I dislike this company and, after my experience there, I have very little respect for the people running it. My year at Walmsley Marine was one of the most negative employment experiences I've ever had. I originally took a labor position there because I needed work quickly when my girlfriend's grandmother became ill. I actually liked the job itself. I worked hard, learned a lot, and was willing to do whatever needed to be done.
Then Rick realized I had a mechanical background and a criminal record, and that's when things changed. In my experience, he saw an opportunity to get skilled mechanical work out of me while keeping me at laborer pay. I was doing work well beyond what I was hired to do, yet I was repeatedly refused more than $24 an hour. Meanwhile, other employees doing similar work were making around $30 an hour while, in my opinion, putting in nowhere near the same effort.
It was your basic exploitation shakedown. Nothing is unique about what these people do. Apparently, hard work and mechanical skill are only valuable when management can get them cheaply.
I also had an extremely poor experience with Andy. I found his behavior to be dishonest and unethical, and I felt that he operated with Rick's full support. From my experience, he lies, cheats, and manipulates situations whenever it benefits him. The impression I walked away with was that doing the right thing mattered a lot less than gettingkkk what they wanted.
Eventually, I refused to perform engine work without being fairly compensated.
You would think that would be the end of it.
It wasn't.
For months afterward, people associated with Walmsley Marine were following me around Warren and trying to intimidate me. Rick followed my girlfriend to a red light and screamed obscenities at her from his vehicle.
Then things went far beyond workplace harassment.
Andy and Dave came onto my property, and two of my vehicles were destroyed beyond repair. I confronted Dave about what happened, and he admitted to me that they were responsible.
These guys are really out here committing felonies over this stuff. Truly a sad, sorry group of people.
Think about that for a second: I left a job because I wouldn't allow myself to be exploited, and instead of simply moving on, the situation escalated to the point where my personal property was destroyed.
And what did I do?
Nothing.
I didn't retaliate. I didn't destroy their property. I chose to walk away because I refuse to let people like this turn me into someone I'm not.
I've dealt with plenty of difficult people in my life. Honestly, I've met more decent, honorable people in prison than I did during my time dealing with the management at Walmsley Marine.
I would not recommend this company to anyone looking for a place where hard work, loyalty, and integrity are actually valued.
If you're considering working here, my advice is simple:
Don't. read more
