally has to offer insurance. Correct me if i'm wrong, please.

MT industry - sad

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Companies say and advertise they have plenty of work, yet there is none. Anyone sitting at their computer putting in 40+hours to find a job when it comes through is ridiculous. Work for 40 hours if you don't get enough pay go the UC.
Fair wages is a joke in the industry now. I have 35+ years at this and have taken paycuts to stay in this business that I love. The US has strict guidelines. Have you check out India's job sites? They train 2 months on-the-job and have taken our jobs. Within the last year especially the American companies have offered less and less but want more and more. Again if you don't make minimum wage, the burden goes to the government.
In the US, insurance is very important. I have lost my job at a hospital because of the scare from this new health care plan. That is understandable to a point, but once again the government will be burdened with thousands of people who have lost their benefits.
I believe in AMERICA. Why should we just "grab out ankles and take it"? I have friends making 4 cpl on VR. They can not make a living on that. The cost of everything has risen just in the last few years. New jobs posted are mostly IC positions, no insurance, less money. In this field there are soooo many single women supporting their families.
What I am saying is, can the government take the extra burden on of thousands of people just trying to make a decent living? If we except these low wages, what does that say for your experience? Companies are overhiring to meet the TATs. The transcriptionists in the US are being paying taxes...Oversees outsourcing spends no money here in the US. Tax bases will go down, another government problem...oh wait, they will raise everyone's taxes. They snowball effect will take place in an already burdened government...

I spoke with the Federal US Dept of Labor (sm) - sick of it 2

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They said transcription would be considered a "piecemeal job" and if the money you are making weekly times the hours you are working does not add up to minimum wage at the end of the week, that is illegal. Please... we have got to get together on this and at least let people know what is going on and maybe something can be done. It should be illegal to offer someone a job when they know there is not enough work and no insurance, yet they post ads on here that state just that.

What?? Illegal to offer a job during low volume?? You - dont have to accept ANY job. nm

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x

from what it looks like on here... - sick of it 2

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most of the companies do not have enough work for the ppl they are hiring..that is the whole point of these posts!! But, hey, if you want to keep getting ripped off even by hospitals you work for...just sit back and relax! And if it hasn't happened to you yet..just wait, it will.

Doncha think we have enough Big Brother in our lives? - Dont need him monitoring job offers. Geesh. nm

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MT industry - sad

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It seems we are all letting this happen to us. We all need to take a stand and say "stop" to all these companies paying nothing and promising nothing. IC are not able to collect unemployment, unfortunately. It is illegal to make less than minimum wage. It is fraud to offer something that is not there like insurance. Unemployment will pay if you have no work. Unemployment will make up the difference to at least get minimum wage. If we go to state agencies and ask for help maybe then someone will hear our cries.

All cannot get unemployment. I am IC by choice. I make - my pay rate and chart my future. nm

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