I have spent the last 10 years of my life in the non-stop world of manufacturing. I started as a simple assembly operator, moving up into quality positions, set-up positions, and final inspection positions. I admittedly love my work. I love the fast pace, seeing how things are made, learning new things. I have worked my way into a pretty well paying job for my area.
But today, I left my job. No notice, no goodbyes, nothing.
I left, because at only 30 years old, I am facing spinal surgery. I have dealt with back pain for the past two or three years. Brushing it off as “all part of the job”, “small price to pay for the grind”, or whatever other bullshit line people have been fed for the sake of capitalism. Finally, two weeks ago I was bringing in groceries, when my back sounded like a shaken up Yahtzee cup, and my legs gave out from under me. A trip to the ER, and two doctors appointments later, I learned that I had stress fractures running along my T1-4 vertebrae, as well as all of my lumbar vertebrae. Apparently they finally just caved and snagged my sciatic nerve with them. The first thing doctor asked was what I did for a living, and when I told him, his response was “yes, well, you won't be doing that anymore”
At first, I was heartbroken, and also really scared. I have worked in factories and warehouses for a third of my life, almost my entire adult life. How will I pay the bills? I don't really know much else, so what will I do to survive? But then, I got angry. Angry at myself for not being more careful, and for letting myself get sucked into the never ending wheel. Angry at every boss I ever had for always pushing for bigger and better numbers. Angry at these companies who will literally milk a human body for all it's worth, taking it all the way to the break point, and have the balls to complain about laziness, lack of work ethic, and missed days.
So, I walked away. I left a simple voicemail for my boss, letting him know that due to a medical emergency I wouldn't be returning. That I had quite literally broken my back for this company, even showing up for a couple days after the initial emergency visit, just to get chewed out for missing 3 days out of the past almost 4 years. My husband was kind enough to drive over to turn in my badge and keys, since I am heavily medicated and not exactly in a position to be driving.
Please, if you are young enough to save yourself, please do so. Advocate for safer conditions, healthcare, proper staffing. They will constantly remind you how easily you can be replaced, so let them, because you only get one body, while they can buy hundreds of them.