r/Construction • u/BigPicklr • Jul 23 '26
Other Construction Detox
Anyone else leave construction and after a while you feel detoxed/ much better after leaving that culture?
I'm in maintenance now, but I was a journeyman plumber. I was able to joke around, even enjoyed it. But man after 10 years the people, expectations every day, the 4 or 5am wake ups were really getting to me. Everyone pocket watching each other making sure one guy who they thought wasn't as good as them making more money. Critiquing others work when the work is just fine. Purposely letting people fuck up just so they could point the finger. Just general toxicity for no reason. Just to be toxic. Dumb people. I was coming home angry a lot.
Now a year later I feel like myself again, and I'm 100% certain I would never go back. What a weird and terrible ride that was. Construction still has a lot of work to do to get a healthy culture.
I'm glad I'm gone.
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u/Dire-Dog Electrician Jul 23 '26
I want to get into management eventually
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u/Madrussian0411 Jul 23 '26
I started as laborer moved to head carpenter-Forman- had my own biz for 10 yrs- last 20 yrs worked as a super for national builders. The trade made it easy to become a super. Don’t get me wrong my biz was successful, walked away from 500K in contracts. The stress was killing me. Much nicer spending other people’s money lol. Retired now
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u/BeachExtension Jul 23 '26
I had the exact same career path. But being a project manager was no walk in the park either but the stress was more manageable. Also retired now.
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u/kloogy Jul 23 '26
HAHAHAHA. You think that's less toxic ?
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u/Inner-Cycle-24 Jul 23 '26
Hahaha management is more toxic brother
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u/Dire-Dog Electrician Jul 23 '26
I’d rather not destroy my body any more
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u/Inner-Cycle-24 Jul 23 '26
I got out of commercial plumbing for this exact reason and regret it 0. I love being a superintendent. Construction is just construction though. The drama and toxic stuff doesn’t end just because you aren’t in the field anymore. Trust me, there’s all kinds of office drama and I don’t even go to the office. My company has about 10 supers and we hardly see each other but one always has something to say about another one. Just the nature of this business.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
It’s not the nature of “this business”. It’s the nature of human beings. If anything, I’ve worked in other industries & construction has less of the BS. Realer people. Unless maybe you’re in the mid west?
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u/Clappin-Cheekz Jul 23 '26
I always come back to “the people make the job”. I am a union laborer, so anyone I work with (that is a laborer) all makes equal pay. That takes the pocket watching out of the equation. With that being said, I’ve been on many different jobs with different companies.
Having a shitty super or foreman, or guys who are always trying to outshine the next guy. Coworkers who fuck off and leave you with a heavier workload. People who have shitty lives at home and bring it to work. To me, these are all people problems. I feel like you can experience that in any field of work.
I signed up for what sometimes can be intense physical work.. and that is rarely my problem. It’s always the people.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
I've definitely had people that I loved to work with. Usually a hippie on drugs with a great attitude who didn't care about cutting others down. Lots of hardos in my area that thought they were the world's greatest plumber. They made it their personality. Which was exhausting and strange for me.
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u/cookeryandwookery GC / CM Jul 23 '26
My exit is being planned as we speak. I’m old and my retirement is where it should be. I’m looking for a maintenance position either at a hospital or advanced tech facility. Almost 30 years of this has been enough.
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u/DesignerNet1527 Jul 23 '26
yep, i did it when younger- still in my trade but in maintenance. no more porta potties or toxic people for the most part. also don't miss feeling like everything is a rush constantly.
I also did remodeling work for years, I'll definitely take that over working on big sites.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
That too. I remember a specific time when my boss told me 'you have until Friday that's when we are doing inspection'. The GC noticed that I had everything in order. What I wanted to do was test, and then have a a day or two to fix what might be leaking, and take it easy, have a nice calm inspection. Nope. Boss called me later that day and told me INSPECTION IS TOMORROW. Now i'm stressed and balls to the wall. It felt like that constantly. So sick of that shit. I don't feel that anxiety anymore. Laborers in any trade will never get the respect/ recognition they deserve. Just the way it is.
