project coordinator

engineer

laborer

field coordinator

carpenter apprentice

PCL Construction

I worked as a laborer for PCL for a little over a month before being laid off. That's where job security came as a 1 star.

A normal day was always unpredictable. You show up for work and try and find where your foreman was for 20 minutes since they never said where to meet, you'd be given a very vague job such as "Clean this floor" while working around 5 different trades on that floor and needing to ask every person whether or not they're using something. Asking for clarification usually wouldn't get much of an answer other than a couple of grunts and a figure point at "That that and that" and then have the foreman run off to go somewhere.

This was due to the fact that the foremen were ran ragged with their own issues from the people who told them what to do. So there was plenty of issues for everyone no matter how long they'd been there for.

I learned plenty of things when it came to construction, once you start working things are normal because you just do what you're told to the best of your ability and things work just fine even if it wasn't exactly what your foreman grunted about.

My coworkers were always good, I never had issues with anyone I worked alongside and they were more than willing to help with some green thumb like me asking dumb questions, this was probably the best part of the job since everyone was willing to help instead of being some elitist jerk that scoffs at someone who doesn't know what they don't know.

The hardest part of the job was the fact that the jobs were generally redundant. "Move this from here to here for 2 hours." "Okay now move it back because someone said they didn't want it there" "Okay now go do this.." etc..
It made for long days because you didn't feel like you were really needed or appreciated or anything so spending a full 9 hour day doing nothing but energy and time uselessly makes you just want to go home more than normal job because at least when you're doing something productive towards the construction of the building you know it matters.

PCL as a company is alright, their safety standards are good and from my experience everyone tried their best. But there was just communication issues that made things really drag and slow down that need to be resolved from those up top.

PCL is a great company to be a Carpenter with clear roads to advance your career and plenty of people with proper experience, You will find this is not the case as a Surveyor.

As a Project Surveyor prepare to fight daily for a survey assistant and proper equipment. this will make meeting tight deadlines and tolerances difficult and you will be one of the first places they will try and cut costs.

Being micro-managed is a part of the Gig but it would be beneficial if anyone in a management position had some form of understanding as to what we do as well as the time it takes to do things correctly. each site usually has an office full of people who Are incapable of creating survey data or understanding what a coordinate system is let alone local vs 3tm so you will have no drafting support and be ready to do all your own data checks. 

If you're looking for survey experience within a limited scope to the broader Land Surveying industry and are comfortable making a decent wage they are a good company I have heard of people having good experiences on other projects so take this review with a grain of salt I dont speak for everyone. and it would be worth contacting someone within PCL as a surveyor before applying for a position as one in said company.

That being said there are other Survey companies that Pay better and have actual training and mentoring programs that do this type of work better I think PCL should have to use subcontractors for a few years and see how much that costs.

Then actually create an internal Survey division with management to act as a middleman between site supers and field staff to make sure both sides understand the scope and survey-related requirements and costs, draftsmen who can create and stay on top of data creation, document RFI's data checks and field returns, and survey leads to oversee the day to day field operations (and to make sure that the work actually complies with ALSA regs and standards of practice.)

I didn't enjoy my time with PCL but maybe you might. Just do your homework and know that there are better options elsewhere.





PCL is an honest and straight forward company.  They don't lie to you and say things like,  "we'll keep you working forever"

They take the safety culture seriously on most job sights.  Some sights, will ignore certain safety issues for convenience, but for the most part it's taken seriously.  Most safety equipment will be supplied, gloves, glasses, safety vests, and other safety things that maybe be specific to any task.  If you get into an argument with a boss, or supervisor, and you're taking the side of safety you will never lose.

The pay is superb for job in the city, and you can be home every night.  Out of town jobs usually result in better money, and most of the time everything is taken care of for you.  Camps, hotels, food, travel.

Benifits are very good, and the CLAC agreement is very fair.

Downside's,
like every other part of the industry, job security is poor.  You never know if you'll have a job the next month.  If you work hard, and you are dependable they will make an effort to keep you working.  In some cases if they have no work for you they may direct you to other company that may be hiring.

Superintendants, and foremen,
For the most part, superintendants and foremen are fair and easy to work with.  If time off is needed for what ever reason, it's not hard to get so long as you are reasonable, and you give reasonable notice.

  In some cases you will find superintendants and foremen who are difficult, and dishonest.  Watch your back around these ones, and keep records of things like, hours, breaks, times where you might be late.

In my experience, the office poeple (the poeple who send youto jobs, and trainging) have never misslead me.  They have never made promises that they couldn't keep.  They are reasonable, and professional.

In the field this is slightly less so.  Some superintendants have misslead me, some times it's been intentional, and some times it's by mistake.
For the most part, in the field, supers' and foremen are honest, and reasonable.

Frank

Pros:  Having PCL on your resume when you go and look for another job

Cons:
I worked in management for this company and left a long term government job to start with PCL. They are a tough company and don't pay very well, but they promised the moon, pay raises, advancement, etc, etc. They expect you to work 10+ hour days and constantly load you with heavy work loads. When it came time for a pay raise, they gave me a token amount which was a joke and the advancements never came, they just kept holding out the carrot for you to keep running after. The Christmas bonuses are a joke.

Its often said PCL means "People Come Last" and I would definitely agree with that statement. They really don't care how they treat people since they are Canada's largest contractor, people will always want to work for them.

