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#90990 - 02/14/08 08:29 AM
Pay
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Lindsey24
Member
Registered: 08/18/02
Posts: 388
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Has anyone heard of this before? If you were told simply that you will be making x cents per line with no explanation of what they consider to be a line. Then later down the road you were told, well this is our way of figuring your pay: We take the number of words in the document, divide that by 11, then multiply that by your line rate. We do it this way because we don't pay for spaces and we don't pay for punctuation, ie. commas, periods, etc. Just wondering if anyone has come across this equation of figuring one's pay and if anyone knows where the number 11 would come from? Thanks for any input.
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#91002 - 02/14/08 10:23 AM
Re: Pay
[Re: Lindsey24]
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baldymom
Member
Registered: 02/26/04
Posts: 630
Loc: Hampton Roads - Va
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I certainly have never heard of such a thing, nor do I know where they get their numbers from.
But just out of curiosity I did do this...
I just took the last file I typed, did a word count with just the program on Word (which is what I use), divided by 11, and multiplied by my line rate just to see what I got.
I'm paid by the 65-character line including spaces. If we made the same line rate...I made 37 cents more than you. 
_________________________
What would you do with a brain if you had one? -- Dorothy -- Wizard of Oz
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#91004 - 02/14/08 10:42 AM
Re: Pay
[Re: baldymom]
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Lindsey24
Member
Registered: 08/18/02
Posts: 388
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I'm gonna ask anyway, although I'm sure this is the way but...your pay is based by line and your pay is figured by taking the number of characters including spaces divided by 65 and then multiplied by your line rate, correct? Yea, I've talked to a few people and they have never heard of the way my pay is getting figured either nor does anybody know where in the heck the 11 is coming from. Like I said before, I am also not paid for spaces, commas, periods, etc. Ummm, those do require keystrokes last time I checked, do they not? However, I'm doing work and not getting paid for it and then getting paid by means of a formula in which nobody has ever heard of. Weird. Thanks Baldymom for your input. Its much appreciated.
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#91007 - 02/14/08 11:02 AM
Re: Pay
[Re: Lindsey24]
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ellemt
New Member
Registered: 09/09/07
Posts: 20
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I do some transcription for a small service, and I am paid this way. 10 words = a line. Comparing to the method of 65 characters with spaces equals a line, sometimes it turns out to be more and sometimes a little less. We have the option of working for this pay method or not. It's our choice. It's been fine for me but it is only a portion of my work. My other accounts use the 65 character with spaces method, and another account is entirely different from both methods. MTSOs also have the choice of how to pay and how to charge.
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#91009 - 02/14/08 11:36 AM
Re: Pay
[Re: ellemt]
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Lindsey24
Member
Registered: 08/18/02
Posts: 388
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Thank you for your input as well, ellemt. However, should this be explained in a contract if I am considered an IC, on how exactly my pay is figured rather than just stating x cents per line? As well as putting in how much for a priority report, etc.? I also have another question, which is what all does it entail if an MT company somehow did not realize that they did not have an IC of theirs sign a contract at all prior to allowing them to work for an extended amount of time?
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#91014 - 02/14/08 12:28 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Lindsey24]
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bippy
Member
Registered: 11/01/06
Posts: 449
Loc: Summerland.
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Why did you sign the contract without knowing how they defined a line? Or if you never signed a contract, why not?
I think you need to sit down and figure out how you want to be paid , including things like stat reports. If you are winging it away out there without a contract, get one. Sometimes when people don't have a lot of experience, they will just take whatever the MTSO offers and later on regret it.
As far as spaces or no spaces, that's not something to get all huffy about. We use expanders and if they paid per keystroke, we would be crying. If you want to be paid more per line, that's fine. Just don't blame the whole thing on the fact that you have to move your finger to make a space. These days, automatic spacing even takes out a lot of that work. Lol.
_________________________
Love my new house!
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#91050 - 02/14/08 06:34 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Lindsey24]
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Julie W8
Member
Registered: 01/10/99
Posts: 3481
Loc: Los Angeles, CA USA
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Yes, it should be explained in the contract but guess who signed a contract that didn't explain it?
At this point, either live with it or renegotiate the contract.
And as noted, stay away from the "I hit the keyboard so I should be paid for it" argument.
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#91098 - 02/15/08 11:47 AM
Re: Pay
[Re: bippy]
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Ebit
Member
Registered: 01/10/03
Posts: 1280
Loc: Black Hole of the Internet
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"Automatic spacing"?
_________________________
The means are the end. - Laia Asieo Odo
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#91110 - 02/15/08 01:30 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Ebit]
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14tonks
Member
Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5978
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
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Really good expanders, like InstantText, do most of the spacing for you, so a lot of those spaces in the finished text do not actually represent keys you had to hit.
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#91111 - 02/15/08 01:31 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Ebit]
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shipaddict
Member
Registered: 10/15/07
Posts: 141
Loc: Katy TX
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Yes, Instant Text will automatically insert the appropriate number of spaces in your documents, and there are several macros available that will do this for you too.
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#91132 - 02/15/08 06:41 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: shipaddict]
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bippy
Member
Registered: 11/01/06
Posts: 449
Loc: Summerland.
