restoration technician

packer

laborer

repair technician

charpentier

On Side Restoration

What is the best part of working at the company?
Zero training. Unprofessional attitudes and behaviours. The favorite saying is "I don't know, I just work here", which reflects the overall workplace culture. Lack of care, respect, and professionalism from the top down. Operations manager plays favorites, and will give more privileges, etc to those they like even if they are terrible at their job and terrible to work with. Feels like banging your head against a wall everyday. If you try to express any issues or suggest anything different with scheduling, it is all completely deflected and you are treated like an annoying moron. Not a team work environment, and overall just drama and nonsense. Not worth the wage that is at least not minimum, but probably could be higher considering the overall responsibilities of the job (all departments). 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The people that work there, lack of proper communication in every way imaginable, risk of damaging people's expensive content when moving it or causing damage to floors/work that has been done, doing big pack outs with little time and people to help. The list goes on and on. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
A lot of petty drama, negative and unprofessional attitudes, lack of consistency with procedures, operations manager expects you to be at work before your start time without pay, deflection deflection deflection. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Nothing is typical, everyday is different. The only guarantee is you will have to drive somewhere, and will likely not be able to do your job because other trades are still doing work. Then you get yelled at for wasting company time and money.

Working for on side is very productive always on the move always at new jobs some the same some brand new, they have their own University online that you need to fulfill for the first few days as part of the training and is paid, on call 24/7 all year long they never stop, on call was not optional It was requirement, company provides you with phone vehicle gas card and company clothing,  if you were a driver you are required to maintain an upkeep and also report all damages to the vehicle and ensure that every piece of machinery and tools that you have out has been checked off and signed out properly through their Equipment transfer sheets and is signed by the authorized supervisors

Now let's be real for a minute, the amount of time you get to go home and sleep and eat is brutal, iv worked there for 3years and I can say iv missed every meal due to dispatches calling you out to jobs back to back stacking jobs on you No matter the time or hours that you are already worked that day You put in a mandatory Monday or Friday 8 hours a week but no one ever gets 8 hours a week everybody gets more because everybody gets called to more jobs the last minute every time

First day of work told normal hours are 6 then if I don’t want to learn how to do some one else’s area or scope of work can sit at home. Then comes the time clock well don’t worry another employee not HR or manager will put your hours in for you even if they are wrong……don’t worry management will fix your hours if you catch it  but do nothing about some one else punching you in and out…. Vehicles are breaking down due to poor maintenance such as bald tires and little to no fluids in vehicles equipment is fought over because if it breaks just put it in the shop no tag out or notice that’s fun to find out on site. PPE has to be replaced given a half mask made in 2012 so just buy or bring your own along with puncture gloves the ones they give are as cut resistant as the yellow dish gloves……just bring your own to be honest this business needs to be restored….new management new staff new equipment new applications for work no schedule so you don’t know what you are doing never start to finish with a customer and be prepared to work while others play games text or talk on their personal phones 

What is the best part of working at the company?
During the chaos, You put lives and homes back together. You see various trades working alongside to complete a Scope of work in the disaster. Great contents girls, decent, and respectful. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Disaster brings , stress, chaos and thinking outside the box. Work orders change based on priority, delays on rebuilds or owners issues

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Adaptability within the teamwork frame.
Agent brings Project Manager a disaster and techs, contents, demo, construction build fix repair and return the contents using pictures like we were never there, Within. reason. Inclusive enviroment, Supervisors are approachable to resove conflict, home or job related. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Work orders are based on the next step.  Contents they are packed and or manipulated to other places, in home or storage units for reapairs, demolition and construction. Staff does final cleans, contents are returned, manipulated or if nessasary a write off. 
Usually only portions are done in one day.

I have worked with On Side Restoration for many years. I started as a labour employee with no experience in restoration, let alone the industry. On Side took the time to provide on the job training and support. They have an excellent internal computer system and by far the best safety policies that I know of. 
As time passed, I advanced with the company, this did not happen instantaneously, but I felt that the succession time was appropriate. They have always treated me fairly and with respect. 
Work life balance can be a bit tricky, as the industry is driven by disaster, so the environment can be very fast paced, however in saying that, the company generally had slower times which helped. 
As with any job/career you deal with people from all walks of life. Sometimes there was work “drama” (as some would call it) but I don’t think that this is anything outside of the norm. I have met some pretty fantastic people working at On Side who have become very close friends of mine. 
The best part of the company is the team work and the need to serve the customer. Everyone seems to have the same goal, which makes working here enjoyable.