After the second project I worked on came to a close I was laid off and I never looked back. Would I ever work there again? NO

Am I bitter, absolutely not, PCL taught me many things which I still feel were excellent in my future career. I would just caution any person taking a job there to get the employment conditions in writing that were discussed in your interview. If they don`t provide it in writing, send them a letter outlining the discussions. They have no issues with blatant lying

They talk a good game, but run away

I will also add that I left this review on another site and they asked me to write to them to discuss.  I sent them a polite email to discuss to their requested address and never heard back from them.  I followed up with a second email and again no reply.  THIS JUST CONFIRMS THEY DON'T GIVE ONE IOTA ABOUT THEIR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES, HOW DO YOU THINK THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR TRADESMEN AND WOMEN.

I have been on a few different jobs in Vancouver area only and this has been my experience over the last year and a bit. The type of work varies on each job. 

When you’re hired you’re told PCL is different than other GCs in that they complete jobs a lot faster because they don’t  sub work out or have to wait for subtrades to get things done. However when you show up for work you learn from your supes and foreman they don’t build anything, everything is subbed out. 
If you are a carpenter and want to be framing, doing form or finishing work your best bet is to seek work elsewhere,  and if you do get to do these things at PCL, the work will be extremely difficult to complete because it’s stuff  sub trades refuse to do because it involves working in super hard or tight spaces, mixing concrete in a wheelbarrow by hand and carrying it several flights of stairs, or working in dirty and unhealthy environment without the proper PPE. 

Apprentices learn very little about the building process because PCL red seal carps are just glorified labourers who clean up after subtrades and do work subs flat out refuse to do. You’ll learn very little only to realize you know nothing when your apprenticeship is done. 

PCL uses the employee share purchase plan as a way to take advantage of employees. Everyone is expected to work overtime without pay with the promise that share returns will make up for your unpaid time and make your salary competitive (in 10 years when your shares accumulate). Also, you need to take out loans to cover the cost of buying shares, I have heard from senior employees that dividend returns need to reach 12-14% just to break even. 
The benefits are medicare, even paying for the top benefit level the benefits run out to see practitioners (such as massage therapists, and chriopractors) within 5 months, benefits for physiotherapy run out within 3 visits, and benefits for mental health support such as therapy will pay for maybe 2 sessions. 
There is zero work Life Balance. If you don't work at least 10 hours day you are considered underperforming. And of course you are salaried so all that overtime is unpaid.
Also, management refuses to accept that different people work better in different environments and refuse to allow work from home even in office jobs. 
The best way to describe PCL is outdated with a toxic work culture. 


If you are lucky you will end up with a good manager.  Many good employees but a antiquated old boys club: if you want to advance you better be a tall, good looking, brown nosing, white male. There is NO diversity. Take a look at their management and c-suite team and you can see if you fit. Even if you do, you will probably burn out working toward promotions that won't come, like a lot of their employees. You will struggle with poorly supported, outdated technology.

There is no work-life balance and mostly you don't get the help and support you need from management. Most of the new gen managers don't have the experience to support you because they weren't promoted  or trained for those skills. Take a look at their 20 and 30 year employees and you'll see drained and disengaged men waiting for retirement.

It's too bad they have come to this point because there was a good foundation of builders and project management procedures 30 years ago but no one in the current managemen stream knows how to bring it into the 21 century.

These guys were great. I think the job i was on was 2 1/2 years and would like to work with them on a project again one day. I've heard people complain about PCL and maybe I lucked out and got a crew and office staff that were respectful and easy to talk to, but I've heard other sites are similar. They are all about helping people advance at work and in life. If you're a good worker they will get you ticketed-up as far as you chose to go. Safety is a huge one with PCL. Can be a little frustrating for old school guys like myself but if you not a foreman with deadlines then, then whatever, take the time to do what is expected. Must work because no major injuries on our site. Big thing that puts them above other companies like EllisDon..... I never felt like a number. And if you're working hard, someone will notice. Which reminds me of their rewards at work and prizes at parties. If I didn't shift towards tower cranes I'd probably be working with them today. 

A huge company focused on commercial and high rise with minor civil. Branches all over North America, mostly successful and recognised in Canada. 
Good for starting construction career and juniors , and those who come in at high levels. Confused for mid career employees and no clear start up point on contract (clarify before signing). 
Mostly outsourced projects with minor selfperform job.
No appreciation for skill set gained outside of PCL. Everything should be achieved internally  to be recognized including designations and trainings, unless you have the backup in executive team. So, if you are at mid career and/or with diverse background, you need to be very very patient for growth as you will see less experienced less educated (if any) employees raise based on their PCL years/network and you are left for at least first few years, no matter how good you perform.
You will see some nice old people very welcoming, as well as few rude young ones who barely willing to talk. Is there a generation change as a result of hiring?! Not sure.

I left a job to start with PCL Constructors in Ottawa. It took months to complete the hiring process from the beginning to end which was odd to begin with.
I was given 1.5 days training and then was essentially on my own. I received almost no support from the previous receptionist/admin. I did my best, learning on my own. I was let go after one month and was only told that I had made some coding errors and didn't update an extension list on time...that was basically it. I am really upset that no manager came to me during my short tenure to tell me what I needed to correct etc. That is very unusual to get no feedback and just be let go.
I think there is more to this story, perhaps they were letting the old receptionist move back into my position or some other internal shuffle.
Bottom line, not a company that cares to help you succeed or offers any kind of support or training, at least in my case.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Project coordinator 1 salary reported	$28.37 per hour
Engineer 4 salaries reported	$22.25 per hour
Laborer 1 salary reported	$23.61 per hour
Field coordinator 3 salaries reported	$69,000 per year
Carpenter apprentice 8 salaries reported	$31.40 per hour

Working at PCL Construction: company overview and reviews

PCL Construction

PCL Construction ratings

Popular jobs at PCL Construction

Salary satisfaction

Job seeker tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected