Racer's Lounge - Good Benefits vs. shitty work.

I got hired at this company for concrete and equipment operator work................ I got stuck doing steel erecting............. And I've got a CDL that isn't being used.


:bang:

I have NO interest in steel erecting or industrial building stuff, I've told them this and I also told them that I don't do heights. I am TERRIFIED of heights. They STILL stuck me with a steel crew. :bang: I could care less about steel erecting, but I'm stuck doing it. The pay is ok, but they're scheduled to start giving raises again because they had to lower their wages to make bids when the economy crashed. They almost went under. But the company does EVERYTHING. They will dig the hole to the foundation to cleaning the windows when the building is handed over. Everything in between. But;I have back problems, this job is brutal on my back most of the time, and I haven't worked in a couple years. I'm hoping I can get used to it.

But the benefits seem to outweigh the mediocre backbreaking work. Stock option, Payed time off (6 holidays plus personal time which has a year and a multiplier factor for every year you are employed = more PTO days). Medical insurance also. Our crew is also working out at Cape Cod, so we work 4 12 hour days and get a 3 day weekend (mon-thurs), so 48 hours on and 72 hours off. I got 48 hours in this week and I'm off till Monday. Not to mention that the company has rented a house out there for us to stay in. The boss said I can basically live out there if I wanted to.

Anyway.. I'm hoping I can just get used to it, suck it up and live.... But this building is due in September, so I'm not sure how the weeks will work out when this one is done. And I'm unsure as to what other kind of work I'll be doing.

Did you get tired of OTR driving or just want something else? One of the suckiest things about construction is that basically every day you work, you are closer to not having a job, but sometimes the pay is worth it. I'd say stick with it unless a better, just a solid job comes up.

life is short dont get stuck doing something you have no interest in doing

Equipment operator jobs are really hard to come by these days. I'd continue as best I could, hoping to actually get that position and not worry about driving. They'll have you drive when they need to move or whatever, but hey... Why do you care about that? Haven't had enough? Driving jobs are not so hard to find, depending on where you wanna live and how often you wanna be home. Regardless, OTR driving becomes a total bore over time and the pay isn't what it used to be(to say the least).

life is short dont get stuck doing something you have no interest in doing

i agree even though jobs at least descent paying ones are pretty much non existent right now.

also, your health is more important than anything. NEVER take a job that could mess that up. it isnt worth it unless you want to make money from comp. claims. :D

I thought you were moving to florida? :confused:

I'm in somewhat of the same boat.....got laid off 4 years ago and found the job I have now. I was out of work 23 days. I work for the local health dept. doing permits for septic systems and wells. I got the job because it was open and I was halfway qualified for it. The pay is ok, but the benefits "were" great till the economy went to shit. Every year they take a little more from us. My insurance was 100% coverage with deductible and has went downhill. It's still not bad, but not what it used to be. There are parts of the job I enjoy, usually being outdoors and not having someone breathing down my neck. There are other parts I absolutely hate, like having to be a regulatory person and send notices and take people to court when they're being stupid. I also have found in the 4 years I've been here that I absolutely HATE the public. Individuals are great, the public in general are the most whiny, complaining, not my fault/blame it on someone else group of people I've ever experienced.

The main thing I hate about my job is that everyone hates on local government thanks to our leaders. I can tell you I'm at the absolute bottom and all the government waste is WAY over my head. I see it though, but have no control. I'm guilty by association. There's no common sense. I heard a joke one time about 3 city workers planting trees at the sidewalk. One dug the hole, one planted the tree, one filled the hole in. One day someone walked up to see two workers, one digging and one filling in the holes. He asked what was going on, and the workers replied "the tree guy was out today". You have NO idea how close that is to the truth. Budget sucks......they've talked about laying off one person from each department, but hey, atleast we got three brand new trucks this year.

Bottom line, it's fun to think about what you want to do until it's time to do what you have to do. I've got a wife, 2.5 yr old son, little girl due next month, and a mortgage. I can't afford to look elsewhere and take a chance just because of the benefits and I've got a little bit of senority. Life sucks, I take out my frustrations on my car....poor car!

Ok, rant over.

I got more benefits than that OP, and I don't hate my job.

Just start looking for a new job.

I did the same thing OP but with laminated wood. I didn't think much of the job at first but I grew to love it cause I worked all over this side of the U.S so I got to see stuff in different states and what not. We worked 5 days a week and stayed in hotel rooms but the company paid for our rooms, we all meet up on Sunday and left out in the company trucks so I could take a full tank of gas and make it last me a month to a month and a half, depended on what did on the weekends. The company itself paid for our insurance, they gave us $20 a day for expenses so there was an extra $100 on my check. When I started I was 19 making $9 an hour and after my year was up of being there, they gave me a raise to $12 an hour. I was there for 2 to 2 and half years and would still be there if they didn't lay off a couple of us. I know your company is different but I loved my job and the work.

I move freight at night. Back breaking labor that I hate but need the benefits and pay is fair. Currently in grad school trying to get a job, but apparently I haven't slept with the right person for to land a gig in my field. Regardless, if health issues arise because of a job, it's time to quit. Nothing is worth compromising your health. The problem: when? Best of luck, OP.

I used to drive truck for a local freight company. But I got sick of working newhere from 14-16 hrs a day. (they didn't care about the laws) So I recently got a job as a union cement mill worker. (8months ago) It was the best thing I ever did, the company has unbelieveable Benefits and the pay is great. Now I do have to do a alot walking and going up n down stairs checking machines all threw out the day but I don't mind it. Now all is great there but the hrs. I work swing shift which sucks. 7days of nights 2off 7days of middles 2 off 7days of days and then my long week end 6days off. I don't like the hrs at all but I like the job so I guess it comes down to, You can't have everything but if you like your job I don't mind the other lil crappy things about it

It's called work for a reason. If the benefits are good then keep at it.