I’m a little nervous posting here since im a first time poster. i work as a “medical receptionist” (in quotations because i do so much more) and i make $22 an hour off the books in NYC. although my job title is receptionist, i also do private and insurance credit card processing for the doctor’s spouse’s office (billing), administer tests (technician), and personal assistant tasks. i was promises to be put on the books after a “probation” period of 3 months. i have been here a year and a half. i know off the books is ideal for some people, but with benefits hanging over my head it is definitely not ideal for me. i have a lot of health issues that have gotten worse since working here and i could really use decent insurance because medicaid always finds a way to deny the medication i need to live comfortably. whenever i bring this up to the doctor i work for they say that they’re working on it. they are not. what i get paid for sick days and vacation days is whatever they feel like fits, sometimes the full week, sometimes only a few days. my manager and i are the only two staff members she has for her entire practice and a lot of the times we get sick together and she will force us to come into work unless it is covid. any time off we also have to plan around her schedule, including doctors visits. i have had issues with my liver and booked some ultrasounds before the time we were due to see patients and she made many passive aggressive comments like “can’t you wait to book those while i’m away.” i also told her that i had to leave a few months ago to take care of my grandma on hospice and her response was “do you think two weeks will be enough time?” i’ve worked fast food and retail my whole life so i’m wondering if maybe i am being ungrateful because this is “better” compared to those jobs.
besides this, the doctor i work for is very controlling and micromanages everything. i have noticed them have multiple tantrums and fits when something goes wrong in the office; including slamming her fits on her desk saying that “i guess if i want something done right i have to do it myself” and talking over us on the phone when we’re speaking to patients.
i run a small business to make up for the fact that this job does not pay enough for me as a single person in nyc. a lot of weeks i make more or the same as this office job so having the double income is nice, but i am working almost 24 hours a day to make this a reality. i know i can make more doing my business full time.
i want to take it full time but i am a little afraid i guess. i am 25 and i don’t know if i am making a smart decision to work for myself or leaving a “good” job.