BC Ferries Employee Reviews

Great co-workers, and generally a quite positive environment. However, expect to be Casual status for several years. Despite being a "casual" job, you will be expected to be available for every shift that you are called for. This in turn makes having a social life a bit challenging. Numerous other issues with work scheduling and lack of any real union representatives (as they all work other positions within BC Ferries). Overall, the company has its flaws but the people you will work with are great people.

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Overall pretty good

Marine Engineer (Former Employee) - Richmond, BC - 26 September 2023

Good work life balance, plenty of work and overtime to those who want it.Varied shifts can be tough but for the most part a great place to work with a great bunch of colleagues.

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Insights into BC Ferries

Based on 81 survey responses

What people like

Ability to learn new things
Feeling of personal appreciation

Areas for improvement

Time and location flexibility
Sense of belonging
Overall satisfaction

A shame to see the possibility of a great job wasted by management

Captain (Current Employee) - Little river - 24 September 2023

I have worked with two other marine companies. Bcferries management is by far the most inept/incompetent. I have had 5 supervisors over the last 4 years leading to a severe lack of stability.Day to day work-life is great. Companies disrespect , disregard, and dishonesty towards me as a worker is only counter balanced by the great ppl I work with day 2 day. Also I would never start with them again as their on-call casual system is broken and unfair. Also don't expect a strong or present union

Pros

Easy work, good local coworkers

Cons

Lack of management's ability, wage disparity to industry standard

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The company I worked for sub contract did not have there act together...

Marine security guard (Current Employee) - Gibsons, BC - 14 September 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?On board the ship....Day shift and getting overtime.What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Being let go without cause..No reason given.What is the work environment and culture like at the company?To many management, lack of communication between them and I didn't have a supervisor on my side that work in Langdale side.What is a typical day like for you at the company?Very busy, with security on board and terminal.Seems to be the guy who always answering questions about the ferry and terminal.

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not worth it

engineer (Current Employee) - Horseshoe Bay, BC - 13 September 2023

not enough money for what they expect out of employees. Crewing office hasn't a clue what they are doing. High turnover of employees for a reason. Used to be a good job

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Terrible place to work

Deckhand and catering (Former Employee) - Delta, BC - 13 September 2023

I worked there for 8 years, it was not bad in the beginning but it has done nothing but go down hill. I’ve worked in two different departments on the ship. The management at bc ferries get paid far too much for such little work. They act like they are broke until the government gives them a bailout. They spend that money in the wrong places and give themselves raises while cutting crew counts and expecting more work out of you. They have complete control of your schedule and where you’ll be working almost every single day. They hire just before summer and then they give you almost no work after the busy season. They can’t retain anyone, you will completely lose touch with yourself and miss time with your family and friends. Don’t work at bc ferries…

Pros

Nothing is worth it unless you are in management

Cons

High expectations with little pay to reflect the responsibilities, long hours, long days, terrible management in the office, will lose who you are as a person, no time off, little training

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Poorly managed, disappointing

Catering Attendant (Current Employee) - Tsawwassen, BC - 10 September 2023

Been a employee here for more than 8 years. First few years it was a great company to work for. Ever since covid, the managing department got a full turn over, and now no one is properly informed in their duties. Shifts are being missed, crew are over worked and under valued. No incentive programs or benefits to seniority, so crew moral is terribly low. If you can stick through the on calls, early mornings and shift changes. It's the negative environment that fills the ships that will bring you down... also Medical emergencies happen often. Better have thick skin to work here. Good luck

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Lack of support from Management

Human Resources (Former Employee) - Vancouver Island, BC - 5 September 2023

Very stressful environment with no respect or support from management. Management is aware of issues and what needs to change, but there isn't any action to make the changes.

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Be prepared to be on call multiple years

Deckhand (Former Employee) - British Columbia - 22 August 2023

Could be a good job once you get permanent . You could be working multiple years on call . Hard to book time off for any kind of plans you may have . Definitely not for everyone .

