Work/life balance is non-existent in management. Trainmasters are expected to protect conductor holes on days off, no one gets weekends off. If one person doesn't answer their phone on days off, the group gets punished with an even worse work schedule for everyone. Expected to dial into conference calls even on days off which means no going out of cell range (camping, etc) or disciplinary action will occur.
Trainmasters are caught in the middle of upper management and the employees who run the trains - they really do try to keep things running smoothly but hands are tied with ridiculous demands. Hiding in bushes and watching employees work comes to mind. The system in place to ensure employees are following rules is being abused. Instead of being used as a learning tool and a way to coach employees, it is being used as a disciplinary tool.
There is a culture of fear, and an almost toxic environment due to the frustration of most employees with how things are done.
Training programs lack - CN uses something I like to call "Battlefield Training," give them a cell phone, truck and a laptop and let them loose.
Those who are incompetent seem to get promoted quite readily, and somehow end up with the great shifts and days off. Those who actually know what they're doing get stuck in one job because upper management won't release them to bigger and better positions.
