More than 12,000 overtime hours worked by Alabama Power’s 12th Street line crews add up to a lot of missed time with their kids on summer vacation.
But two of members of Foreman Greg Herbinger’s crew take a philosophical view.
“I’ve missed several Little League baseball games as well as family birthday parties due to working extra,” says Lineman David Laminack. “I’ve also missed out watching my baby girl grow and do new things like roll over and sit up.”
Laminack worked 10 of his 29 off days since Memorial Day for a total of 242 overtime hours.
Lineman Jason Quick worked 300 extra hours since Memorial Day; in some cases 90 overtime hours in one week. But his story is a little different.
“I’ve been very blessed. I haven’t missed any major events due to being at work this summer,” Quick said. “But there have been other summers I have.”
Quick still suffers from what most linemen do in the summer.
“What I miss the most are the evenings when I have worked a lot of long and hot hours, or my days and nights get mixed up due to pulling all-nighters,” he said. “I find myself so tired and exhausted I can barely hold my eyes open once I get home. So I miss the evening and night activities such as dinner with the family, enjoying the long days of sunshine, baseball practice or just hanging out with the kids before bedtime.”
Summer requires more overtime work to restore power, as soil softened by daily thunderstorms makes it easy for trees heavy with leaves to topple. Wires, poles and transformers all must be replaced. Excessive heat adds more adversity to what is already a difficult job.
But both linemen have ready answers for their families.
“I remind my kids when someone’s power goes out, it’s my job to get their power back on so they can enjoy their family time,” Laminack said. “I explain when I work overtime, I see that as a way to help people get back to their normal lives. I also assure them I will make up the time I missed with them.”
Quick said his children seeing him work long hours “shows them getting up early or leaving in the middle of the night is what you have to do sometimes to provide for the family and be able to give them the things they need and want.
“I tell them this is the profession I chose and it requires me to help others at any time. My children know what I do, that I love what I do and I have worked hard to learn this job.
“Not everybody is cut out to do this job,” Quick continued, “so when others need you and you have the knowledge and training to help, that’s what my job calls me to do.”