Restoration is a difficult industry. If you can survive the long hours, difficult work and minimal work life balance, you can get some great experience. Unfortunately, On Side does little to support their employees through these difficulties and show minimal appreciation for it. 

Most of the Project Managers here are glorified estimators. Some make it through entire claims without visiting the job site or speaking to homeowners once. The hard work is done on the backs of the field staff who see no reward in return for the massive profits they earn for the company. 

They do offer quite a bit of training and room for advancement but it will be hard earned. They can also provide good job security and plenty of hours, but often too many overtime hours, which are mandatory.

We would meet monthly to discuss the overwhelming success On Side was having, while our branch had old broken down equipment, tools, vehicles and recycled electronics. 

It's evident someone within the company is tasked with posting reviews because I can assure you it is not reflective of the reality at OnSide. Fantastic company with great vision and great opportunity...if your part of the club. As a PM it's fairly standard stuff, low salary, maximum expectations demanded and ALL roads lead to your fault and your job at stake. I speak for Gatineau branch only and not OnSide as a whole, avoid at all costs. You've been warned. It is a "lone" branch with little to no supervision from corporate or any higher ups for that matter and as a result it does what it wants, how it wants, when it wants it. Entire staff is related either by blood or family relation and so are the subtrades working for them. As such, only one person controls the flow and success of the entire operation and rest assured that all assets and tools for success are not distributed evenly. You will realize very quickly that your success is entirely dependent on how quiet you remain about the goings on within the branch. If your not family or friend don't risk it. 

I joined the On Side team kind of by accident as the Restoration Contractor I was working for was sold to On Side.  Immediately, I could tell that On Side was something different.   Culture, community and people matter here. I have always felt supported and respected from day one.  I've been working with this group for only the past 3 years, but I feel like they are my family.  And everyone from Executive Management down the ladder embrace this approach to the workplace.  Yes, we strive for success and to be the best in our industry - and we have what I believe are the best tools and systems to achieve that.  But above all, our people drive that success.  The work can be hard and stressful sometimes, but it is worth it.  I've been in this industry for over 20 years and from my point of view, On Side is the best Restoration Contractor in Canada.  Look out the rest of the World! We are growing.

My co workers were "mostly" good.
Still a lot of high-school mentality and gossip. 
Especially from management.
You are talked down to by people who can't or don't know how to do your job.
When you do a job faster than the estimated time. They get annoyed.
A lot of back stabbing.
The Duncan office in particular has a core of people related to one another. If you are not part of the family .. you are treated like an outcast or outsider.

There is a rules for thee not for me mentality there.
For example, While some get away with abusing work van privileges.  I would be disciplined for warming the van in the morning so I can see out the window.
They talk about mental health but verbally abuse you.
Talk about "green"  Initiatives but won't let you stop on the way home in the work van for any reason so you have to go home and drive your own vehicle back into town.... so how much of a carbon footprint is that leaving?

All in all I do not recommend this company. Too much stress

I have been with On Side Restoration for many years. I have seen changes and growth in the company through the years however, I never felt lost as an employee. They have always respected and valued me as an employee and person, listened to my ideas and provided an awesome work advancement path.

Starting from the front line and working my way through the company has been an excellent adventure. This company does care about their employees and understands the struggles that each department has. Every work day is a different day which adds variety and never becomes a “boring” working environment.
At times, workdays can be long and stress can be a given with the fast pace that the industry needs to keep up with, but with On Side providing a work life balance, it helps keep things fresh and me motivated.

Overall, On Side is an excellent place to be employed with if you are looking for fast paced work, a team environment, career growth, and variety.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Restoration technician 76 salaries reported	$24.90 per hour
Packer 50 salaries reported	$22.92 per hour
Laborer 26 salaries reported	$22.42 per hour
Repair technician 8 salaries reported	$30.50 per hour
Charpentier 5 salaries reported	$29.60 per hour

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