Are you the only one left? It seems that UP has been losing entire classes of managers within the first few years after graduation. It was always bad but has gotten worse. I understand high turnover because of it being a stressful job but it seems unreal that a new management class could be completely gone within a few years. I know part of it is due to omts having college degrees and more options but still I think if the job was any good people would stay.
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@OP: A lot of people quit after a year to avoid paying back relocation packages. The biggest drop-off was from transportation OMTs. I knew a few who left during the first six months. I think it was about the same for the mechanical OMTs. For both groups, less than half of those who were in my class are still there. For Engineering OMTs the group was smaller (less than 10), and I only know of one who finished the OMT program and is still working there.
There isn't a single person from my class who I've kept in touch with who hasn't quit or isn't looking for another job. According to UP's numbers they only have about 20% OMT retention beyond 3 years. The reasons for this are well-known and you mentioned some of them in your original post.
TL;DR: OMTs stay until it won't cost them any money to leave and they leave as soon as they have a better offer.
The best already quit and the rest are trying to join them.
There was a superintendent that gave us a pep talk telling us never quit or we’d regret it. This individual has since left the company and it wasn’t by choice. Got the walk of shame.
The military doesn't cancel your leave - even when you're deployed @1dlq.
It doesn't sound like you've ever worked anywhere except for UP or similar railroads. If you had you wouldn't be saying what you're saying.
And yes, I deployed twice (OEF).
@1dlq is a good example of why anybody who has options is quitting UP. Their comment reads like the same statements made by every other @$$hole manager at UP who told us all how "honored" we should feel for working there (being part of history, high pay, etc.). This is the same thing an abusive spouse does.
Leaving UP was one of best decisions I've ever made. I landed a great job where I use my degrees, I'm paid 30% more than what I got at UP, I get great benefits, spend less time at work, and best of all I don't have to put up with people like @1dlq who are obviously miserable.
If see a resume or I get a message on LinkedIn from any former UP colleagues, I'll make sure to pass your info on to my company's HR. The grass really is greener.
LOL @ "sacrifice today for a better tomorrow". I know 30 year managers whose "better tomorrow" never came.
Maybe laughing to keep from crying. Current managers are calling those of us that have left and asking for a job.
We’re everywhere. And laughing.
There is former management here and DEFINITELY current management on here.
Management does not monitor this site, so you will not get an actuate assessment.
This thread was meant as a serious discussion for former omts not foamers. Thanks
That’s not a fact. You can wish it was. But it’s not.
We say “We only kept the best the rest were let go”, but the sad fact is the only ones left have no where else to go...
Try working for an airline or the military, trucking, doctors and nurses and hospital staff. there are many others and the list goes on and on. Stop whining. Many OMT’s are still with the UP. Only the best. The rest were let go or will be. Many of those that left didn’t listen or pay attention to what they were getting into. Possibly as in many cases weren’t willing to sacrifice today for a better tomorrow. Best wishes and I hope your future decisions are better ones than your past.
Nobody I've kept contact with from my class stayed more than a year. The first to go were those with marketable degrees (ex. engineering) who didn't take relocation packages. A lot of transportation OMTs left, as did mechanical OMTs. Engineering OMTs were a mixed-bag. Of those in my class I only know one who is still at UP, and they're actively looking for another job.
Saying that the job is "stressful" is an understatement. In no other job will you have your vacation/PTO cancelled, be forced under threat of losing your job to work 24-hour shifts during OOS events (derailments, bridge strikes, and other fun railroad stuff), be subjected to constant verbal abuse from upper managers, and be paid so little for all of the above. Word is out in many university career departments that UP is a meat grinder that chews up promising graduates and spits them out, and UP was quietly dropped from career fairs at my alma mater and more than a few others.
Good luck in 2020.