Promotion and upward movement are largely based on the good old boy system. There are no performance reviews for the train service employees or the management. Managers are not given individualized goals or any way to differentiate themselves or their performance from that of thier peers. The training program was lacking and leaves new hires totally unprepared for what they encounter in the field. Once in the field there is no practical on-going training and there is no training of any sort that would make you desirable to any other company. There are no performance standards to hold the train service employees to and therefore no way to modify their working behavior to get better performance. The only way to discipline anyone is to use safety rules as a means of discipline. The schedule is horrible, I regularly am scheduled 260 to 300 hours per month and am paid for 248 hours a month (my salary), I never work less than 248 hours a month, ever. Not only do the Train service employees lack any respect for front line management so does the senior management. Just about all obstacles or shortcomings are handled with profanity, verbal abuse, and occassionally by throwing something (cell phone, chair, pen, etc) at the front-line manager, whether he/she is responsible for the situation or just delivering the news.