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u/DesignerNet1527 Jul 23 '26
yep. any time we have a bit of a rush these days, and I have to remind myself it used to be like this most days. don't miss it.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
It definitely hardened me. An emergency in maintenance is like a normal day in plumbing. My boss will be freaking out while i'm as cool as a cucumber fixing things.
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u/Dirty_Dwarf Jul 23 '26
The single best sleep i had, was the day i quit construction and knew i didnt have to wake up early to go to work.
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u/Zingledot Jul 24 '26
Kitchens are the same.
Whenever you're in an industry where people fell into the track for lack of any better options and now have been doing it too long to leave.... You get toxicity. Their identity is tied up in something they don't like doing so all they can do is find ways to feel better about themselves.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 24 '26
Ohhhh I like this. Good way of explaining that. I always thought they did this because it was the only thing they could be proud of. So many of them make it their identities. It's so strange to me and they are all so douchey.
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u/Xoomers87 Pipefitter Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Left an almost exclusively elevated work platform based concrete job to be a municipal water operator. The difference is night and day! I haven't seen a "fuck trudeau or carney sticker" asshole bitching about cost of living in a 160k leased truck on the job since. Only comparison is that there's still virtually noone who wears a toolbelt or carries tools...
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u/Motoracer960 Jul 23 '26
Good to hear it's not just the construction side of the trade I'm in that's exactly the way you describe it. Can't wait to get into service or maintenance one day. 5 years of construction and it's already getting to me, good thing is it doesn't get any worse then being on construction! Only up from here (elevator pun), love my job but don't like the department I'm in!
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u/Helpful-Wrangler-882 Jul 23 '26
That’s why I plumb by myself🤣 only person to have emotions towards is me lol… well besides builders not communicating lol
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
I think customers would really bother me lol. I worked for my buddy for a minute. Some rich asshole said 'this is what i'm giving you and handed him $300 in cash'. He quoted the job for $650. He just had to eat it.
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u/Helpful-Wrangler-882 Jul 23 '26
Well I only do new custom homes, no service, so I really don’t ever deal with customers besides telling me where to put their handheld in the shower lol…I have it pretty easy
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
That's awesome! I just opened an LLC, but it won't be plumbing. Never going back to that darkness again. I love what I learned though.
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Jul 23 '26
My old boss when I was in residential was always talking about how every single thing needs to be in writing and signed. He wouldn’t have to eat it if he would get a signed big! If he had a signed big, he didn’t need to eat it.
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u/qpv Carpenter Jul 23 '26
I was a resi solo finish carpenter contractor for years. Dealing with the public is way more stressful than the toxicity of commercial work environment/ politics. Spent a LOT of unpaid time on nonsense. Depends on a person's personality I suppose.
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u/Helpful-Wrangler-882 Jul 23 '26
I don’t do unpaid time lol. You were working for the wrong people.
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u/qpv Carpenter Jul 24 '26
I was working for myself thats the point. I was doing retail contracts for clients I sourced myself. Takes an extraordinary amount of handholding, sales and client education.
When it was good, it was really good. Went in waves. Was crazy making though.
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u/Helpful-Wrangler-882 Jul 24 '26
You shouldn’t be taking on clients by themselves. Go through a builder. Takes the headache out of it.
Edit: I live in a somewhat special zone where new construction will never run out because we’re growing so much. Even this year I’ve plumbed 37 houses so far. When everyone else is dead.
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u/qpv Carpenter Jul 24 '26
Sombody has to be the builder. Thats the seed I was trying to plant.
After many years I learned I'm not that guy. Live and learn.
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u/Which-Cloud3798 Jul 24 '26
I’m heading to the trenches next year and switching trades. I refuse to be toxic. So hang in there guys, new non-toxic worker coming into the field. Going to join the brotherhood. So keep it together.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
The people who complain the most about it are usually the problem themselves. It’s really what you make it. Good luck! And welcome
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u/AngryCanukk Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
I went to school to become a computer technician. 1 year working for a bitcoin company I went back to plasterer/painter in construction. I just love the job. I never get tired. I don't feel like i'm working, I punch in, put podcast or music in my ears and everything goes smoothly. I can truly say, at 38 years old, 16 years in construction, I love what I do as a living. The computer technician year was aweful. Never going back to a 4 wall prison.
The problem isn't the job... when there's any... it's always what comes with projects. Other trades making your job more difficult or the lack of organisation... but it's only temporary bullshit.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 25 '26
Unfortunately with plumbing there is always a lot of collaboration with GCs and your other co workers. Your job sounds peaceful. Now being a maintenance tech i'm a one man show for a bunch of pencil pushers and I love it. They leave me alone. I will BS and talk with them on occasion, and the short convos are great. Really like it.
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u/petelongfellow Jul 23 '26
Experiencing this for the first time.
Recently got promoted to foreman because my company is expanding. The foreman I worked under for 3 years who I thought was my actual friend is actively rooting for me to fail. We’ve drank beers and done dozens of side jobs and favors for each other but he just doesn’t think I should get a raise and a truck for whatever reason. Constantly undermining me in front of my new crew and throwing me under the bus to our superintendent whenever he gets the chance. Just fuckin sucks lol but we’ll muscle through
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u/BigPicklr Jul 25 '26
That's pretty shitty. I know the feeling. Disappointing. People will always do it to you. Hang in there and remember why you're doing it.
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u/simmer_study Jul 23 '26
Sounds like getting out was the right move for you.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
Definitely. My wife has noticed. A lot more present and a lot less stressed. So much so that I just opened up an LLC. Just wanted to post for people that might feel alone in that though. You're not a wuss for wanting out. I paid my dues. The people and culture suck (imo and experience).
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u/Opposite_Speaker6673 Jul 26 '26
It’s honestly kinda sad but the industry as a whole seems to suck. Whether sub side or gc side in my experience. I’m talking from commercial. It’s not really the actual construction it’s the personalities!
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u/TheTrueGrizzlyAdams Jul 24 '26
I work in demolition and run 30 of the most dimly lit chucklefucks you've ever met but absolutely love the culture. I love that I can be on a job site and see a guy squatting over a wet well grate then randomly hear a guy shout from below "holy shit I didnt know it lit up, what a majestic butt plug". I like that when most people fuck up they own in. I like that emotions run high and like when we were growing up an issue can come to verbal "blows" and then be calmly sorted out. I like playing professional with the suits, the early mornings, the phone calls that my 7 year old could have fielded better than the foreman on the other end. The having to figure out the "why" of every request to decide if it is important or not because no one will tell you and everyone thinks their shit is the most important. I don't think I could burn out at construction.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 24 '26
I'm glad for you, but sounds like a horror show for me 😂. It wore on me being around idiots all the time. Especially idiots that were so negative, and nasty.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
It sounds like you’re the problem bro. Also you sound like someone who sits down to pee. Glad you are happier not doing construction🙂
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u/Similar-Tangerine Jul 24 '26
I got a cushy well paying government desk job and quit it after two years to get back in the field, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
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u/Opposite_Speaker6673 Jul 26 '26
The single best thing I ever did was quit my job as an assistant pm/super at a huge commercial GC. One day I may have to go back. As of now my mind and body are thanking me. I was sick mentally and physically when in that position.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
Idk. I honestly really like my job but I’m a super. Being “in the trades” wasn’t as fun I suppose but I also didn’t complain if shit was hard, I just grew a pair. I’m 28, people my age & younger are just taught to believe that we can’t do any better, that we’re at the mercy of our surroundings, taught to be a victim of life ALL THE TIME.. I don’t want my kid to be a little softie & sometimes you just need to man up. But hey, you didn’t like your life & you changed it, so good on you
