Pay with DICT8 extra

[Gally123]

Hello Ladies - hopefully a new thread for you... @Carosel2 @Whitestar55 @Chrissols @danblack87 @flutterby18 @wfh21 @workingfromhomenow @cherryblossom114 @Lovemydaxie @homeworkmum and anyone else I have forgotten.

@wfh21 - - not much better today either!

I've asked for a rise a few times over the years and have had very curt replies back saying no with excuses about having to be competitive. Quite honestly after working for them for 15 years with no increase, they must he one of the lowest payers out there. However, I do like that I can do it or not and they don't pressure you. For me also, working 3 days a week, it suits me. However, just 1p more a line would make such a difference.

@lovemydaxie: Yes, just one more pence would make a massive difference now that gas and electric prices are going through the roof!!

I doubt they'll increase the rate of pay while they can get away with not doing. The business runs on cheap gig economy labour and they survive by having, apparently, 5000+ transcribers contracted therefore ensuring that there is always someone to pick up the tasks, even if they only pick up a few a month. They also offer a service at our expense by encouraging notes/instructions to secretaries ,etc, to be dictated for transcription into the notes box (this is stated on the instructional video for clients), which does not get added to our line count. I suspect this is an incentive for clients to use DICT8 rather their than competitors. Many of us have asked about a pay rise and we all seem to get the same answer, being that it's not possible due to competition. They can get away with this because we are considered to be self-employed contractors, with the choice of being able to do the work if we so wish or not. I don't think the company would survive if they didn't operate this way, although it is exploitation in my opinion. They obviously also have employees, software developers etc, but without the transcribers they wouldn't generate revenue.

... and by the looks of their yearly accounts they draw a nice pay cheque themselves, meanwhile we are doing huge amounts of work for "free" via the note box (5000 transcribers x +++ notes !!). Out of curiosity was anyone on this thread asked by DICT8/informed regarding the freebie note box ? I know for sure that when I joined sometime ago this was never mentioned.

Might be worth us paying attention to how many lines go into the box over a period of time to see how much money we are all losing out on.

Does TPRO expect people to work for nothing, if not I will be checking them out.

I was also wondering how much the fine leather diary costs per person, wouldn't we prefer just a Xmas bonus?!!
I'm wondering if we would get away with typing the [1] note to sec: see letter - then typing message into letter within brackets, maybe I'll try it for size!! Also if we moan there's less work than before COVID, I think they worry about that, and may not want to lose typists, I did explain that costs are rising for all companies and they expect this, 9p a line would be great in my view for a specialised service.

It's that long ago that I cannot recall being told the comments in the note box would be paid or not. I think that came to light a lot later by very astute transcriptions/ so, as far as I can, I limit what I put in the NOTES. However, in terms of adding please and thank you in a notes box I do not think it necessary (as one person was 'pulled up for'. If I typed thank you after yours sincerely 'as is often dictated' then I wouldn't get paid for it would I [that thank you is irrelevant to the letter typed!!! So, hence, I don't add it to notes box either. !!!!!

I can understand not being paid for it if we have a query in the notes box, but to type what basically constitutes a memo by the dictator to a colleague, for free, doesn't seem fair, but as we have the choice to type a task or not this is exploited. It's annoying that you don't always know there is a 'memo' dictated until you have completed a letter and if you chose not to do it you have to cancel the letter and lose out, so most people would just type the 'memo' anyway.

Yes, @whitestar55 - I agree .. I DO use contractions in the note box BUT not in the transcription of a document (contractions are not allowed even though dictated!! didn't, won't, couldn't, shouldn't, wasn't!!! As dictated for note box "Please" = pls. Thanks = Thx - 'would you mind just adding a note with a 'msg' I Just type the note P.S!!!

Regards to the Notes box too - depending on the way a 'note' is dictated. If it says 'memo/note to Sec I copy and paste the patient details as a 'letter' ("letter 2") addressed to the Sec/named person!! Not had that for a while but that is what I do. A note is a note a memo is a Memo to be printed by the sec as an 'Action to Do' ... particularly in cases of fees for patients seen within the Private Sector.

@wfh21 - on Tpro notes for the secretary are typed in red at the top of the letter, ie within the character count.

thanks @Gally123 I am going to contact Tpro, bonuses and being paid for everything you type is my sort of company.

