Pros
CAI is a contracting company. In my position as a low voltage tech I primarily worked for FDOT and at a location here in Lakeland Florida called Suntrax. As someone new to the world of low voltage work it was very interesting to learn about. I love learning new technologies as I've been in the info tech field for over 15 years and have a B.S. in Information Studies. My co-workers were great for the most part. We worked together well and I have nothing but respect for them. Most of the CAI team and FDOT (Florida Dept of Transportation) team members where kind and welcoming. I also didn't mind my work hours, 7a-3:30p. I personally like to start my workday early. The company cellphone is a pro and a con.
Cons
Unfortunately in my short time with CAI (3 months) there were more cons than pros. 1. In order to get to work I needed to come out of pocket on average $100 per month in tolls. Even though a big part of the position is working with FDOT toll systems CAI does not compensate in anyway towards the employees toll fees. In order to get to my work vehicle (that I cannot take home) I need to pass several tolls a day. CAI only covers the tolls while traveling in a CAI vehicle. 2. I had no office space, no cubicle, or somewhere comfortable to get on a pc with reasonable time. My work vehicle was not equipped with a laptop holder and an inverter outlet to charge my laptop. Yet in my job roll I needed to get on my work laptop for certain activities. Most employees have an old laptop that has a degraded battery that wont last long without being plugged in. Also very very slow and old laptop, i5 cpu with 8GB. 3. PTO - You are given a pool of PTO. The way it's designed is that any holidays or sick days would have to come out of your PTO pool or you just don't get paid. Yes, that means Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial day etc, you would need to use your PTO hours to get paid on these days if you want to take the day off of work. If your don't use your PTO hours you would either need to work these holidays or take the day off and not get paid, there is no holiday pay. Also if you get sick you need to use your PTO hours, there are no sick hours. Also during the 2 major hurricanes we had in the Tampa Bay area this year 24' the company CAI made employees work in bad conditions. Leaving the choice up to employees to manage their PTO even in while the hurricanes where outside brewing. Yes you need to use PTO if there is a major storm and you want to stay safe and not on the road. Instead of having the employees stay safe at home they leave the choice to you and your already tiny PTO pool. 4. Even though my position is low voltage technician 1 the majority of my time spent with the company was tagging along with an electrician. I sort of got excited when I was actually able to do some low voltage work. I was very underemployed here. 5. There is little to no understanding and/or connection between the higher ups in CAI, HR, and you. CAI is based out of the state PA, but I work in Tampa Florida, where it gets extremely hot. CAI as a company does not have a care in the world about the uniforms they make employees wear. The uniform is very heavy, hot and uncomfortable. Other employees get to dress comfortably, but CAI employees get the short end of the deal always, no matter what. 6. Communication and understanding is out of touch. Even though you maybe doing a great job, the higher ups in CAI are like Big Brother. They are watching over you and sort of back seat driving. They are not actually there with you 99% of the time, but want to dictate how you do your job, and even worse they do it remotely or 2nd hand by telling someone else to tell you something instead of having a conversation with you directly. 7. My work vehicle was not in good shape to drive and be on the road 3+ hours a day. My work vehicle had multiple mechanical issues that should have been fixed way before I was assigned the vehicle. 8. 4 raises in the past 10 years... I've worked with contract companies in the past but this was very different. The employees are scared of CAI and have a lot of gripes with the company, they don't feel very connected with CAI in a good and meaningful way. Its sort of like having an estranged family member. CAI is definitely not for the people. CAI as Big Brother feels very soulless. Again I want to say that my coworkers were great people that I respected, but the layer of CAI is like the oil on top of your spaghetti sauce that you like to scoop out of the pot.
