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First Day at Temp Job, with Muffins!

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  • First Day at Temp Job, with Muffins!

    So I finally have something other than kinda sorta doing remote tech support for my parent's companies. It's a "light production" job at a smallish gluten (and dairy and egg) free bakery.

    After day one, what I like is the lack of customers. It's also pretty straightforward and laid back. My CWs seem fine, but another thing I enjoy is due to the fast pace and noise, there's not much conversation. Also, lots of hours, 40+ hours though not this week since they aren't working on Friday.

    On the other hand, I failed to anticipate how taxing it is to stand for 9 hours (It was a full 9, I'm not including lunch). That sounds stupid, but omg my feet hurt right now. My hands hurt from the way I grab various things and how I close the clamshells. For nearly the entire time I was putting muffins into containers. It's not really a hard thing to do, but after that long I was really struggling.

    I think I'll do better once I get used to it. I hope.
    Replace anger management with stupidity management.

  • #2
    Yay for new job (and for dairy and egg free goodies! and gluten, but we don't have issues with that one in my house.)

    Really pay attention to what your body is telling you about repetitive movements. You don't want to end up with tendinitis or joint issues. If you can move things around so that they're in better positions for you, do it. If you have trouble reaching, move things closer (or move yourself closer). And particularly with gripping, see if there are alternate ways to grab and handle things so you can switch it up during the day. Where possible, use more of your hand(s) and not just thumb and forefinger, for example.

    Muscle soreness will go away with practice. Tendon pain will only get worse.

    Speaking from experience here. My thumb tendons still flare up if I'm not careful with gripping, and it's been 7 years since the initial huge flare. (And don't underestimate how much small modifications to your movements can help. For me, even just changing the way I grab a bar on the bus is helpful. Instead of wrapping my thumb around opposite my fingers to make a circle, I put my thumb lined up with my fingers so my hand just makes a "C".)

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    • #3
      I agree with paperfiend. One summer working the packaging line at a pretzel plant and I have tendinitis in my right wrist for life. The pretzel plant at least rotated us every 30 min through the different machines. So try to vary your motions as much as you can. It is hard to stand that long when you're not used to it. You'll get stronger. Good luck!

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      • #4
        I'd also suggest limiting movements where you have to pinch or grip your fingers, or twist & move your hands. For example, is there a way to close the clamshells in a way that minimizes movement in the small sensitive muscles in your hands? Check out how the longer-term employees do the tasks, because they may have suggestions to limit pain.

        I have issues with my hands due to typing all day. I now use a left-handed mouse (I'm right-handed) because it balances out the strain on my right hand. I still have issues with my hands, but this change has helped considerably.
        A lion however, will only devour your corpse, whereas an SC is not sated until they have destroyed your soul. (Quote per infinitemonkies)

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        • #5
          Thanks, everyone. Day two was an improvement, for sure. I made sure to pull things to me instead of leaning for them, and I might have a way to close the clamshells that's better. Instead of pinching, I tried using the side of my hand (pinky finger) to push them closed. It was okay for when the muffins were nice and small, but I still needed to pinch them closed if they were odd shaped or had risen higher. Part of my issue is when things get backed up. It's all fine and dandy when I can always put the container on the belt. But the machine that puts the stickers on is finicky (they have a new one on the way) and sometimes the belt is stopped, and you have to start stacking on your station. At the end of the day, your work space is not nearly as efficient.

          I did ask one of the leads if her hands hurt and she said that hers go numb. So... That's bad. I will continue to watch. We only had 8 hours today, which was helpful. That last hour was killer yesterday!

          ETA: I'm just sitting here, and yeah I'm tired, but only physically. If I worked 8 hours at the fabric store I would be cranky and emotionally drained. Even though I had to go do extra errands after work and I didn't get to relax until about 7 PM, after being at work since 8 AM, I'm still in a good mood. Nice.
          Last edited by notalwaysright; 07-12-2017, 02:19 AM.
          Replace anger management with stupidity management.

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          • #6
            I'm so happy that you are liking your job and in a good job despite the pain.

            The others have addressed your hands, so I will now talk about your feet. Good, well cushioned and supportive shoes are expensive. I understand that. I know that you don't want to spend money on "extras" for yourself.

            If you don't spend the money now, you will pay in pain later.

            Not only that, you will probably pay more for cheap shoes that have to be replaced every year than a good pair of shoes that will last for years.

            For example: I used to buy cheap knock-off uggs every year. I had to buy new ones every year because they usually didn't even last through the winter. Not to mention that they weren't very comfortable after about a month and my feet always got wet. I really wanted some real UGGS, but it wasn't until we got a windfall that I was willing to spend the money to get the winter boots that I really wanted.

            Instead of paying 30-40 dollars a year for boots that didn't work for me, I paid 180 for boots that lasted 10 years. See what I mean about saving money now and pain later with good shoes?

