I work at a new Wal-Mart that opens Oct. 11. I’m going to be a cashier, but seeing as how there’s no need to use it aside from training, I am “part of the team” and become a stocker when I work. Well, today, I had to work from 8-5. Merchandise, known as “freight”, needed to be totally stocked on the shelves TODAY. There were about 50 people working today, all stocking. Well, a small group of friends (including myself) who work there didn’t stock. Noooooo…we were basically the gophers of the store. If there was a shitty, unappealing job to do, we were called upon. It turned into 8 hours of breaking down cardboard boxes so that they’re flat, and putting them into the baler (a machine that compresses the cardboard so it takes up a lot less space when transported). Cardboard boxes, from all over the store. Some had garbage in them, which had to be separated. It’s not only the shitty work that the younger workers (read: us) got. It’s the fact that the other people working acted as if we were doing jack shit. Walking throughout the store, we were asked to do all KINDS of odd jobs, which took away time from our primary one. This resulted in the Electronics dept. manager getting pissed that we didn’t take her pallet-lift-full of cardboard right away, so she spoke to the asst. store manager. He put her in her place and told her what we were asked to do, but I wanted to slap her. Apparently, we’re too young and dumb to stock shelves. Another bitch point is that since none of us are 18 years of age, we’re all 17, we had to get someone 18 or older EVERY SINGLE TIME WE WANTED TO ACTIVATE THE BALER. After a while, people just ended up ignoring us.
Right now I feel totally unappreciated, shitty, and pissed off.
I’m sorry to hear that your day went so lousy. I hope things improve there soon. And, never forget how you’ve been treated, and never treat anyone else that way. That will make you the better man by far.
I sympathize I really do!
Here is a helpful hint that you may come to enjoy;
[rant]
When the fat, stained t-shirt shirt wearing 40 somethings ask you to get a case of Hot Wheels so they can get a “special” car their child/neighbors’ kid/ relative/dog wants, tell them to take their Treasure Hunt pimping asses out of there and stand in front of a real car!
Ask the toy guys what I’m talking about, but know that they are probably one and the same, or being paid by the toy scalpers.
I collect HW’s but the depths some people go to and how they profit by it sickens me.
[/rant]
Hope you don’t take this wrong Lord, but if you are like my kids or myself when I was seventeen, you’ll probably see it as criticism. It’s not intended as such.
This is probably your first “Real Job”?
Listen, learn and above all, smile and say “you betcha! I’ll get right on that”. Always keep a good attitude (even if you’re steaming inside}, make yourself invaluable to your employer and fellow employees and before you know it you will garner respect, admiration, friends in high places, cooler jobs and what’s more…quick advancement through the ranks and more money on payday.
I have to agree with bare, but I would add the following:
There are much MUCH worse jobs out there. Sure your job probably sucks, but it could be worse:
Try being a waiter when you have 10 tables all seated in your area at the same time and they all want their orders yesterday.
Try being a telemarketer that is forced to lie to people on the phone every day who also had your base pay taken away so that you only worked on commision.
(My worst nightmare realized when I was 17) Try working as a dishwasher and having tub after tub of dirty dishes piling up as you feebly try to keep up with washing them. This is happening during a time when management refuses to hire additional help and refuses to schedule you for more than 6 hrs in one shift just to avoid paying you regular pay.
Yes I’ve had all these jobs and they were HELL on earth. I’ve also had a job similar to your current job and by comparison, it wasn’t that bad. If you really don’t like your job, you can always look around for something else. My guess is that it will get better the longer you work there.
Yeah, it will get better. I’m actually going to be a cashier, not a labor slave.
And no, bare, this isn’t my first real job. Actually, it’s my third. My first ended because the help needed was seasonal, so once the busy season ended, I was out. My second one (where I still currently work, until the end of October) is an internship, working in the Corporate Environmental group at GE Headquarters in Fairfield, CT. This new job at Wal-Mart is actually a step down, but the pay is all right and it doesn’t require much brainpower. Oh well, I was pissed when I wrote that message, I’m cooled down now (and a bit thirsty. Care to get me some soda?)
yo man, my advice is make the best of it. breaking down cardboard boxes isn’t like watching Ernest movies all day strapped to a chair with your eyelids taped open. and you have friends working with you? that’s paradise. if you forget about your bitterness and decide to have a good time, you will.
that said, i do sympathize. i’ve had some shitty ass jobs and they’re not fun. people treating you like an asshole for no reason is demoralizing. but i disagree with Biotop, i don’t think you should quit the job. stick with it and make the best of it, you’ll be glad you did.
[/unwanted advice]
I’m sure that part of the problem is that none of the jobs are very glamorous at WalMart - so putting anyone else down for a perceived weakness (like being new) is their way of making their jobs seem more important.
