I work as an order picker for a supply company. Our warehouse supplies 27 stores across 3 states so we keep pretty busy. When I started, we had a full crew and we’re finishing our shifts at about 6-7 PM. (Our shift is from 11-8 but our shift ends when all orders are picked, baskets and pallets are moved over to the trucks, cleanup, etc.) Then, within the timeframe of about 2 weeks, 4 workers left and our then shift manager moved to day shift so we ended up with 5 people being left. Since then, we’ve honestly been swamped and all the energy I had when I started has almost run out.
One day, we had another employee get hired and then leave and another call out and it happened on our busiest night of the week. I nearly lost my temper and told the shift manager I wanted to walk out but I didn’t want to fuck over my coworkers who don’t deserve this. We ended up having one of our managers come in and help us finish and the next day I had a chat with the overall manager and told him we needed help asap or I was going to leave. He offered me a $1/hr raise and after a minute I decided to take it. The next couple of days got better because Thursdays and Fridays are the slowest and if what my boss says is true, then we’re getting help soon.
If we don’t get help then I’m definitely gone. I didn’t leave a toxic workplace and move hours away from home just to join a workplace that might kill me. Thanks for allowing me to vent.