Desa Rae Fields, Intermediate Traffic Control Specialist and Certified Observer of safety traffic control
Pros
Some of the pros for working for Area Wide Protective are as follows, from my personal experience. Within the last two years I have successfully matured in my career with the company. The company offers health insurance, while not at an realistic price range, it is an tolerable insurance for the required benefits, now held by our government. The coverage for the price could be better realisiticly, and rates have been raised. With that said, the company itself also offered me recently guaranteed 36 hours a week. Regardless of the jobs actually issued. This is good for stability and reassures the desire to stay committed to the corporation. However, with this as a pro, the downside is that there are no personal days offered, if you miss a day Monday through Friday for anything, even asking off, you do not get the said 36 guaranteed hours. That leaves no room for doctor appointments or children /family obligation of any sort. That needs to be reviewed. Another positive factor for this company that is a pro is the bonus that comes every 3 months as an award for safety. This is beneficial and acts as good reward for those who are motivated by income. The company will give those that are trained an company only vehicle. While not for personal use, a pro to this is that you do not personally have a gas cost. This is actually a very good pro for the company, as in my situation, most jobs can be more than an hour to the sight. I also feel that the management for district 230 is very supportive and understanding and evolved with the employees. The meetings are beneficial and show productivity. The meetings have been educational and brings a since of involvement. I feel over all the company is striving to mature and reward those that are interested in maintaining employment with them. I have enjoyed my employment with the company and feel very excited personally with futuristic ideas they are exhibiting.
Cons
Cons, as listed above are : 1. Insurance should be more affordable. 2. Personal days for doctor appointments should be given monthly without disturbing the guaranteed 36 hours. 3. The GPS system that totals your points needs to be ultimately reviewed. While I do believe drivers and passengers should be monitored while being issued an company vehicle, I also believe that the company is focusing in unrealistic expectations and manners by pushing said numbers and averages down the throats of the management without guidelines , realistic guidelines, in the road ways being exhibited. Meaning, in realistic driving environments there is no way to avoid daily most of the factors implemented. Such as, hard breaking. Hard breaking in heavy traffic? Hard breaking when animals run in front of you, hard breaking to avoid collision. Idoling , engine idoling in extreme conditions, such as, cold snaps, deep winter, heat warnings indexed in summer months, thunderstorms, etc. In natural said events, where the employee needs warmth or coolness or shelter. This needs to be reviewed. Understanding that safety is important, most employees I've spoken to do not care about the monitor system as much as the point system and the standards set. The company seems to be focusing more in these points, then actually teaching safety... that being said, safety could be a course set through the company on driving, if these standards in excellence are to be implied . Another con, has been the tablets, the new Skedelo system has been an complete annoyance to our customers. Between corporate trying to take care of scheduling and our customers, there has been uproar and disappointment more often then not. More often, corporate , dealing with scheduling has been rude and disconnected with the employees in the phone, then helpful. Problems with scheduling include call offs, cancellations and confirming work texts via personal phones. Also completing tasks on the tablets through out the day.
