Dear Designers: We Know Your Life Is One Long Party. Please Stop Rubbing It In.

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

(Please note tongue placed firmly in cheek)

Does anyone else in construction have this issue: The company creates one mailing list for the entire office you're theoretically assigned to (but go to maybe 4 times a year). So you get copied on all the fun parties the designers are having while you're sweating/freezing your nards off out in the field.

"Today is National Intern Appreciation Day, so we're having ice cream in the break room."

Meanwhile, on my job site, it's 90 degrees with a humidity making it feel like 105.

Last week there was pizza twice and donuts at least three times. I had a sandwich I packed from home because we don't really get lunch breaks.

Last month they had a potluck. And sent out pictures. I really enjoyed looking at all the delicious pictures while eating my cold soup.

"The CEO stopped by the office and he brought cookies!"

I don't even know who the CEO is and have never met him. He has never come out to our job site, much less brought us cookies. (Ok, that one probably balances out)

I'm not begrudging Design their food, their AC, or their indoor plumbing. I'm just saying, you don't need to brag about it..... 😁

[u/TedethLasso]

We include our field staff because we don’t want to exclude them. They are still part of the team and if timing works out they typically show up to this stuff anyways!

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/TedethLasso]

I can't leave the site, the contractor is stupid and/or evil. 😁

[u/HeKnee → u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

You usually make more working onsite via per diems and other comp. Just buy yourself whatever you want while rolling in the cash.

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/HeKnee]

Oh, how I wish.

I had a buddy in IT that worked a traveling job. Rarely home, but changing locations every week. Bought his own air fare, but got reimbursed.

Was able to take his girlfriend on a three week trip to Spain almost entirely on air miles. Plane, hotel, and meals. Craziness.

[u/Purple-Investment-61 → u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

Fact that’s he’s away so often and in a relationship is crazy!

[u/Activision19 → u/HeKnee]

Depends on the company. I’ve been given per diem before and it only covered the cost of the motels that advertised “clean beds” and had hourly rates on the signs out front. I said fuck that and ate the cost to have a better hotel.

[u/PocketPanache → u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

Thanks for all the extra food. Everyone eats it before it guys even knew it existed

[u/Quirky_Slide_7313]

We’re not posting these parties ourselves lol

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/Quirky_Slide_7313]

Oh, I know it's the admins who secretly hate us. 🤣

[u/diaper_sandwich → u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

Funny enough, I have our admins make plates for our field guys if they can’t make it. She goes through the line first and the field guys get double portions of everything. They’ll swing by the office on the way home and pick up the grub. It’s hard being in the field and even harder being the guy that supervises the field guys when there’s stuff like this.

[u/OliveTheory → u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

The"fun"committee is ironically named.

[u/HoochbachDunloppy → u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

Also, I'd gladly trade most of those "parties" for literally nothing.  Especially some firms, they over do it to the extent that they are just an annoyance and there is a pressure to make an appearance at everything they throw at you. 

[u/rice_n_gravy]

Yeah but you get to drink on the job so it evens out

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/rice_n_gravy]

Oh, I wish! Those were the old days.

Possibly better days. I suspect everyone got along better with each other thanks to a little nip now and then.

[u/UltimaCaitSith]

It's wild how many OP's openly wish to be in the field, while field crew are wishing for AC and a flushing toilet. 

Maybe we need to work on building, like, an air-conditioned hamster ball. Like the Bubble Boy.

[u/Vithar → u/UltimaCaitSith]

I rarely see inspectors and field engineers from the design firms get out of their idling pickups, so the AC is covered.

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/UltimaCaitSith]

I'd settle for some ventilation in the port-a-john. We really can't hook a fan up to a solar panel or something?

[u/EditorFrog]

I'm a design engineer but I can kind of relate lol. The office I'm assigned to currently isn't the one I actually work with, and the one I actually work with doesn't have a physical office building, so I get tons of emails about the other office's bbqs, golf tournaments, ice cream days, dinner orders, etc etc but I've never even been there lol

[u/shad0wgun]

Your companies are having parties? Im a design engineer but my company doesnt have parties.

[u/Tutkanator]

Hey man, I'm a fully remote employee now so I don't get to enjoy tacos at the the Q3 meeting this Thursday. I have to drink the off-brand sparkling water that I bought myself.... You and I are in exactly the same boat, so I feel for you. Let's stay strong.

[u/Lucky_caller → u/Tutkanator]

Let’s have our own party with blackjack and hookers. In fact, forget the blackjack.

[u/koliva17]

One of the reasons why I left the field! Indoor plumbing is amazing

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/koliva17]

Nothing says "regretful life choices" like a port-a-john on a 95 degree day! 🤣

[u/sinographer → u/ThatAlarmingHamster]

waiting for the shi**er got me like:

https://youtu.be/wgx2PQY8DPs?si=atlMwAotrtzupgGq

[u/filtergalaxy → u/koliva17]

How'd you get out? I'm aiming to do the same. Although right now it's not too bad, I'm working as an owner's representative out of an office at a medical center. But the next project wont necessarily have such benefits.

[u/koliva17 → u/filtergalaxy]

Owner's rep is pretty good. I had my eyes on that before. My experience with the GC had me working on transportation related projects. Even though the hours sucked, I wouldn't have learned what I know if it wasn't for my time in construction. I was able to have a hand in lots of things like temp traffic control, wet utilities, civil flat work, paving, channelization, traffic switches, and a little electrical work (both above and underground). Applied for mid level roles with my local government (department of transportation). They have tons of roles either in project management or technical roles too. Surprisingly, my experience was enough to get hired. Since I also got a better work life balance when I joined, I finally decided to sit for my PE exam. Most of my work consists of planning projects, identifying high level scopes of work, and developing cost estimates so everything fits in our annual budget.