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... Or the platform will do it for you, but then when you use Instant Text and that goes spastic sometimes in the platform, you can add AutoHot Key to do it for you. Makes life interesting, that's for sure.
_________________________
Love my new house!
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#91199 - 02/16/08 02:31 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Lindsey24]
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gruntled
New Member
Registered: 02/16/08
Posts: 1
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RUN don't walk away from this job. Sounds like they're trying to implement a new standard called the Visible Black Character. This means only getting paid for what's seen on the page - no spaces, tabs, capitals etc. LESS PAY FOR YOUR WORK. A line is normally 65 characters including spaces and punctuation in the real world.
Edited by gruntled (02/16/08 02:38 PM)
_________________________
http:/www.cafepress.com/mttees
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#92524 - 03/04/08 10:52 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: gruntled]
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hmts
New Member
Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 20
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I was told the formula was: (in word)
paragraphs + paragraphs + characters with spaces divided by 65 = total lines
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#95686 - 04/16/08 12:42 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: hmts]
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Wordcraftr
Junior Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 80
Loc: Midwest coast
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I have read all the posts about getting paid, and am wondering about the statement I receive every pay period. I live in Missouri and work for a company in New York. My check is direct deposited and I get a statement by mail. The only thing on the statement is the dates for the pay period and the amount paid for that period, current and year-to-date. I have asked if they would please list the number of lines for which I'm being paid on the statement, but they have ignored me. Is this standard in the industry?
_________________________
Gravity. It's not Just a good idea. It's the
Law.
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#95690 - 04/16/08 12:48 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Wordcraftr]
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tropsicleAfter
Member
Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2166
Loc: MS Gulf Coast
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There isn't an industry standard.
Are you an employee or an IC?
_________________________
tropsicle
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#95734 - 04/16/08 03:49 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Wordcraftr]
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BlankKeys
Member
Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 518
Loc: New York
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I've worked for a couple of different companies and I have worked as an IC. Of course it's easier to keep track of your lines and pay as an IC but the companies I worked for always had a report area where you could check your line count and how much you made.
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#96055 - 04/19/08 04:51 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Wordcraftr]
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MaureenH
Junior Member
Registered: 01/18/05
Posts: 64
Loc: Chicago Metro Area
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I have asked if they would please list the number of lines for which I'm being paid on the statement, but they have ignored me. Is this standard in the industry?
My paystub lists not only the total number of lines I transcribed during the pay period, but it also breaks down my hours of transcription by various "premium pay" time slots, weekend time, 6 p.m. to midnight time, and midnight to 6 a.m. time. Additionally, any time over 40 hours is listed as overtime. I am not sure about other companies, but my paystub is very detailed. I work for a national service.
_________________________
MaureenH, RMT
It is not more vacation we need--it is more vocation.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
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#96150 - 04/21/08 06:18 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: MaureenH]
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Wordcraftr
Junior Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 80
Loc: Midwest coast
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Thanks for the replies. I am an IC but still feel that they ought to at least tell me how many lines I've typed for the pay period.
At any rate, I have another question. I do the dreaded psychiatric transcription (because I'm not smart enough to do other specialties :-D). It is really, really frustrating at times because it's more like business transcription in that it's basically a long narration. Sure, there are some key phrases, and if the doc is organized he or she will say the assessment or plan in the same way. But that doesn't happen very often. One doctor routinely has 10 to 15 minute dictations.
Is there a way I can make it quicker? I use the word expander in the AutoCorrect feature of Word, and if they say a sentence in different ways I try to include a shortcut for each way, but I can only do so many variations before I forget what they are. (It takes time to consult a cheat sheet.)
I am astounded that some of you can type 400 lines an hour. Even at my very fastest I average about 250 to 300 lines, and that's pounding the keyboard without getting up to take a call or get a drink or even stretch. YEESH!
_________________________
Gravity. It's not Just a good idea. It's the
Law.
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#96158 - 04/21/08 07:12 PM
Re: Pay
[Re: Wordcraftr]
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tropsicleAfter
Member
Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 2166
Loc: MS Gulf Coast
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True productivity gains for you will come from a professional expander, not something that came with Word. Instant Text and Shorthand are prime examples and there are plenty of references to those two available under our search function. Instant Text, for example, has a feature that allows multiple expansions from identical short forms, with no need to remember what your short form is because it shows the possibilities to you as you type.
Something to think about in the meantime...
Throughout a typing day you will get more productivity gain from shortcuts of shorter, more frequently used words than you will get from hoping for those oft-repeated phrases, paragraphs, and sections.
I, too, find psych dictation to be exceedingly boring, but I certainly would not say that I wouldn't consider those that do them to be not smart enough to do the other specialties. 
_________________________
tropsicle
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#96169 - 04/22/08 02:34 AM
Re: Pay
[Re: tropsicleAfter]
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AmBeck22
Member
Registered: 11/02/06
Posts: 314
Loc: WV
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Wordcraftr,
I've seen many, many people looking for psych work! Of course, they would probably find it dull after a few days/weeks, but still...
Anyway...Instant Text has a starter psych glossary. However, I don't know how helpful it would be because I do 99% ER. I used to use AC while in school and about 2 months of being employed before I bought IT. AC limits you in many ways and I think you'd find it very useful and profitable in the long run to buy an expander.
_________________________
Amanda
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