Working as a lineman is not just another job—it’s a responsibility that keeps electricity flowing and communities powered. Every day brings new challenges, long walks across rough terrain, and sometimes uncomfortable truths about workplace dynamics. Today I want to share a real experience from my daily life as a transmission line lineman, something that highlights both the realities of fieldwork and the issue of favoritism at work.
Starting the Day: Heading to the Transmission Line Site
Like any normal workday, I went to the office early in the morning. Our team was assigned general patrolling of a transmission line, which means inspecting towers, checking spans, and ensuring the line is safe and functioning properly.
To avoid heavy traffic, our team decided to take a longer route to the site. Sometimes field work requires flexibility and patience because reaching remote transmission towers is never easy.
However, the day quickly became challenging when our truck’s brakes malfunctioned on the way. Situations like this remind us how unpredictable field work can be. Fortunately, we managed to reach the site safely.
Field Reality: Documentation for Officers
Once we reached the location, we picked a spot to take work photos for the officers. In many departments, photographic proof is required to show that transmission line patrolling and maintenance work is being carried out.
Some of us took pictures climbing trees, showing inspection work around the lines. Normally, linemen cut tree branches that grow too close to the transmission line to maintain a safe distance from power lines.
But nowadays things are different.
Why Linemen Sometimes Avoid Cutting Trees
In our area, many trees near transmission lines are mango trees owned by local farmers. If we cut branches without permission, owners often get angry and accuse us of damaging their property.
Because of these conflicts—and especially during Ramadan—we avoid cutting trees unless we have official permission. This is one of those hidden struggles of linemen that most people never see.
Task Assignment: Patrolling the Spans
After reaching the inspection point, our Line Supervisor (LS) assigned patrolling tasks to each lineman.
- Zeeshan was assigned 5 spans
- Shahid was assigned 6 spans
- My colleague Kashif and I were assigned 6 spans
But things didn’t go exactly as planned.
Zeeshan and Shahid actually reached one span farther than assigned, which meant Kashif and I had to walk an extra span just to reach the truck again. Field work already requires a lot of walking between towers, so even one extra span can feel exhausting under the sun.
The Moment That Raised Questions
When we finally returned to the truck, I noticed something interesting.
Another lineman, Waqas, was sitting comfortably in the truck beside the Line Supervisor.
The LS then asked me to take a patrolling picture of Waqas.
The strange part?
There were around 20 towers to patrol, but from what I saw, Waqas barely inspected 3 towers.
It made me wonder if the patrolling report would later show that he had completed the full task—even though he spent most of the time sitting in the truck.
Workplace Favoritism in Field Jobs
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen something like this. In fact, I’ve witnessed similar situations many times during my work as a lineman.
The reason seems obvious.
Waqas often helps the Line Supervisor with personal tasks like:
- Tuning his motorcycle
- Repairing his air conditioner
- Fixing his iron
But does helping with personal chores justify lighter duties at work while others handle extra workload?
That’s the question that keeps bothering me.
Why I Stay Silent
Despite noticing this favoritism, I usually choose not to speak up.
My philosophy has always been simple:
- Mind my own business
- Do my duty honestly
- Maintain peace with colleagues
Workplace conflicts can create unnecessary tension, especially in field teams where cooperation is essential.
But sometimes staying silent also feels like accepting injustice at work.
What Would You Do?
Situations like this happen in many workplaces, not just in field jobs like transmission line maintenance.
So I want to ask you:
Is this favoritism?
And if you were in my place, would you speak up or stay silent to keep peace at work?
I would really like to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Leave your suggestions in the comments.