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

kinda upset, would like input - Office gal

Posted: Mar 25, 2012

I've been working in an office for only about 3 months now after about 12 years in-home transcription. It's a busy office for a doctor who is kind of a "superstar" in his field and I love it. Here's the thing... it's a new practice, the entire staff has been here for less than a year and we don't all have hardly any PTO saved up (less than a year and all...) and the doc is going to be closing up the office for 2 weeks to go on vacation. Several of us have asked how exactly that is going to work since we rely on our paychecks (weird huh?!), and were told that it was time off without pay!

Well, I told the manager that I couldn't do that!, go 2 weeks without any pay, and asked to be allowed to work OT and whatever they could possibly do, (weekends, nights, early... anything) and she said okay, but then the admin assistant (doc's wife) came and told me she noticed I was working a lot of OT and it hadn't been approved, so told me to take off early after I had accumulated about 9+ hours. I told her the OM said it was okay, but she apparently forgot to relay that info to the AA... I explained to the AA, same as I had the OM, that I simply could not go 2 weeks without pay, had not planned on taking time off so soon after starting a new job, and didn't think it was right or fair... I did this as tactfully and diplomatically as I could, but don't think it went over well and that OT is not approved.

Well, next month is almost here and we'll apparently be off for 2 weeks, without pay... I had tried calling my old CCM, but apparently she's not there anymore (MQ). I don't know how I'm to get by, I'm just a working gal here, like everyone else, I work paycheck to paycheck! I'm in a panic here and desperately trying to find a temporary solution, so short of selling my soul (not an option lol!), any ideas how a gal can make a paycheck for just 2 weeks?? Thanks all!

Wow, really don't know what to tell you - except so much of what you explained

[ In Reply To ..]
makes me so glad I am not in some horrible doctor's office any more. Superstar or not, this is a very shabby way to treat employees, and if it were me, I would definitely be looking into something else pronto!

Even if you were hired back at Mmodal or another MTSO it could take a while to get started and get paid, but I would start this process anyway as a plan B and go for part-time.

Maybe in the meantime you can use a credit card or a loan from a family member or friend to get you through, since it is only a short time you'll be without a check.

Good luck to you!

Unemployment - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You are going to be unemployed for two weeks. I do not know how long until this two weeks starts but I would talk to the other people in the office and ask them about unemployment.

Do you have a ManPower or - temporary staffing agency

[ In Reply To ..]
in your city? I know some of those pay cash daily. Know anyone who does housecleaning who could use a hand? Local restaurant needing waitress or dishwasher? Trying to think of some cash jobs...

I used to love temping! I have actually found - mthead

[ In Reply To ..]
my way into several permanent jobs through temping. I would definitely sign up with a Kelly Services or ManPower to get you through those two weeks, and any other time the office closes. You may be in for a pleasant surprise! Of course, I have had some real "dud" temp assignments in my life as well, but the pros far outweighed the cons.

Love the temping idea, I used to love it too - AnonToo

[ In Reply To ..]
Unfortunately, I had the same experience working for doctors' which is why I stopped. They would take probably 6 weeks off during different times of the year and most offices had it set up different, i.e., the direct patient contact people got paid for their time off, clerical didn't and when I was a single mom that killed me financially. Good luck!

jobs - tanya

[ In Reply To ..]
This falls into the "too bad so sad" category. You can file for UE for one of the weeks. Of course, you'll be back at work before you get it, but at least you'd only lose one week's pay.

A lot of businesses do mandatory shut-down for various reasons. It would stand to reason if you work for one physician, he's surely not going to work every week.

Your choices are leave and work for a multi-doc clinic, ask for his vacation schedule (because I'm pretty sure he's not going to just take 2 weeks vacation), or just suck it up.

