To want DH to get out of construction industry

[Onthebuckle]

DH has been in construction since he was 18, he had over the years worked for bigish companies where they always have work and he goes from one job to the next but recently he has been with smaller firms who have been running out of work. He is currently getting agency stuff but it’s erratic, he will get to a job that was promised to be a few weeks work and then turns out it’s only a couple of days. Would mind so much as at least it’s work but he has often turned down other things for these longer term promises. He’s a good worker with lots of experience but as always with these things it seems to be last one in first out , today for example he discovered he was only bought in to replace some diva machine driver who had a barney last week with someone and stormed off, now that driver is back so he’s been told he is no longer needed. I just hate how snakes and ladders it is how you can have work the next day and it might last months but then it will be gone like that. Not sure what I’m asking really but probably just want to rant.

Unlike previous times where he bounces back, this time it’s getting him down and I want to suggest maybe a change of career to a normal 9-5 job but not sure where to start so if anyone has any ideas.
If anyone has anything in the south east for a chap experienced in machine driving, crane supervising or indeed anything construction please shout.

Can he not go back to one of the big companies he worked for previously?

With his experience would he be interested in training for a foreman/site manager role in a big firm, employer's agent for a bit developer, engineering firm etc? Basically, what are the roles he sees on site and knows he can do but may need extra paperwork for?

Best way to find out would probably be to start off by chatting to people on site, then maybe look at some job ads and see if he can move up by combining his skills and experience with some extra certificates.

Crikey, you are me, right down to the driver who stropped off then came back. The agency lies re length of gigs are infuriating for DP and by extension me. It seems to be luck of the draw , DP is allegedly on a long one, and to be fair it's been a few months now, but the uncertainty is always there. So the consistency has to lie with me, which can be stressful. Covid and the aftermath were not fun, and hit his mental health quite badly. I wish you the best.

I think the uncertainty of agency work is a huge drawback for many jobs. How difficult is it to get permanent work with a bigger company in construction?

Thanks guys, yeah the bigish companies have all either gone bust or just closed due to retirement/moving back to Ireland . The first company he had been with 10 years then overnight they just announced they had gone bust it was so sudden. It’s the uncertainty that gets me, in normal jobs you have to interview and it takes time to get in but if get in and if you do a good job then you are fine and also if things with the company start to unravel then usually there’s inklings and you can jump ship. Whereas construction you can walk into a site and start the next day but you can lose it as fast as that too.
I will suggest a chat to his Dad who was always a foreman to see if he has any ideas but I’m seriously suggesting a 9-5 office job, even if the money isn’t as good it will probably work out the same over the year what with all the weeks out of work and that horrendous Christmas shutdown which makes me hate Christmas. Sorry for the moan :/

@Onthebuckle my husband was a builder for 30 years and the work was getting more scarce, especially in winter. As we were having a baby, he took his forklift drivers licenses and got a good 9-5 job. It's so much better now as we never have to worry that some months we won't be able to pay all the bills. From the sound of it your husband's obviously qualified to drive machinery so is there any way he can look for that kind of job on permanent contract? It may be a bit of a pay dip but at least you'd have the security

Thanks guys, we’re phoning round all the agencies and also looking for machine driver permanent jobs with a salary and I agree it might be a pay cut but I’ll take that for the security.

Id love for him to get in with a proper big construction company but it’s only the management type people they hire direct and all the men on the ground are hired through various agencies apparently. Even hs2 which is happening on our doorstep is all agencies but we are registering with them too.

Thanks too Murusaki, and hope your other half is on a long one. It’s horrible as after a while you sort of take it for granted then bam they are out of work again.

@Onthebuckle my husband was agency at first but was then offered a permanent contract so it's worth finding out if the employer is willing to offer contract after a set amount of time on agency. They like to see if the person can do the work and it sounds like your husband is more than qualified. Good luck with it😀

@Devilsmommy thank you, will make sure he asks :)