equipment operator

chauffeur

truck driver

office assistant

foreman

Whissell Contracting

This review is for the Edmonton branch only, I have no experience with the other areas. The Edmonton branch is an unfortunate example of an expanding company hiring a bad management team. The management of this company simply is among the worst I have had the displeasure of working with. The perfect storm of a greed, backstabbing, and some level of incompetence mixed in.

Management cared more for bleeding the clients out of every possible nickel and dime via excessive force accounts than they did about forging a strong reputation. Crews were mixed up weekly, split up and moved to new jobsites for reasons never explained, making the process of forming a good crew and working a project from start to end nearly impossible. Finally, upon the smallest error, management would throw anybody and everybody around them under the bus to avoid any changes to their own routine.

Their managerial incompetence/ indifference and lack of safety culture has caused them to lose major city contracts, and has run the good people out of the company to search for work at other companies in the city. I am one of those people, and I left of my own volition. I do not regret the decision after one year away from the company.

Working at this construction company in Alberta has been a truly rewarding experience. One of the standout aspects is the clear commitment to employee development and career growth. From day one, I felt supported in my role, with access to hands-on training and leadership that genuinely cares about helping you advance.

The mentorship here is outstanding—senior team members are approachable, knowledgeable, and always willing to share their experience. I've had the chance to take on increasing responsibilities, learn new skills, and even pursue industry certifications with company support.

There's a real sense of teamwork on-site and in the office, and management encourages open communication and feedback. For anyone looking to build a long-term career in the construction industry with strong guidance and room to grow, this company is a great choice.

Management is very difficult to work with and talk down to you, don’t try and voice your opinion it’s frowned upon it’s their way or leave type of mentality. Lost a large contract due to poor performance and multiple incidents a lot had to come down from management rushing field staff and no training program. Wouldn’t be surprised if they close the Edmonton branch. Can’t make profit and has poor name in Edmonton in the industry.
The RRSP program is not matching like they advertise, it’s a small percentage of what you contribute and it’s one time contribution so if you don’t work at that time you miss it. The field staff are great people same goes mechanics and field support staff are awesome all with limited supplies and proper equipment and tools they are supplied. 

Everyday starts with the safety meeting and scope of work. If you have little experience, the scope of work they describe is very hard to understand, so you walk out basically blind, and try and catch on to what is going on. Some supers and foreman reside to yelling and screaming as  scare tactics, and I don’t think this is a proper way to mange people. I have always said Whissell needs actual guys out on site training people, as a lot of the experienced workers don’t have time to train guys properly, and I’m not taking about training on equipment, you need guys training the workers on the ground. 

Terrible culture and zero support from upper management & HR. They preach about resources available for employees but when it comes to needing them, good luck because you are on your own! The only thing upper management cares about is lining their own pockets, despite the fact that the Lethbridge underground crew alone has gone through 20+ people per year because of working conditions and how they are treated. They push away committed, reliable and experienced workers to replace then with unexperienced kids that can't show up for work 2 days in a row. Don't waste your time by walking through the revolving door! 

My time employed with Whissell contracting was extremely fulfilling. The  support team was knowledgeable and focused on safety, maintenance of equipment, and very family oriented. The pay rates were very representative of the qualifications and work ethic brought by each employee to the team. I would strongly recommend this company to anyone looking for a strong safety oriented career with versatility to develop individually and as a team. 

The start of the day was doing preventive maintenance on the equipment then a tailgate meeting to decide the course of action the daily activities.  Doing this job I have to learn to step up my game to make the daily quota or exceed it.  Management was always around if questions needed to be asked.  My co-workers were a great bunch of people to work with.  The hardest part of the job was the maintenance on the crusher equipment and getting it done in a orderly fashion.  The most enjoyable part of the day was the feeling that we had beaten the daily quota.

Good company if you work hard, catch on quickly and have common sense. Management can push quotas which means long days but you get good hours, don't expect a 7-4 office job. Has extras that I find only this company does. It is construction so you have to come to work knowing things will happen and the good comes with the bad. I liked this company and had fun, good crews and the people definitely made the job worth it being there.

I've had a great experience working here. It's a company that values its employees and puts people first. Leadership is approachable, communication is clear, and there’s a genuine effort to foster a positive and inclusive culture.

One of the things I appreciate most is the room for growth. There are plenty of opportunities for advancement, and hard work is  recognized. Training and mentorship are a priority with our own internal trainers. And internal promotions are encouraged, which makes it a great place to build a long-term career.


What is the best part of working at the company?
None worst company in alberta to work for

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Management and want a be foremans

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Worst ever they need to treat their employees way better then they do ... example not being able to go to the washroom without be questioned... 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Pure stress and a full bladder ... foreman always think they are right and will not listen to other people.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Equipment operator 3 salaries reported	$35.67 per hour
Chauffeur 3 salaries reported	$36.33 per hour
Truck driver 1 salary reported	$30.50 per hour
Office assistant 1 salary reported	$20.28 per hour
Foreman 2 salaries reported	$96,148 per year

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