Comments on: Caltrans accused of waste, sloth

By: Concernedcitizen

Concernedcitizen — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 04:58:57 +0000

I fully agree with many of the comments here. As a former public works contractor, I can say from experience that working for Caltrans is a nightmare. The RE’s ran projects like autocrats, many of the employees we dealt with were either inexperienced and/or unethical, and they were terrible about payment. In fact, the agency sometimes wouldn’t pay for months and they’ve even been known to hold up payment for over a year. (There was always some excuse, of course.) This totalitarian, “behemoth bureaucracy” has pushed numerous small contractors to the brink of insolvency as a result, and deterred many more from bidding on highway work, to the detriment of taxpayers. The “prompt payment act” deadlines are a joke (Caltrans was anything but prompt, and never paid penalties on late payments) as is their partnering program. This is one State agency that has clearly run amok. Wake up legislators.

By: Paulkchoi

Paulkchoi — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 20:47:16 +0000

This guy was probably passed over for a promotion to Supervising Transportation Engineer and has sour grapes. Don’t bite the hand that feeds. Yes some people take advantage but most work hard, especially management because we have to lead by example to our staff. We can’t take off without our people knowing about it.

By: Greenhut: Bill to unionize Capitol staffers is ridiculous, but cynics might find a bright side - California Political Review

Tue, 16 Jan 2018 04:28:29 +0000

[…] cases are adjudicated through a Rube-Goldberg-like system of hearings. The state auditor found that Caltrans, which spends far more than other states in building and upgrading the roads and freeways, has […]

By: Cuddlebear

Cuddlebear — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 20:20:43 +0000

I am being forced to retire from caltrans due to the unlawful harassment from caltrans management. Cannot afford to retire but have no choice as my health is deteriorating fast. I have complained of this terrible harassment but nothing is being done. Even complained to governor, and again nothing is being done. Even though I have proof, management continues to get away with it. They are too powerful for me to fight and am running out of energy trying. Caltrans is an awful place to work at. If you want to keep your sanity, do not bother to apply for caltrans. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank-you

By: Jewels

Jewels — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 20:19:33 +0000

By: Cuddlebear

Cuddlebear — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 20:19:00 +0000

By: Markuf

Markuf — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 20:21:38 +0000

It is a widely known fact that those who do not earn the funds they require to then spend are incredibly lazy, slow, great at justifying their existence and produce very little if anything toward the good.

Our government employees produce the least of any labor force in america, they do the most useless but convince themselves otherwise.

Our government workers get paid the most for doing the least.

You would think that because we spend more on our military than anyone else wé would proportionately have more ammo, more uniforms, etc. NO. it’s the same over staffing found in all other branches of our government. I’d even venture to say their are more administrative personal than their are soldiers

By: Jewels

Jewels — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 12:37:22 +0000

I have worked at caltrans for about 10 years. I am being severely harassed by management. It has really affected my health. They are getting away with it so the harassment is getting worse. I have complained to upper management and health and safety but they are all siding with management. Reading these comments are scaring me to the point I feel that fighting this fight is waste of time. Cannot afford to quit. Trying to get another position but management is giving false bad references to people who are interested in hiring me. Management is trying really hard to get rid of me. Nothing is being done to help me. Caltrans is an awful agency to work for. I would strongly suggest that people do not apply to work at caltrans as they will illegally sick the life out of you and get away with it.

By: Gettingoutofstate

Gettingoutofstate — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:31:04 +0000

Exactly described. This kind of culture is not just at CALTRANS but also at CDCR, CDPH & DTSC the 3 agencies I worked at tyo find a bettr culture. Nonew of them had what I had in private. There are all laws, polcies & procedures. But they are all broken. Who follows and who uphelds. If we say something we get discriminated, retaliated. So, finally decided to get out of state service. It is a shame to public service. I do not have time to chnage the culture nor am I wasting my life fighting them. It is not worth it for the amount of pay we get.

By: BeenBullied

BeenBullied — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 21:53:42 +0000

Adding to my previous comment, I was so harassed at Caltrans that I took my case of denial of Reasonable Accommodation (RA) before the State Personnel Board (SPB). I had provided all medical documentation, and I was told that because they couldn’t see my injury, they would deny it. I won the case. The Judge ordered Caltrans to comply. They still harassed me, and I alerted the Judge of this. They were called back before the SPB two additional times and told that if they did not comply with his orders, they would be fined. Four years later, they still were sending emails to Deputies and Office Chief’s disparaging me.

I actually received a memo stating I had gone to an un-authorized last minute medical appointment. Needless to say the SPB found this insane. There are so many instances on record of these individuals, yet nothing happens because they are able to bury the incidents at the District level, and intimidate people by threatening their careers and livelihood. Seriously-would you stand up for an abused colleague-if you thought it would jeopardize the financial situation of your family. Nobody would. And finally-lets not forget the man in our district who Jumped to his death in 2011, from the 15th floor balcony.

The most powerful statement of all. It was clear to everybody in our building that if someone wanted to kill themselves, they would not choose the workplace, unless they wanted to send a message.