Shoreline Sightseeing

Deckhand

June 2022 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

My favorite things about working at Shoreline are the diversity of its employees and the flexibility of the job. Employees come from all backgrounds and range from high school sophomores to retirees. The job is also super flexible and accommodating for me. Usually, I just tell my manager the days I want to work and they can fulfill the request 80% of the time. The training of being a deckhand was super helpful as well as you shadow other deckhands as you go through the probation period.

What I wish was different

One of the biggest downsides is that this job does not offer 1.5x pay over 40 hours a week. There is a loophole in what is called "The James Act" where Shoreline Sightseeing is not required to pay "seaman" 1.5x pay over 40 hours. With that being said, Shoreline can offer almost 50 hours a week if you want it. However, you won't be paid 1.5x pay for those 10 additional hours.

Advice

The first piece of advice I would give is to take the job seriously and to listen and not take offense to what the captains or managers may be teaching you. They want the best for your safety and the safety of the passengers of the boats. Lastly, understand that this job has a pre-employment drug test as well as being subject to random drug tests, including the screening of cannabis, despite it being legal in Illinois. Because Shoreline has to follow the laws and regulations of the Coast Guard, a federal entity, cannabis is also on the drug screen.

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