I'm new to the forum, so this topic may already be discussed elsewhere. I have noticed a certain company, familiar within the industry, is offering positions where licensed surveyors can work remotely (i.e., work from home). I am curious to hear others' thoughts on this.
I can think of some obvious pros and cons. As someone who is geographically tied to an area where the salary for professional surveyors is relatively low, I have to admit there is a certain appeal.
I have been working 100% remotely since March, 2020. That said, I am in management, so much of each day is attending meetings. None of my time is spent doing production work. The day they tell me I have to start commuting again (90 miles round trip daily) is the day I retire.
I dunno, when I see something like this I tend to think the worst... they want to buy a stamp and the product will ultimately be shoddy because I'm not there to see the sausage being made.
@bstrand that's an archaic thought process. Things are much different now than they were in the 80's and 90's. There is video conferencing, instant email, cell phones and digital signatures and seals.
Do you literally stand in the middle of a circle of the people making the sausage to hover over them? You are the person that has the recipe and still can control any deviations to it remotely.
I've been working almost exclusively remote since before all the COVID lock downs started because it almost killed me shortly before it had a name. With a high speed internet connection, video conferencing software, cell phones and data transfers back and forth to the crews in real time, digital signing and sealing for control of the work and more. Direct Supervision has taken on a whole meaning in the modern technologies.
I tried the remote thing but not being licensed yet has killed me. My area sucks a$$ for Surveyors so I had to leave my entire family behind and move 2,500 miles clear across country just to get work. I hate this industry sometimes
@bstrand that's an archaic thought process. Things are much different now than they were in the 80's and 90's. There is video conferencing, instant email, cell phones and digital signatures and seals.
Do you literally stand in the middle of a circle of the people making the sausage to hover over them? You are the person that has the recipe and still can control any deviations to it remotely.
I don't hover over anyone, but I find people are way more likely to ask questions or chat about a project when they're sitting several feet away.
I tried the remote thing but not being licensed yet has killed me. My area sucks a$$ for Surveyors so I had to leave my entire family behind and move 2,500 miles clear across country just to get work. I hate this industry sometimes
No interest in that, never shut down or altered anything for COVID. I suppose staking boundary lines is working remotely, remotely from town.
For much of my career I worked in offices where the field crew and the office crew were very separated. It still is the way a lot of places work. Does it really matter if the field crew is 20 miles from your desk or 2000 miles?
I can see the remote thing working, but I also see a lot of potential for "stamp for hire" abuse. It really depends on the situation.
I do think it is possible in today's world with today's technology for most survey tasks to be handled remotely if the various survey personnel (field worker's, draftsmen, admin., etc.) are earnestly willing to engage in a "remote environment".
The question I would like to add to the Arkansas 90's question is this: Is remote work allowed by your state?
My interpretation for this question in Indiana is that though some personnel may work remotely, the lead professional accepting responsibility may not. Here is what Indiana says (865 IAC 1-12-3-e):
"...a registered land surveyor in charge of the operation...must...have full responsible control of the survey operations...and maintain regular hours at that office...convenient for client contact and...adequate for employee supervision" (some minor editing here by me to put all the pieces together).
Would love to see other's take on their state's requirements and how they handle this issue.
@scott-bordenet Ecxellent point Scott. I have developed remote programs in the past. A few were very successful and far exceeded the laws, rules, and standard of care for the jurisdiction. The key is maintaining trust with the crew and control of the products. Outfits where the PLS has never met the remote crew are the ones that give this concept a bad name...
It is far easier to blame someone for mistakes and refer to him as a large deposit of canine excrement if he is not where you are and within earshot of your comments.
I'm new to the forum, so this topic may already be discussed elsewhere. I have noticed a certain company, familiar within the industry, is offering positions where licensed surveyors can work remotely (i.e., work from home). I am curious to hear others' thoughts on this.
I can think of some obvious pros and cons. As someone who is geographically tied to an area where the salary for professional surveyors is relatively low, I have to admit there is a certain appeal.
my state law states I must be accessible at the office unless I’m in the field. I could not work remotely 100%
I'm new to the forum, so this topic may already be discussed elsewhere. I have noticed a certain company, familiar within the industry, is offering positions where licensed surveyors can work remotely (i.e., work from home). I am curious to hear others' thoughts on this.
I can think of some obvious pros and cons. As someone who is geographically tied to an area where the salary for professional surveyors is relatively low, I have to admit there is a certain appeal.
my state law states I must be accessible at the office unless I’m in the field. I could not work remotely 100%
@steven-metelsky I am a fellow NJPLS and work entirely remotely. I am accessible to the office for anybody at any time through telephone or video conferencing. I have six field crews working statewide and we have a system to share data back and forth in real time. I also video conference in to the office when needed and handle my other management/minority ownership responsibilities remotely with no complications. What's the difference between being in the field and not accessible to the office or working from a remote office with instant communications?
I can print or plot directly to my office through a secure VPN and do anything else I need to do on the company server from my home office. Direct supervision does not mean stand over peoples shoulders.
"Hey, Bob, (insert question)?"
Two seconds later, "( insert answer)".
versus
Texting--same question.
Three minutes to three hours later --same answer.
Total effort and response time is greater, which means, less likely to do this.
I do think it is possible in today's world with today's technology for most survey tasks to be handled remotely if the various survey personnel (field worker's, draftsmen, admin., etc.) are earnestly willing to engage in a "remote environment".
The question I would like to add to the Arkansas 90's question is this: Is remote work allowed by your state?
My interpretation for this question in Indiana is that though some personnel may work remotely, the lead professional accepting responsibility may not. Here is what Indiana says (865 IAC 1-12-3-e):
"...a registered land surveyor in charge of the operation...must...have full responsible control of the survey operations...and maintain regular hours at that office...convenient for client contact and...adequate for employee supervision" (some minor editing here by me to put all the pieces together).
Would love to see other's take on their state's requirements and how they handle this issue.
Of course this will come down to the board's interpretation. Hopefully they have a good attorney available. It comes down to the definition of "office". Twenty years ago their would have been little question, but these days...
Notice also that it says "regular office hours..." not full time, so even a litteral interpretation of the phrase would allow some remote work.
The intention here is that you spend your time actively supervising and available to clients. Unless you still have clients walking in to contact you or your office technicians still work in an office setting there is no need to be physically present at a particular address to do that these days.
Ideally this language would be modernized, but I think there is some leeway in there for the board to enforce this in a way that makes sense in today's work environment.
Working remotely to me means flying for hours, then riding a boat for another 8, and living on it until the job is done. The thing that this has in common with the rest of the discussion is now there is good internet. The role of the modern surveyor has changed due to changes in technology. We learn how to use the new technology or become dinosaurs. Den
