Today I have come to the sad realization that there is no Goodness left in this world, beyond what one is worth.I work for a temporary service agency as a flagger, and it has become abundently clear to me that there is no place left in the work-a-day world where honesty and ethics play a major role if, indeed any role at all.In fact it would seem that the bigger a liar and backstabbing cheat the farther one goes.The company I work for has guidelines that are layed out by governing agencies about required protocalls that are to be followed on the job, as well as their own (the company’s) rules governing behavior by its’ employees.Yet everyday I see the rulebreakers getting rewards ,in the way of better paying assignments and more permenant assignments.
Example:when we are on a job we have certain duties to preform and things we are not supposed to do such as doing work for the crew we are assigned to. In other words we have our job to do and they have their job to do,yet many of the flaggers will forsake their duties and do the work of the crew,even though they are not getting paid nor are they permitted by L&I to do that work,they are breaking every rule set out by the Gov. and the company that we work for.
When it comes to long term assignments guess who gets the pick, the slackers the rulebreakers the cheats.
The point that I am trying to make is that the company I am working for talks out of both sides of their mouth they claim that they want safety and honesty yet they reward unsafe dishonest behavior.
I could go on and on and perhaps this would be better off in the PIT, if so would someone please send it there. 
I’m not sure I follow you here.
They’re doing work they’re not getting paid for; yet you call them slackers??
Well, in anycase, if I followed EVERY rule my employer set on me I wouldn’t get shit done. (Seriously)
There’s something happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear.
If you see someone from your agency breaking the rules you should let the agency know. They really frown on that because if someone gets injured doing something they shouldn’t they don’t want to be paying for it. I those rulebreakers are getting rewards from the agency then perhaps it’s because they don’t know of their transgressions. Speak up about it.
NadaHappyCamper, it gets better. Hang in there. hugs
And if you’re seeing any bad behaviour, report it to your boss or the big cheese in charge.
First let me say Thank You to Kythereia for the hugs 
THANK YOU Kythereia.
Shakes: the work they are doing is not their work, it is the work of the utility company workers,we are there ONLY for traffic control.The utility workers are union,we are not and we are not supposed to do anything but traffic control.Since we have to be certified by the state we are bound by state regulations as to what we are and are not permitted to do on the job.
Tikki: I have gone to management, when my partner did something that was blatently unsafe, they do nothing.
Lute Skywalker: absofukinlutly
You got to beware.
NadaHappyCamper , check out if there is an “anonymous complaint” mailbox/hotline/whatever you can use. Those are usually monitored by someone who is not directly involved with the crews.
Your manager’s reaction was to “protect his people”, but he didn’t realize that he’s actually putting them at risk: if an accident happens, both they and he will be in Very Big And Stinky Doodoo.
Those flaggers are making their crews look better, since the work goes faster, so people who evaluate them from afar don’t know what’s going on. They think the whole crew is “better” than others.
I’ve had my share of running into managers who would protect “their people” no matter what: it sucks, but if you can keep your cool you can make things better. Really, I’ve done it. So come yell here as much as you need to and look for that anonymous thingee…
Sometimes the rules don’t make any sense and need breakin’.