I'm beginning to think that it's me at this point. I believe I have developed delusions and unrealistic expectations about the MT industry and what I consider to be fair and reasonable.
Here is what I would like my job (employee) to be like on a routine, daily basis, allowing for some mutual flexibility:
Sign on and start my shift, prefering days. Although I prefer a M-F work week, I'll work a Sun-Thurs or Tues-Sat schedule. I can give up a weekend day. It's not all that big of a deal. Have work there waiting to do - not 25 OLD files that are out of TAT because the shift before me cherry picked that all need to be done in the next 20 minutes because they are now out of TAT on my watch. Just regular files, steady work...do one, send it back, do one, send it back and so on and so forth until it's break time, lunch time or quittin' time.
Fair pay. Ya got SR to edit? Pay me fairly for it. I don't like doing it - I find it annoying and boring and tedious, but pay me fairly and though I will still grumble under my breath, I won't likely outright refuse to do it because it is costing me money. Pay me fairly for the work I give you back. If my QA and production stats are average, pay me average. If they are above average, pay me above average. If they are below standard, well then let me go.
Some handy little perks -
* Clearly state your BOS requirements and/or changes. Strictly BOS, no changes? Say so. Lots of changes, tell me beforehand. Spell it out. I don't do mind reading.
* Samples are fantastic. Provide them.
* Don't expect silk out of the pig's ear of VOIP dictation file you're providing me. I can't hear over the buzzing and burping of the voice file. I can't fill in the long pauses of silence. And certainly don't count that against my QA percentage! That really ticks me off!
*Got a list of local docs and nursing homes and area towns and frequently mentioned employers? Please do share.
All I want is a fair wage for my skills, ability and effort and the work there when I sign on to my shift.
I don't have to tell anyone how things have changed in the last 10 years. We've seen it, we're living it, we're muddling through it.
As for me, I'm finding my expectations are unrealistic. Is it just me?
I'm sad. I'm so discouraged and depressed by all of it. Right now is not a good time for a career change and I feel pretty trapped. I need to reeducate myself in a different field.
In the meantime, I'm still kissing frogs.
Realistic expectations
I don't think that's at all unrealistic and I sure feel for you. I can't even imagine trying to work in the environment many companies are now forcing MTs to work in.
I was always of the opinion that MTs are scarce enough - it's the MTSO's job to make sure they do what they do best (transcribe) and not a bunch of other stuff.
You pay better MTs a higher rate of pay. You pay reliable MTs a higher rate of pay. You pay the MTs who willingly do all the crap dictation nobody else will do - a higher rate of pay.
I simply don't understand the "one size fits all" mentality.