I do think DICT8 needs to be dragged out of the 1980s, invoices by post, paid by cheque, not being paid for work, poor pay, rude staff, doesn't really fit in 2022 !!

@wfh21 - yep with Tpro invoices are emailed in and pay is directly into your bank account, no problems.

Well I have had 5 letters where doc dictated name of patient then said copy and paste from my notes for body of letter! I gained 2 lines on each letter. How does that help the secretary, as the details of patient would be pulled through automatically anyway surely from the software they use and then the sec would just do as stated, so they used a dict8 transcriber to send secretary a message in note box what to do? They would have been better writing a note and leaving on their desk saying copy and past from notes for 1,2,3,4 and 5 letters. It isnt fair us not getting paid for the notes. I did put a note on the letter once and was quickly reminded to use the note box and not put it in the letter

@carosel2 - I have had similar - dictators giving patient details and then saying to use standard letter template.

Listened to one the other day where the first half the letter was for the note box (4 minute task) DICT8 should have a limit

@wfh21- its so unfair but Dict8 are also losing money with this as they wont get paid either as it doesnt come up in their word count! @Gally123 - its getting to be too regular is this, Dict8 need to get wise in what they are doing here as it is taking money away from them too. Tpro- when you copy and paste (as I do regularly big chunks from previous letters) you get paid for the dictation in the count! 😊👍 xx. Its just a shame I only have one hospital and I tend to do my specialties that im familiar with otherwise I would do more but I do have problems with arthritis and find it hurts doing VR for too long as im just using certain fingers. Whereas typing I use all. I could type VR (and I have done) but it takes twice as long (for me anyway) and of course the pay is half of dict8 doing it that way but works out relatively same doing the VR and its easier so you can make more money with Tpro if the work is there, plus!... they are lovely people. Makes all the difference to your confidence and morale

@carosel2 - but surely the hospitals are losing out for putting such little tasks out for us to do - why pay for letters saying "use letter template" even if it is the minimum 8p per letter it all mounts up. These letters should go straight to the secretary to sort in the first place. I must admit before Christmas when I was working hard with Tpro the VR is a lot of mouse work and my finger got a bit sore!

@Carosel2: That's an 'odd' one: doc dictated name of patient then said copy and paste from my notes for body of letter! I've thought about this .. that is very unreasonable. I think I would have typed the 'long note' to the body of the lady then pre-tagged it with [Notes Box: Note to Sec: Notes copied to body of letter as instructed] !!! probably would have forwarded that Task to Dict8 too for checking. Not sure how that would work/response BUT surely then you would be paid as typed ??? Thoughts anyone??

@danblack87 - I have had that in the past, an instruction to copy and paste from dictators e-noting or similar with various headings. It just seems to be a cheap/quick way of getting a letter done.

On the question of Notes and copying and pasting: I have had two or maybe 3 instances where I have typed a reasonably lengthy letter THEN dictator says 'note to sec copy and paste the same letter but send it to dadadada, separately - Me: Copied and pasted the same letter x3 in entirety filled in the address details for each given and at end of transcription put in the Notes Box 'Note to Sec: 4 letters in total, copied and pasted as directed - same patient' ... YES, I got paid for all four letters (total line count 1 letter x 4) Now to me that is reasonable [in terms of a dr dictating Note to Sec on that day the Sec/Typist was me .. Why would I wish to waste a secretary's valuable time doing that simple thing when I am sure their time could be better spent??

@danblack87 - yes I have had that, and also when doing a second letter on same patient if the instruction is to copy and past the diagnosis etc I would copy and paste it as opposed to leaving a note about it to the secretary.

@Gally123: here, here me too!!

@carosel2 I agree and maybe DICT8 needs to be very clear what constitutes a note, is it two or three words or three paragraphs ? and to proof read the note box is above and beyond micromanaging 🤣

wfh21: LOL. We are experienced secs who know how to use our initiative one would say. Okay, sometimes it is the 'thin end of a sticky wicket' but, you know, in my book if all else fails a) I don't type them or b) attempt my initiative once in a while as a tester; or c) e-mail Dict8 regarding Task Number: XXXXXX !!!