Cons

On call

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Coworkers are great, on call is terrible

CSA (Former Employee) - Nanaimo, BC - 20 July 2023

Great work environment when it comes to co workers & management, unfortunately the oncall process is terrible, you’re a causal for 3-4 years . You get a work schedule for the summer. But every other season you’re on call everyday & have to answer every call.

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Terminal Attendant (Former Employee) - Nanaimo, BC - 9 July 2023

Solid place to work. Being a seasonal or casual can be tough with the varying amount of hours. For the most part good work environment. The wage is stagnant for the most part but is fair for the job.

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We’ll run company

Ticket Agent/Customer Service Attendant/Relief Time Analyst (Current Employee) - West Vancouver, BC - 27 June 2023

Great place to work. Great people, supportive management. Overall very good. Great training, very thorough. Support from other staff members. Very honest and support

Pros

Great hours great benefits

Cons

None

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Not healthy place to work for

Assistant Engineer (Former Employee) - Vancouver, BC - 22 June 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Getting Benefit package and pension plan What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Working schedule, working hours, making in time without losing the ferry What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Bad working environment, bad management What is a typical day like for you at the company?Trying to fit in with colleagues

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prisoned from the top down

Engineer (Current Employee) - Horseshoe bay - 20 June 2023

should be a good government job. No work life balance. Salary not competitive. Crewing is a bunch of bullies. Simple scheduling of employees seems imposable.

Pros

free ferries

Cons

Manipulative crewing office

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Great place to work

CUSTOMER SERVICE ATTENDANT (Current Employee) - Shipboard - 14 June 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Working with supportive Team. Lots of opportunity. Working on the beautiful ocean view.What is the most stressful part about working at the company?I never get stress at work because I love my job and their is always help if needed.What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Like a Family that support and help each other.What is a typical day like for you at the company?I started my day with smile and coffee, organize myself at my work station and ready to take the challenges of the day with a big smile.

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Nice views

Deckhand (Current Employee) - Nanaimo, BC - 29 May 2023

Being a casual here is awful, but once you become regular it improves. Pay is okay, OT paid at double is great. The vessels are old and overworked. Good work and home life balance.

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Very less Salary

Commercial Services Driver (Current Employee) - Surrey, BC - 28 May 2023

Salary is enough for surviving me as well my family. Moreover, some issues with shifts or roaster timings which is not appropriate with my family time. On other hand the fleet i.e trucks trailers are too much old with lots of mechanical as well as electrical issues in it and even yard is too small for truck trailers parking and also for staff parking.

Pros

Professional job

Cons

Less salary/ shifts time problem

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Great coworkers

Customer Service Agent (Former Employee) - Swartz Bay, BC - 23 May 2023

Enjoyed working at BCF but ended up moving away from the coast. Lots of new employees recently and the energy is improving after a difficult couple of years.

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Productive and fun workplace

Master (Former Employee) - Victoria, BC - 20 May 2023

Nice people. Beautiful scenery. Excellent benefits and salary with bonuses for licensed personnel. Best ferry company in the world that serves kindest customers

Pros

Free Lunches

Cons

No cons

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Stay far away

Deckhand (Current Employee) - Tsawwassen, BC - 15 May 2023

BC Ferries used to be a great place to work and I really enjoyed it. Over the past ten years it has become unbearable to work here. Extremely poor wages along with company aggressively trying to destroy the union has made BC Ferries the worst company I’ve ever worked for. I am currently seeking other employment.

Pros

All benefits have been taken away

Cons

Poor wages atmosphere Managment and treatment of employees

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Lots of challenges but things are improving

Employee Relations Coordinator (Former Employee) - Tsawwassen, BC - 3 May 2023

The decisions of past CEO and executives have created a lot of long term issues with this company. Little work life balance for those working in an office environment and lots of disorganization as the company tries to manage the insane turnover through covid. Lots of long term unionized employees who are uneducated and incredibly entitled...salaries and benefits have not been updated in many years so they no longer align with the market... luckily there seems to be a new team of executives who are creating great changes and new employees who are making the workplace bright and fresh. Will be a great place to work in the coming years as soon as problems get fixed.