Vent: The Alaska job last summer was a total mess from start to finish

I still get mad when I remember that dredge contract up in Alaska. The company sent us to a spot with ice melt runoff that clogged the pumps every other day. One time, we had to shut down for a week because a bear got too close to the fuel tanks. The living quarters were so bad, we had to sleep in shifts because of leaks. If you ever get a job like that, insist on better housing and wildlife plans upfront. Honestly, I think some bosses just see remote jobs as a way to cut corners. Next time, I'm asking for double pay or walking away.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sarah5d ago

Honestly... was it really a total mess? Working remote in Alaska means dealing with ice and animals. The housing might be rough, but that's expected. Shutting down for a bear seems like an overreaction. I bet the company did what they could. You just sound like you weren't prepared for how hard it is...

val5185d ago

Wow, Sarah that's really not it. Remote work being hard doesn't mean unsafe conditions are okay. Shutting down for a bear isn't an overreaction if the company didn't have proper fences or storage, that's a basic safety fail. And leaks in housing so bad you can't all sleep? That's not "rough housing," that's broken. You can be ready for hard work and still expect them to fix basic stuff like roofs and bear plans.

nancy_mitchell5d ago

Actually, I read a report last year about similar dredge jobs in Alaska. It said companies often don't budget for proper housing or wildlife safety, leading to exactly these issues. @the_sarah, remote work is tough, but that's no reason for bosses to cut corners. Like, if bears are a known risk, they should have secure fuel tanks from the start. And sleeping in shifts because of leaks? That's just unsafe. Good on you for wanting double pay next time.