utility worker

inspector

crew member

field technician

foreman

Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.

Work-life balance
Work-life balance at Osmose Utilities Services Inc is nonexistent. You are expected to have 40 hours a week of productive time. This does not include driving your own vehicle to and from the worksites. They will however put you up in a cheap motel!!

Pay & benefits
My pay and benefits at Osmose Utilities Services Inc are Not great. Benefits do not kick in until six months after start. At that point you get the benefits but they are some of the worst I have seen the cost out-of-pocket is unbelievable

Job security and advancement
In terms of job security at Osmose Utilities Services Inc, It states in the handbook That they can terminate you at any point for any reason. The turnover rate with this company is huge.

Management
In general, managers at Osmose Utilities Services Inc give you a quick BS training and then send you out on your own with little to no knowledge on what you’re doing. Supervisors may not be in the area that you were working as well. You are expected to come up with your own solutions for your problems.

Culture
Collaboration with my colleagues at Osmose Utilities Services Inc is that you do not work with anybody you are by yourself. There are a bunch of dangers with this job. You are expected to go on private property with no trespassing signs. There are dogs and snakes and people that come out with guns. And no one will check on you all day until the next day if they don’t hear anything. Meantime you could be shot in someone’s field!!

Overall
My experience working at Osmose Utilities Services Inc was interesting to say the least. Training for this job lasted a week and we didn’t really go over what the job really entailed. The trainer and the supervisor had a hard time explaining exactly what we would be doing in the field. Every time I met with the supervisor his expectations of how to do the job was different!! You are expected to solve your own problems. There is times nobody will check on you for days you are constantly working by yourself on private property. There are dogs that are always loose on peoples property snakes in fields and there were customers that came out with guns. You are also expected to use your own personal vehicle for this job. You can drive all over the country and put the wear and tear on your vehicle they do pay you per hour for the vehicle. If you want to go home for the weekend it is completely on you so most of the time you don’t go home. There is zero work life balance. And there are costs on the road that you do not think of. Like having to eat out every night because you can’t cook in your hotel room. Having to go to the laundry mat because there’s no other place to wash her clothes. Not having anything to do on the weekends because you were too far away from home and would have to pay out-of-pocket to go home.

Pros

You won't have to live off government cheese as much. You will definitely see some parts of the country that you had no idea existed.

Cons

Have you seen these adds posted all over the place from this employer who always seems to be hiring? I worked for Osmose as a Foreman for just over one year. I was told by a veteran employee that new hires generally leave within 6 months, so I suppose I actually beat the odds.

The biggest issue with this company is that they don't pay their employees for "nonproductive" hours worked without prior approval from middle management. This includes truck, tool, and equipment maintenance; loading and unloading supplies; processing payroll; etc. Basically, if you're not digging or slinging pesticides you're not getting paid. Middle managers are salaried plus bonuses, so definitely jump on anything above the Foreman position.

Also, the administrative burden of the business is placed on the Foreman, i.e. new hire applications, W-4's, e-Verifies, and all supporting documentation. This is on top of daily payroll processing and pesticide treatment reports which is all deemed "nonproductive," and hence, unpaid. You have to be good at paperwork too, because Crew Members generally earn $10 an hour with no medical, dental, or eye care benefits, which means you will always be hiring.

You should like to travel. While motels and gas are paid, meals are generally not reimbursed. Getting bonus money is technically possible if you can exceed their lofty production quotas. Keep in mind that utility poles are often in swamps, inside fences, on private property, or in the middle of nowhere. As you and your crew are digging them up to smear on the pesticides, watch out for vicious dogs and angry yard loving homeowners. Homeowners are angry for good reason. If you read the pesticide warnings, some of the stuff on the truck is "highly toxic."

Technically, the company is employee owned. However direct profit sharing/ownership was largely eliminated during the Enron fiasco. Basically, the owners are middle management and above now. During my year there, I never met a female or non-white middle manager. However I was told, by that same veteran employee, that a rich guy from India owns most of the private shares.

Although most utility crews across the country are unionized, Osmose is a nonunion company.

Conclusion: Stay away unless you've exhausted all other potential sources of employment and your unemployment benefits are running out or expired.
Advice to Senior Management

There is really nothing anyone can say that middle management would accept as advice, even if they were allowed to change anything by their superiors.