My ex-husband used to have this problem at the end of June every year when the money ran out to pay them but the new budget didn't start until July 1. It stinks.

btw - tanya

[ In Reply To ..]
One of the worst case scenarios when working for a physician's office is when the wife is part of the decision-making process. My guess is, if you file for UE, she'll find reason to send you on to your next job sooner rather than later. That's wrong of course, but that's the way the "my wife watches the pennies" works all too often.

The Wife! - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
I had this experience with the wife too. I was working too much overtime. Been there done that too for the same office for 24 years. Also the wife's husband the doc was involved with the OM and she was a you know what that no one liked. How's that for good working conditions?

The wife... - AnonToo

[ In Reply To ..]
Oh Lordy do you bring back memories of WHY I don't do small accounts anymore or work for a small practice.

My cousin has been transcribing about 15 years now. She works for herself and is CONSTANTLY stressed out because of no payment or cutting corners on the small accounts she has. If they all paid and didn't ask for "favors" all the time she'd probably make $60K a year and work 9-5 p.m. but as it stands she makes about $40K and is working 16+ years EVERY DAY. I make less gross, but I don't have to deal with the stress of dealing with clients anymore and paying taxes as an IC. I wish she had a taste not dealing with it, but she's a negative person and I think she wouldn't know what to do with a peaceful job.

Yeah, what if he decides to take another vacation - at Christmas time or

[ In Reply To ..]
or leave for a week or two in the Summer? I would definitly be searching for a second job if I were you.

If you find yourself a part-time job on the side, then at least you will have someting to fall back on when he takes his vacations. And the other poster is right, if its a family owned business, they might not be too happy about you drawing unemployment and decide to let you go.

Just find a secondary job, so you have a fallback. That would be your best bet.

Sorry this happened to you - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I didn't know it was possible to get unemployment as technically you have not been let go from your job. A lot of good suggestions have already been made. Do you have any savings at all (401K/severance from other jobs)? Is a salary advance possible, some employers will do that in emergency situations. If you have made your rent/house payment for the month and purchased groceries before the 2-week break, I wouldn't think it would be that bad, make a couple of casseroles and freeze them to tide you over. Your other creditors, if you have any, would probably cut you some slack if it were only 2 weeks, you might explain the situation to them. The only thing I can compare this to is when I changed jobs and started mid pay period and had to wait for my first check, but I managed just fine. I'm self supporting so I know it can be scary. I hope you can work something out, good luck.

Never stop looking! - JW

[ In Reply To ..]
Best be looking for another job. Even if you have a job, you need to keep looking and applying if you have the chance. Nothing is for sure anymore believe me, been there done that. I've been pretty much unemployed since last September and just tried a job for five days thinking I had the job and did not and was terminated when I didn't pass their "work type." My advice, take nothing for granted and keep looking. You will get through the two weeks. I never would have thought I would have made it this long but I did. Two weeks would be nothing to me now. You are being conditioned for what is coming in the future. I have been at this for 30 years. Good Luck!!!

I have worked in doctor's offices now for the - past 10 years or so,

[ In Reply To ..]
and this is pretty common. I worked in one with multiple providers. I was an MA for one of the providers and was allowed to work if there was extra stuff that needed to be caught up in the front or lab, etc. I worked for years in a single practice office where if he took off the office was closed. You used PTO if you had it. He went on a 2 week mission trip, family vacation and then also a week yearly for a medical conference where he could get in his CEUs. I know it really stinks, but one of the downfalls of working in a clinic. I deal with the same thing with my transcription accounts. The doctors go on vacation with no notice, and my work slows down. I know keep 2 jobs, dr. office and transcription. So, now when they go on vacation, it is more of a relief.

KInda Upset - grehound mom

[ In Reply To ..]
When you were first hired, you should have been told this. Like some of the comments made, what about when he goes on another vacation, etc. I work for 3 doctors offices as an independent contractors and someone is always going on vacation or taking time off. Just recently, 3 of the docs were away at the same time. I am always looking for additional work so may paycheck is not short.

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