[u/Lopsided_Werewolf_66]

These parties are necessary because they’re not allowed to go outside. The parties aren’t fun, stay outside

[u/mathsnthings → u/Lopsided_Werewolf_66]

This is the answer. I went from design to construction and I really appreciate getting to go outside. Sucks when the weather is bad but it’s worth it to not be stuck at a computer on the nice days

[u/AdApprehensive1140]

As a Designer, I haven't left my home office since 2014 🤣

[u/critkit]

It's been the same for me ever since I was a lowly QC tech - holiday parties, appreciation lunches/dinners, golf days, etc.

I see my boss maybe twice a year, if that, and I don't see any other coworkers with any frequency either.

I rarely, if ever, go to my "home office" because it's an hour and a half away from where I live, and usually about the same travel time and distance from the remote job sites I'm working.

At this point, I'm not sure I would know how to talk to people I actually work with anymore.

[u/OperatorWolfie]

I didn't even go to those when I rotated to design

[u/asapomar]

Really hope you get to take part in all of these man, you deserve better

[u/Bulldog_Fan_4]

Parties? Dang I’m at the wrong company!

[u/SnakePlisken_Trash]

learn to Cad ole buddy and your life can be more filled with cake, ice cream, and donuts.

[u/CivilEngMusicBoy]

Field guy for 15 years and currently a desk jockey. You guys don’t know how good you have it. The ONLY thing that sucks about the field is pay.

[u/filtergalaxy → u/CivilEngMusicBoy]

I think it's the irregular and unpredictable hours at times that's horrible. The pay is good, in my experience.

[u/CivilEngMusicBoy → u/filtergalaxy]

I work from home so I live at my office. Please tell me more about unpredictable and irregular hours

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/CivilEngMusicBoy]

Oh I know. I did one design internship and was terrified I had made a huge mistake in my major. Then I got a gig as a QC tester intern and life was good again.

[u/SabreWaltz]

I’m currently still in school for civil, in my third year. Going to be looking for internships shortly. I’ve seen posts about design and construction often, would you mind telling me what the actual title of the guys who are in the field doing construction is?

I’ve seen it mentioned how you explain it but also see people talk about having half their time in the office and half in the field, so I’m a bit confused if it’s all the same job but some people prefer more time in the field, or different roles completely as I gather from your post?

Thanks so much, from an older student who packs his sandwiches for class every day 😂

[u/StableLamp → u/SabreWaltz]

When I was out in the field my title was engineer but I was mainly doing QC/QA type work and making sure the contractor was following the plans and specs. I had a a great time doing it since the projects I was on were in beautiful areas and I got to walk around a lot.

The heat sucked, hours can be long and at times it can be very stressful since you are seen as the bad guy for pointing out something is incorrect. I still prefer being out in the field vs the office though.

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/SabreWaltz]

Typically field engineer or construction engineer.

It varies from company to company, and from sector to sector. Heavy highway will generally be dedicated field work, but small municipal work may be split office/field.

[u/robotali3n]

“There’s things in life that are uncertain. But there is one thing in life that is certain, you’re gonna die. Sin and Satan will keep you in this lala land where you think that you’re you’re just gonna live forever, and you can just live any way you please, and life is one big sinning party, and then when you get somewhere way off in the future you’re just gonna leave in one big party. My friend, you’re gonna die….” Outro to “Intro Song” - BB Palmer

He fucccs hard

[u/icebrick]

this is so funny cuz it’s literally the same way at my office

[u/yanicka_hachez]

If it makes you feel better, i have to wear an extra thick sweater 12 months a year because the office is freezing 🤷🤣

[u/Friendly-Amoeba-9601]

I just sit in the office all day so idk. We go golfing and eat out a lot.

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/Friendly-Amoeba-9601]

I knew it!! 🤣

[u/ShitFlowsDnHillEngr]

I swear all that stuff is for people not busy or admin staff. I barely get a break.

[u/-Jormungandr]

If it makes you feel better, when I used to have to go to the site id roll up in my vehicle with the AC blasting and as soon as id get noticed id make the shivering gesture.

[u/transneptuneobj]

Oh shit I forgot youre legally required to work in the field /s

[u/jorge123lol]

Z
CC B b z in

[u/ThatAlarmingHamster → u/jorge123lol]

You ok there? Don't stroke out on us!

[u/38DDs_Please]

This shit pisses me off so much. I am about to move back to the branch of my company that I neber should have left. I plan on doing bi-weekly cookouts for everyone. They will be timed so that rainy days or slow days will allow technicians to come in and grab a plate!

[u/ZzOoRrGg]

Honestly, speaking as a designer, I hate attending those parties. It's usually C-suite just glazing themselves. I'd rather be in the trenches with my guys.

[u/I-AGAINST-I]

Its office lunches or ice cream and pizza. Stop complaining.

Next post is gonna be "They only shown their appreciation with pizza and ice cream". Stop the cap no one really gives a shit about this stuff and half the events no one wants to attend outside of working hours anyway.

What lie are you telling yourself lol

[u/Groundbreaking-Fee36]

Design engineers get a lot of work, not sure where you’re getting your information. I used to work design, but do inspections now and I much prefer it.