I do have a few good things to say about Osmose.  This company did provide a good benefits package and the ability to work from home for some was a definite plus, but that's were it ends.  If you have any discernment and you take a look at the Organizational chart for Osmose, in particular, Technical Services, it already tells a story.  In general, there are very few women in upper management, and there are probably 2 African Americans in management positions for a company that employs over a thousand people.   Racism can be both overt and subtle, conscious and unintentional and all the above is a part of Osmose's workplace culture.  Of course, you probably wouldn't notice it if you meet their criteria, or if you did notice, silence is golden if it is working for you.  Upper management is content with turning a blind eye to unfair racial practices because they are either secretly in agreement or they are indifferent as long as Osmose continues to meet the bottom line ($$$).  There is definitely a glass ceiling for those who don't meet the criteria (race), but of course for show to the public and their clients, Osmose will do the bare minimum regarding upward mobility.  This is a place where supervisors can get their friends hired immediately because they meet the criteria, while employees that came in before or during the same time have to prove themselves before obtaining a permanent position.  During my employment at Osmose, several departments under Technical Services in the southeast region had quite a few positions open.  Guess what, during my time there (18 months), they never hired another woman for any of their new projects, specifically, the projects in Midtown.  It was truly a boys club, and women, again, did not meet the criteria.  If you didn't meet this invisible criteria, you were undervalued and expendable.  There was no chance for advancement.  The only place you could really see the diversity was under the banner of the only African American woman in management under Technical Services.  If you are an African American or person of color, I would think twice about Osmose, especially, if you are considering a job under Technical Services in the South.  Advancing your career in an area that embraces who you are is nearly impossible at Osmose.  If you are a diverse  company  that has a contract with Osmose, beware.  If you are a women and are in direct contact with Osmose, don't think they have your respect, they just have your company's money.

Have you seen these adds posted all over the place from this employer who always seems to be hiring? I worked for Osmose as a Foreman for just over one year. I was told by a veteran employee that new hires generally leave within 6 months, so I suppose I actually beat the odds.

The biggest issue with this company is that they don't pay their employees for "nonproductive" hours worked without prior approval from middle management. This includes truck, tool, and equipment maintenance; loading and unloading supplies; processing payroll; etc. Basically, if you're not digging or slinging pesticides you're not getting paid. Middle managers are salaried plus bonuses, so definitely jump on anything above the Foreman position.

Also, the administrative burden of the business is placed on the Foreman, i.e. new hire applications, W-4's, e-Verifies, and all supporting documentation. This is on top of daily payroll processing and pesticide treatment reports which is all deemed "nonproductive," and hence, unpaid. You have to be good at paperwork too, because Crew Members generally earn $10 an hour with no medical, dental, or eye care benefits, which means you will always be hiring.

You should like to travel. While motels and gas are paid, meals are generally not reimbursed. Getting bonus money is technically possible if you can exceed their lofty production quotas. Keep in mind that utility poles are often in swamps, inside fences, on private property, or in the middle of nowhere. As you and your crew are digging them up to smear on the pesticides, watch out for vicious dogs and angry yard loving homeowners. Homeowners are angry for good reason. If you read the pesticide warnings, some of the stuff on the truck is "highly toxic."

Technically, the company is employee owned. However direct profit sharing/ownership was largely eliminated during the Enron fiasco. Basically, the owners are middle management and above now. During my year there, I never met a female or non-white middle manager. However I was told, by that same veteran employee, that a rich guy from India owns most of the private shares.

Although most utility crews across the country are unionized, Osmose is a nonunion company.

Conclusion: Stay away unless you've exhausted all other potential sources of employment and your unemployment benefits are running out or expired.

