Today's Answer Man column already yielded this email comment from a guy named Jon C. Thanks for passing it along, A-Man.
Dear Answer Man –
I worked for Halliburton Energy Services in Rock Springs, WY in a business development position. Before entering the sales force, I was required to spend 18 months in the field on the rigs to gain experience and respect of my fellow co-workers and the company men who represent the gas and oil company leasing the land where the drilling is taking place. On many occasions I worked over 140 hours in a single week on certain jobs. In some instances you arrive on site and the crew from another company had to finish their work before you could start your job, sometimes they would run into trouble and you were left to sleep, eat, read or twiddle your thumbs in the front seat of a truck until they were finished. Once I spent 3 days and nights in the front seat of a ford f450 waiting to start our work, and then our job would take sometimes upwards of 12 hours. I got paid the second I left the gate of our headquarters until I returned. So our work took a few hours, but I was on site for 3 days which means I just got paid for 72+ hours, plus 2-3 hour drive time back to base. Of course on the way back to base, we had to stop to eat a warm meal, and the drivers of the big rigs couldn’t drive drowsy (company rules) so of course we stopped to nap a few hours after eating, then finally head in. All the while you are getting paid. So the 240 hours in a 2 week period is not unheard of. You also have to take into consideration overtime and per diem. You get paid tremendously well for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you were out in the field. With that said, it is rough work, long hours and very difficult to maintain a personal life or have any family time. I know many people who have left because of the difficulty balancing work and life, but find the money too irresistible to give up so they end up going back.
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