            Again, I'm so happy that you are enjoying your new job and I hope that you continue to come home in a good mood. That's such a wonderful feeling

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            • #7
              The Sam Vimes shoe logic! I wear Sketchers, and they have served me well at the fabric store, but I'm open to suggestions. I won't be able to buy them for a while, but I can scout prices.
              Replace anger management with stupidity management.

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              • #8
                If you want recommendations on shoes, talk to a nurse. Check out Nurse Uniform stores.
                Life is too short to not eat popcorn.
                Save the Ales!
                Toys for Tots at Rooster's Cafe

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                • #9
                  Also, I have found amazing deals on very good shoes at Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx. I consistently find FitFlops at Marshalls for $20 less than anywhere else. They also have great deals on New Balance which I love.

                  On the very high-end shoes (Naot, Alegria, Dansko, Renova, etc) I have found that there are usually one or two brands that work for any given foot. So what works for the person standing next to you might not work for you - for example, Danskos feel great when I put them on but are nowhere near supportive enough for my high-arched foot. And yep, plantar fasciitis is another one of those "boy I wish I hadn't done that" conditions that will plague you for life if you're not careful.

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                  • #10
                    You may want to check out a Red Wing store for work boots. They're a bit more expensive, but the store should work with you to get a proper fit. Also, make sure your shoes are tight to your feet. That will help with support and keep your foot aligned with the ankle. It can also help keep swelling down until you take them off at night.
                    The Rich keep getting richer because they keep doing what it was that made them rich. Ditto the Poor.
                    "Hy kan tell dey is schmot qvestions, dey is makink my head hurt."
                    Hoc spatio locantur.

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                    • #11
                      After the first week, impressions. Yeah, I'm a big baby, because it's just exhausting and I'm concerned because my wrists are sore. Also, the tips of my fingers seemed... swollen? Like when you retain water from eating too much salt. I'll be paying attention to that next week for sure. I feel fine now.

                      It's hard not to compare to the fabric store even though they're so different it's not really fair. Still, I'm going to. At the fabric store we weren't allowed to leave our coffee mugs in the break room, and we had to supply the coffee and everything related. The bakery supplies all cups, coffee, creamer, etc.

                      At the fabric store we got absolutely nothing, except maybe if we passed inventory we might get a free shirt. At the bakery we can take home product that couldn't be packaged (odd shapes, bits stuck to the pan, flavor change over batches) and other stuff that is used like leftover oranges from the orange flavored muffins. They only use the peel, so there's like buckets of peeled oranges up for grabs.

                      At the fabric store you kept track of when you needed to go on break, and nobody really policed it. If you went really long someone would eventually notice, but the only thing that happened was a cranky CW who wanted to go on their own break. I always thought I was good about breaks, but possibly I got used to not having to be exact. At the bakery the leads tell you when to take breaks, and they will time you. That's okay, but I was called on it, and I felt stupid because it's a silly move. I will pay better attention.

                      Less CW interaction at the bakery. At the fabric store we kinda used breaks as mini b*tch sessions. At the bakery it's really quiet in the break room. Which has windows and a couch, btw, unlike the tiny windowless cell of a break room at the fabric store.

                      At the fabric store, it didn't matter how hard you worked or how fast, that made no difference in when you got to go home. Sometimes they let you out early even when it was busy in order to cut hours. Or by some miracle the store was pretty clean, and the manager decides to make you stock buttons for no reason, instead of letting you go home. At the bakery, they bake until they make a certain amount, and then we (who package) stay until it's all in containers and all the equipment has been cleaned and everything is reset for the morning. So if you work quickly, you do go home early.

                      Anyway, that's a giant enough chunk of text for now.
                      Replace anger management with stupidity management.

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                      • #12
                        Quoth notalwaysright View Post
                        The Sam Vimes shoe logic! I wear Sketchers, and they have served me well at the fabric store, but I'm open to suggestions. I won't be able to buy them for a while, but I can scout prices.
                        YES! I couldn't remember the name, and I have to confess that I figured it out on my own before reading about the boots somewhere online. Boy, did I every have a head slap moment then.

                        Now that we are on the same page about shoes...does the bakery supply rubber mats to stand on? If so, flip yours over and look at the bottom. Many times they look great from the top, but when turned over show damage. If the bakery doesn't supply them, maybe ask for one or even buy one yourself.

                        While you are looking at what you are doing with your hands, look at all of your other upper body movements as well.

                        A co-worker was having severe problems with his right hand and self diagnosed carpel tunnel, AND decided that it couldn't be treated anyway so why bother seeing anyone? He's my cube neighbor/work husband* and I knew how bad it was, so nagged him into seeing my doctor. Who said that it was more than likely nerve damage in his shoulder and sent him off to specialists and a bunch of tests.

                        *I'm going to use his real name because I will forget a made up name...Charles is work diagnosed as having Asperger's. I am about *cough* years older than he is and I tend to be a nurturing person, even if sometimes it sounds like tough love, or as my co-workers call it...bickering. Our "married" status is such that his boss will instant message me to "remind" Charles that he has to submit his time card right away.

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