I worked at osmose for roughly around six months here's my honest review while the pay was 23 an hour starting which was more than I've ever made it hardly made up for the lack of clarity the company doesn't have I was told in the hiring process that I would work in a region consisting of four states being Tennessee Alabama Georgia in the west panhandle of Florida and never saw one of them in the five months I was there and when I asked about it they simply said that there was no work however that was the reason I took the job in the first place it was because it was local to my house. I worked in Pennsylvania for 2 months and then on my third month out there they tried to send me to another area in Virginia 8 and 1/2 hours away and told me I'd only be able to go home one weekend every two weeks which is nowhere near what I was told in the recruitment process. It's extremely hard to hire your own crew when they only let you hire them $14 an hour because nobody wants to work for that much that far away. and if they don't like you they'll simply just try and get rid of you they don't waste any time writing you up. The majority of supervisors aren't bad they are actually really good at their jobs but the micromanagement is on a molecular level. Only issue with supervisors I could say is that they definitely have favorites and give special contracts out to the people that have been there longer. call so they'll tell you a lot about bonuses and how much extra you can make an hour but with a full crew if they're not absolutely slave-driving you're not going to hit the numbers they need and if you do you won't do it for long because your crew wears out. Also the company truck is a gift and a curse they'll probably give you the most wore out truck they have and expect you to fix it on your off time which you can't charge them for and when you're at a hotel staying you can't use the truck farther than 20 miles from the hotel even if you're in the middle of nowhere. This company being profitable 600 million last year shows that they obviously don't care about their employees because it's not trickling down into safe and useful equipment

Overall I enjoyed working at Osmose because they have been good about keeping politics out of the work place in a time when politics are creating a big rift in our country.  I also really enjoyed the work because there is a lot to learn in this industry and the work keeps you busy all day.  A lot of these tech jobs where you need degrees pay the same as Walmart to start now, but when I worked there I thought the pay was pretty good (not at the beginning though).  They also allow you to work remotely which helps with work/life balance and offer full-time remote positions for those who do not live close to one of their office locations.  Working remotely, while convenient, isn't all what it is cracked up to be.  Email communication was essential to me showing/explaining to others complicated scenarios.  My emails were largely ignored and I was left wasting a lot of my own time trying to figure out how to fix something that I was never taught how to do.  My job was sort of the last in line, so I had to deal with all the issues people were either unaware of or too lazy to address before passing onto me.  Training me to do their job might have fixed that issue and I had suggested to them the need to cross-train.  This is production though and therefore little to no time for training.  They did have good initial training and support though.  Unfortunately, some really smart people left and it went a little down hill after that.  I also started out as a temp worker who had to wait over a year to be hired on and start receiving benefits and I almost left because of that.  I don't think they do that anymore though.  I do miss the work and feel I could have been more successful there if I lived closer to one of the offices where I could go in a couple of days at least.  This is a good job for someone who is efficient at using computers and at learning new software programs and who has a strong attention to detail.

A typical day at Osmose Utility Services starts with driving out to the designated work site, meeting with my crew, and planning out the tasks for the day. Every day brings something new, and the job requires you to think ahead, stay organized, and work as a team to accomplish the goals at hand.

During my time here, I’ve learned to sharpen my management skills and improve my critical decision-making, especially in situations where quick, safe, and effective judgment is needed. Osmose gives you plenty of opportunities to grow professionally, and the experience you gain in leadership and field operations is extremely valuable.

Management has been supportive and genuinely wants to see you succeed. They provide a nurturing environment where communication is open, guidance is available, and you’re encouraged to develop and advance. You’re not just another number—they take the time to help you reach your goals.

The workplace culture is positive and collaborative. You can always rely on other foremen and team members for expertise or advice when navigating tough situations. There’s a strong sense of teamwork, and people are willing to help each other out.

For me, the hardest part of the job is the travel. Some assignments require driving to areas far from home, which can be demanding when balancing personal life. However, the experience gained on different job sites also builds versatility and confidence in the field.

The most enjoyable part of working at Osmose is the freedom. You’re not confined to an office chair all day—you have the independence to manage your crew, plan your work, and execute the job in a way that fits your style while still meeting company standards. The trust and autonomy make the work rewarding.

Overall, Osmose Utility Services is a great place to build leadership skills, gain hands-on field experience, and work in a supportive environment that pushes you to grow.

