Many moons ago now, back when George W. was a freshly minted president and was more libertarian than compassionate conservative, I worked at a Big Box Store unloading the delivery truck and stocking shelves during the graveyard shift.
First, there's two ways a truck can be loaded, by hand or by pallet. Sometimes, often actually, it's both. Pallets are easy and convenient, but they tend to dislodge things that make ominous crunching and shattering sounds as you pull them out. There really isn't anything for the hand loaded stuff but to pull it all out, one by one, miserably, by hand. Better stores will have fans to help keep you cool, and manual conveyor racks to help things along, but best you don't count on them being there; creature comforts for the worker bee have a tendency to break down and are typically low on the priority list to be repaired. Any squeaky wheels for the management or day shift folk will quickly bump off slated repairs that would benefit you.
Even with fans, unloading a truck is hot, sweaty, poorly lit work. It's exhausting, and handling so much cardboard without wearing gloves will quickly chew up soft hands. So, keep on wearing gloves and try to stay hydrated. Wear shorts, even in winter, but wear good boots to protect fragile toes from falling merchandise.
This sort of work isn't without rewards, as such. Playing jenga with boxes as you unload is rather entertaining, as is clogging up the conveyor racks faster than the rest of the crew can unload them. There is also a satisfaction to be had by picking up that last box and admiring dirty work done well.
Night stocking, however, is miserable work and should be avoided if at all possible. You are working against the clock, are often alone and devoid of conversation or companionship, and rarely receive help when it is needed. I derived no pleasure from stocking shelves full of useless junk, knowing that the task would be repeated again the next day.
Third shift work itself requires a certain amount of conditioning, and until you get used to it, a process that could take years, you will always feel tired and irritable. Lack of sleep suppresses the immune system, causing you to get sick more often than you would normally.
Such jobs are then a mixed bag, but are disproportionately bad. Try to only work positions like these for short periods of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment