DICT8 Plus (new November 2022)

[Whitestar55]

Hi, Here we go again, anyone else set up a new thread yet? Hope to find everyone 🙂

@Whitestar55 but we are Zero contract workers - we are on a contract that does not guarantee any work. Zero contract workers, like the Uber drivers, are classed as self-employed. However, the Uber drivers managed to get some rights, and so should we. Hopefully, if enough people contact Jon Ashworth they might realise the extent of the situation. But if people continue to sit on their bums, moan and whinge but do nothing to try and help, the situation will not improve.

@Gally123 I was just pointing out the terminology, because it's important. We are similar to the Uber drivers set up, which was classed as the gig economy, paid per gig rather than by the hour. Zero hours contract is actually an employee status but with no set hours, and they have to be paid minimum wage etc and have to work when called in. What happened with the Uber drivers is that they got their status changed to worker, which is in between self-employed and employee and they are now entitled to minimum wage, holiday pay and pension. It's something to do with the way they were expected to work, which did not fit the criteria of truly self-employed or employed, which is similar to they way we work. It's all a bit confusing really, but from what I've been reading it something like that.

There seems to be four statuses basically, Self-Employed, Worker, Zero Hours Contract and Employee, all with their own criteria. I don't know about your thoughts, but I think we are somewhere between self-employed and worker, but we are being exploited by being classed as self-employed.

@Gally123, @Whitestar55 : I also wrote to Jon Ashworth and received the same reply as you did; hopefully something will happen but, of course, we need weight in numbers. Everyone really should follow suit in a united effort to move things forward. When I fill in my tax return book to my Tax Advisor as self-employed (there is 'zero contract hours' written on it ... we only have work that is available on-line and, therefore, not contracted hours; although we have a signed contract with Dict8 or other. It is a grey area and does need addressing.

@danblack87 @Whitestar55 we are not self employed like a hairdresser, builder, plumber, author etc. We have bosses who we have to mind.

@Gally123 Yes exactly, I totally agree, we have supervisors monitoring us (proofreaders and she who must not be named) and instructions on how to layout the letters, and we do not invoice the clients directly. That's not true self-employment and the companies know it, but exploit the loopholes.

It really isn't a zero hours contract when you look at the criteria for that though, the way we are paid it's more like gig economy, paid for the work we complete, not by the hour like with a zero hours contract.

I'm just trying to work out how we should be classified as that's the only way I think they'll be, by law, forced to pay us a living wage and other benefits. I think they operate more like an agency, because they find the work for us and take a cut of our pay, and like with an agency, you don't have to take the job offered but can pick and choose, but will only get paid if you complete the work you have agreed to do, but they have to pay us at least minimum wage and other benefits pro rata with the hours we have worked.

To all-
This is the reply Ive got back. It gives advice who to contact.

@Gally123 - I know you have done this and probs received a similar message

Ive sent this to you all as it gives advice who to contact if any of you would like to support the cause. Lets hope the ones who do, can make some progress, we can only try

Re: Self empolyment rights

ASHWORTH, Jon
18 May
Show details

Thank you for your email.

Please be assured that your email has been passed to the appropriate colleagues so they may consider the points you have raised in future policy development.

Unfortunately, we cannot advise you on your specific circumstances due to a strict Parliamentary protocol that Members of Parliament can only take up matters on behalf of their own constituents, despite Jonathan’s role as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

We recommend that you contact your local Member of Parliament if you have not already. Regardless of their political views, they can contact the DWP and make representations on your behalf. If you are not sure who your local MP is, you can find them here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP. All you need is your postcode.

In addition to your local MP, Citizens Advice offer excellent advice on employment rights and may be able to advise you on your situation. You can find your nearest Citizens Advice here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Thank you once again for contacting Jonathan.

Kind regards,

Office of Rt. Hon. Jonathan Ashworth MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

So, @Gally123. depends who your MP is. Mine is a Lib Dem so might say she's going to do something. Thanks Whitestar55 and all for your efforts, I will contact her. I see Uber used GMB union (I was once a UNISON rep but frankly they were pretty supine in most cases; GMB and Unite are stronger).

I think to truly be heard everyone would have to down tools but in the way we work that will never happen and these companies know it.

I had some very strange feedback last month and felt really micro-managed it was like being stalked !!! In an employed environment that would never happen. No medical errors flagged up just crap about full stops etc !!!!! I had a good think about the way I was being treated, how it made me feel for that week (on top of all the other worries in my life) and felt this is just not worth it. Although it is a convenient gig for me it's just not worth the abusive way we are treated. And I truly feel we are mentally abused by this company. When I spoke to a member of staff at DICT8 about how insulting that type of feedback is they advised to ignore it, but that is easier said than done when you are a lone worker. I have also decided to write an anonymous letter to James (says it all really)

I have contacted TPRO and my application has been accepted. I was told that half their transcribers now comes from England (probably most from DICT8) and that has made it possible to expand the company further so there is plenty of work. They seem more transparent than DICT8 and a little more respectful towards the typists (we shall see).

@Pinksville i find tpro very respectful in how they talk to you on line. Always address you with yr name and close by thinking you for all ur hard work. You have a designated person in each hospital giving you feedback so also if you have a query you have can contact them, which I do often. They have obvs been trained in how to respect their workers. I think you will notice the difference.

@nomadchild I had a long think about what I need moving forward as I have to work from home Even though this company does not suit me 100 % due to the commitment of x amount of letters (I can work round this) having the company I work for be respectful and kind to me was top of the list. I felt I needed to take back control and reading through the previous threads on DICT8 going back many years I can see that this company will never change the way they treat people or change their payment methods etc.

@Pinksville - I think youl also find you can make much more money!

The feedback is definitely getting more picky. Maybe the proofreaders have to meet a quota. What annoys me most though is when they demand that you type everything that is dictated (i.e. the stuff for the notes box word for word) whether you are paid for it or not - well they can get stuffed.

@Pinksville Congratulations on joining Tpro. I really think I might have to apply myself now. The other is obviously never going to change.

Reading all of this & time it is taking for Dict8 to receive reference (could be due to NHS backlog of typing) & get back to me, think I might have to dig out my CV & get onto Tpro too !!!!

@Whitestar55 thank you.

As regards DICT8, I looked online and many of the gripes we have were being mentioned over 10 years ago, especially about the pay !! I don't expect to be treated with kid gloves but I do know my worth at this stage and it is unacceptable to me to be micro managed about a few full stops to the point of bullying. Most of the dictation we get on DICT8 is unacceptable and to even manage to make a decent letter out of it is near on impossible !!!

They're not doing themselves any favours, they are obviously losing clients and transcribers. I get a sense of the company no longer being taken seriously, it seems it's just a sideline for the 'entrepreneurs' who have fingers in other pies.

Sent my CV to T-pro today, so I'll just wait then

I'm so looking forward to the day I can tell DICT8 what I really think of their exploitative substandard system. Like @Pinksville , today I have re-evaluated everything and decided I need to move on also.

What should we call the new thread? Do you think we should drop 'Dict8' from the title, or keep it so everyone can find it?

@Whitestar55 Keep DICT8 somewhere for continuity.

Can you add me to the list when you set up a new thread please? I find it really useful to hear other people's experiences. Thanks.

Ok, I'll set one up now. I'll call it 'DICT8 Plus Transcription Group 2023'.

Please can you add me too. Find the comments both helpful & reassuring that it's not just me sometimes!