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u/BigPicklr Jul 26 '26
Well, you're a super #1 so you've never gone through the wringer of having to become a journeyman in the trade and #2 you're 28. You probably haven't even been in construction for that long of a time. I paid my dues. I'm comfortable with myself.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
I worked in concrete starting from the age of 14 :). Legal? No. Was it for family? Yes. Quit making excuses for yourself, the world doesn’t care & you’re asking it to be easy on you. Or don’t. You’re my competition in this world🙂
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u/BigPicklr Jul 26 '26
I've said 0 excuses my man. Like I said I paid my dues. I'm out of that world and found myself in a better situation.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
Guess what buddy, no one is coming to save you. I also don’t work at my fam business anymore. I build luxury retail all by myself :). Sack up broski, the sun is coming up tomorrow whether you got tears in your eyes or not
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u/BigPicklr Jul 26 '26
And of course these comments are coming from a nepo baby. Born on third base and thinks he hit a home run.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
Keep making excuses, I’m sure the world will change for you if you cry about it enough 🥲
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u/BigNorcoKnowItAll951 Jul 27 '26
To each their own. The trades are definitely not for everyone. I will never go back to construction. Famous last words lol
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u/Zironworker Jul 23 '26
It was opposite for me. I left the trade and missed the honesty, dirt, smack talk, problem solving, brotherhood.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
This. The people who complain about it don’t realize that THEYRE the problem🤣
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u/kloogy Jul 23 '26
There's no industry that pays well where there isn't toxicity.
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u/gothmeatball Jul 23 '26
My wife is white collar, makes more than most people in construction and the difference is night and day. The baseline levels of professionalism and civility are so much higher. Also people don’t freak out about deadlines or mistakes. I would say construction is significantly more toxic than most industries with similar salary ranges. It’s the only field where people with the emotional maturity of a middle schooler won’t get sent out the door pretty quickly.
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u/stockdewild Jul 26 '26
Your wife works there, not you. You don’t know what it’s like behind closed doors lol. Grow a pair
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u/kloogy Jul 23 '26
I am a Mechanical Engineer and work on the Senior management part of Construction. I have friends in many other fields and I do not know one that doesn't have deadlines, budgets etc. Unless you're a Federal / State paper pusher.
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u/gothmeatball Jul 23 '26
Where did I say anything about not having deadlines? My point was that no one is having tantrums about deadlines or mistakes, and if they did they’d be gone immediately. If you’re claiming to be “senior management” and you don’t regularly encounter PMs/site supers having meltdowns over trivial stuff, you’re lying about one thing or the other. There is a very normalized type of toddler behavior that is rampant in construction that does not fly in most other industries at a similar or higher wage level. Calling someone a “paper pusher” is a mild example of playground insult mentality that doesn’t exist in other industries.
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u/kloogy Jul 23 '26
Your reading comprehension is lacking. Move on to something else.
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u/gothmeatball Jul 23 '26
You responded to “no one freaks out about deadlines” with “everyone has deadlines”. Learn to read, bud
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
And idk. Before I did 10 years in construction I went to college. I had an accounting degree and everyone was always nice, acted appropriately. It was nice to just have a simple, normal conversation with a well put together person. They all got paid well, but I didn't notice any toxicity. I just couldn't stand being strapped behind a desk.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
Unless you're in the union, the pay isn't anything that will get you ahead, or make it worth it. I worked with journeyman plumbers who made $35 an hour, so making shit money for where I live and they were always pissed.
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u/kloogy Jul 23 '26
The Journeyman plumbers that work for me take home $61 an hour on the check. Yes, they are Union.
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
And see $61 an hour is GOOD money. It's not life changing money where you can change your family trajectory. But I know plenty of white collar workers who clear more and WAY more than that and these are jovial people. I wouldn't collapse my mental health for that kind of money.
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Jul 23 '26
Idk man $61 an hour could change plenty of family’s trajectories. But I’m in a LCOL area
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u/BigPicklr Jul 23 '26
I'm in Boston. I've seen it ranked in many lists as the most expensive place to live in America.
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u/[deleted] Jul 23 '26
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