Hey guys. I've been lurking for a long time as a jobless college student. Then, I needed a job to get insurance for life-saving surgeries (I'm ftm and I get very dark thoughts about my body and top surgery would literally change sm for me).
I got a job at a factory that makes books near me. I was supposed to be in the shipping department but instead, they threw me in the lamentation department so I'm a colour technician now.
Thing is, it's hard. Fucking. Work. I didn't expect shipping to be easy but I knew what to expect. As a colour tech, I have to pack these huge machines full of book covers, troubleshoot the machines if they fuck up which is MULTIPLE times a shift, and walk these giant stacks of book covers to shelves to put up.
I'm a full time graduate student and this job has worn me down to the point I'm falling behind. It's made my depression so bad, I don't even care.
These are 12 hour shifts, 3 nights one week, 4 the next, rotate.
While maybe, just maybe, I could handle it and find a balance between social, school, and work, it's the standing that's killing me.
We get 3 breaks: two clocked in 15s and one clocked out 30 min lunch.
For the rest of the time, we are expected to stand. We literally cannot sit down or we risk getting in trouble. I used to work as a camera operator so I've had nights where I've stood the whole time. But nothing like this.
I'm in such pain. The bottom of my feet and some of my toes are literally numb. I had to call in the other night because my knee began to hurt so badly and I knew I couldn't handle roughly 11 hours on it. I don't like admitting this but the pain has made me cry.
I am looking for another job but the problem is, I can't just quit this one. I'm desperate for the money and insurance because it's the only way I don't entertain very dark thoughts.
Thing is, I think I could make a career as a freelance writer. I have an associate in psych and bachelor in esl education. I'm getting my masters in technical communications. I've been writing from a young age. I would love a wfh job where I can make roughly 2000 a month but I guess I'm scared and feel like it's expected of me to go to work like this.
All this complaining and venting to ask: is what this company's doing legal? Forcing employees to stand this long without being given stools? Especially when majority of the departments are literally standing in one place? I can't imagine treating human beings like machines is legal and, if it isn't, I want to do something about it.
My next shift is on Wed night and I'm hoping to hear back from a couple jobs before then. But I doubt it. I'm dreading the pain and bleakness so much so any help would be greatly appreciated.
TLDR: My job is literal hell and they force us to stand for roughly 11 hours straight. They didn't even put me in the department I originally applied for. And it's making me super depressed. Is forcing employees to stand this much without the options of stools legal?
PS: I did ask around and they used to allow stools. But “they were being abused” and were taken away.