I loved this job and I was good at it, but the company is more concerned about their trucks than their employees. I witnessed several good employees lose their job due to denting the company truck on a tree (no injuries or property damage). Keep in mind you are sent into the backcountry in a fullsize pickup and with dangerously inaccurate maps and slow mapping software.  A day in the life of a field data tech is something like this: wake up in a cheap hotel you shared with a guy you just met, try to find something decently healthy to eat, get your assignment from your supervisor (poor guy is stretched so thin), hit the road and try to inspect as much line as you can in 7.5 hrs (the faster you go, the more bonuses you collect), go back to the cheap hotel, rinse repeat. You end up going to a different area (sometimes near sometimes far) about every 3 days. Head home on Friday if you can make it there before 10 PM, otherwise you drive home Saturday, sleep in your own bed one night, and then drive back up on Sunday. No pay for the ~16 hours spent driving the company truck on the weekend. The work was easy and fun if you like hiking, the hard part is trying to find the utility line (it's rarely where the map says it is) and dealing with local yokels who don't take kindly to people poking around their land. They receive no notice that you are coming and your only credentials are a hardhat and safety vest, so its not uncommon to have weapons pulled on you when you're on someone's land in the middle of the woods with no way to communicate with anyone. The pay was decent but for me it wasn't worth it for the dangerous situations I was put in. Oh and they swear up and down the low per diem rate is actually MORE than other companies... idk I'm not good at math but it never made sense to me.

I worked for Osmose, and sadly my first foreman didnt pass his test. Well, the next one I worked for was a decent dude, and knew I was trained to be a Certified Pole Treater. 

Well, that went right out the window. I was given a shovel, and sent to dig poles, and usually was assigned the ones the others in the crew didnt want. This was done as "conditioning", and after one of our crew members left for Foreman school, a new person was brought onto the team, and I had to train him everything that day, and without being told, during a dig where everything around the pole was boulders, which I notified my Foreman of, I was randomly tested on my speed, and it took 50 minutes.

Later on, as we are leaving, my Foreman texted somebody (I peeked over his shoulder because I didnt trust him) and he had sent to his supervisor that I took 50 minutes, and that he would let go of me. Well, I noticed him also text another person and text "Can you make it to here by tonight".

Basically, we got back, and right as I was about to shower, I was told that I was fired for being too slow, and that I wouldn't be production worthy. After which, I was told by another employee that the new crew member was infact a member of my foreman's synagogue.

To put it bluntly, I was fired so that my foreman could bring in his family and friends, which is supported by the fact that my foreman had even hired his own brother, and used me as a way of keeping his brother from being fired.

Don't work for this company unless it's your last chance. They will use you and toss you out, and completely screw you over. I drove 11 hours from my home to the hotel, only to be told after we worked a full day with extra time, getting back at 5PM, that I had to get out of their hotel. Just dont do it

I started this job GPS locating 5 counties of roads. From here I was trained to conduct a GPS/GIS inventory for a Electric Utility Co-op. Where I learned the assembly construction for this Co-op's power distribution units. When I was out on my own a few weeks, I was asked to train the other new employees for this job. I went on to train over twenty other techs to do this job. I was responsible for the maintenance and troubleshooting of the Trimble GPS units we used. I was promoted to job foreman, where I was required to be responsible for the payroll and keeping the expense reports for the company's trucks my crew used. I was also required to conduct weekly safety meetings for my crew on various safety aspects we would come across in the field. I was promoted to work in the Co-op's main office where I was trained to deferentially correct the field GPS locations. I was also trained to run QC's on field work. I was also trained and required to create Archview maps for use of the Co-op to put into their own system.
The hardest part of this job was the volume of information that was required of me to learn well enough to train others to do this job, I believe I did very well in this aspect of this job.
The most enjoyable part of this job for me. To learn all of the different types of skills that I was required to use in this job. As well as being able to lead a successful crew from begin to end of this project across a wide variety of difficult terrain and difficult weather conditions. I still miss being in the mountains of north western North Carolina doing this type of work.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Utility worker 70 salaries reported	$17.88 per hour
Inspector 127 salaries reported	$17.67 per hour
Crew member 29 salaries reported	$13.82 per hour
Field technician 16 salaries reported	$22.00 per hour
Foreman 45 salaries reported	$21.90 per hour

Working at Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.: Company Overview and Reviews

Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.

Osmose Utilities Services, Inc. Ratings

Popular jobs at Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected