Laing O'Rourke reviews

I worked on a project in Central London with the Expanded arm of Laing O'Rourke as a site/setting out engineer. Even though I was contracted for 40 hours a week, I never worked less than 55 and averaged 58 (Not including saturdays). I often had to miss meal breaks and was never financially reimbursed for any hours worked over the 40 during the working week. This was for £27,000 a year. Though we were paid overtime on weekends, I was told I would only need to work every second Saturday. I was pressured into working about %75 of saturdays and usually asked to work every weekend. In my time there, one of the young site engineers was off work due to stress, which wasn't surprising due to the conditions we were working under. The safety on site was also very poor, there was very much a production first mentality. Planning was ad hoc, making work very stressful and difficult to plan ahead.

Pay is not great especially early on in your career. Might be expected to move out to the middle of nowhere (Hinkley & Sizewell). Extremely long hours without getting payed. You might be expected to work 60+ hours a week whilst only being contracted and payed for 40. It’s quite sick how thats the culture and everyones learnt to deal with it. Honestly didn’t know it was legal to get away with that but then again this company continues to surprise you everyday. Company praises speaking up, mental health and inclusion but the minute you tell them that you’re being overworked with the amount off hours, the lack off work-life balance and the pay everyone’s silent. Currently doing on the apprentice program and alongside working 60+ hours on-site during the week I’m expected to complete my uni work on time. I’ve accepted that for the duration of the apprenticeship I’m not going to have a life and when I think about it it’s very depressing. I appreciate the opportunity given but being a school leaver meant I had very little insight into the industry. I signed my contract not knowing what it meant. Turns out it meant I was signing up to working slave shifts for way under minimum wage and being told this is what you’re life is now.