I finally broke down and went to a local agency to find work at the middle of October. I started a new "temp" job on November 3 working for a company named Exel Logistics here in Brampton.
They handle the logistics work for Kelloggs currently and basically I am doing what is classified as "heavy labor". Every day the job I am doing might change but essentially what is involved is 8 hrs of heavy lifting. When I first started, I felt like a truck ran over me having been off work for the entire summer and first part of the fall season.
The first four days I was working was a reality check/wakeup call for me. I did not realize how good I had it at Loblaws despite the less-than-ideal working conditions vs. the payrate. I am getting significantly less to do more hours now. I started my job at Exel lugging completed cases of cereal to a machine that tapes up the box after it came off the packaging line. The reason the cereal had to be unpacked and repackaged is because Exel inserts the free promotional item inside the cereal box. After the cereal is resealed, it goes down a line to one of four girls who re-pack the 24 boxes into a full case and slide it down rollers to me.
Yep...pretty boring for 8 hrs.
The 5th day they didn't run the insert line and I quickly learned that the insert line was a cakewalk. That day they had me working on the end of a line where I had to:
They handle the logistics work for Kelloggs currently and basically I am doing what is classified as "heavy labor". Every day the job I am doing might change but essentially what is involved is 8 hrs of heavy lifting. When I first started, I felt like a truck ran over me having been off work for the entire summer and first part of the fall season.
The first four days I was working was a reality check/wakeup call for me. I did not realize how good I had it at Loblaws despite the less-than-ideal working conditions vs. the payrate. I am getting significantly less to do more hours now. I started my job at Exel lugging completed cases of cereal to a machine that tapes up the box after it came off the packaging line. The reason the cereal had to be unpacked and repackaged is because Exel inserts the free promotional item inside the cereal box. After the cereal is resealed, it goes down a line to one of four girls who re-pack the 24 boxes into a full case and slide it down rollers to me.
Yep...pretty boring for 8 hrs.
The 5th day they didn't run the insert line and I quickly learned that the insert line was a cakewalk. That day they had me working on the end of a line where I had to:
- Stamp the date twice on the cardboard case
- Tape the bottom of the cardboard case making a box
- Tape the boxes closed after the girl packed it
- Carried the finished case to an area 10 ft away to make a stack set on the floor
- Once the set was completed, I would hand-wrap the stack for the clamp-truck to take the stack away
- Lather, Rinse, Repeat...etc.
Suffice to say, I couldn't keep up. So I was moved to a seemingly easier line with smaller product -- cases of cereal bars. Was it easier?
Relatively.
Was it faster?
Yup.
By the end of the shift, I had completely sweated my way through two t-shirts. Note to self: DO NOT WEAR LIGHT OR GRAY SHIRTS AGAIN.
My second week started off much like the first - working the insert line, which I was happy to see! Then on the Thursday of the second week, I was told I wouldn't be needed in the packaging area but would be working the "Core" section of the receiving docks. I thought I was being punished for not "working hard enough".
Working in the docks meant that you had to unload 40-foot trailers by hand in the 8-hrs. To be honest with you, I like it more than working in the packaging area since you had no one watching you except for the forklift driver and he doesn't care if you take your time because as long as you get the trailer done, he won't have to "find work" to do.
We finished the trailer with 45 minutes to spare so we took our time signing out so as to only lose 30 minutes pay.
This week however, its been a totally different story.
Thanks to the recent economic state, work inside the plant has slowed right down. Monday I was sent home after 3 1/2 hrs when work ran out. Today I didn't work because they didn't have enough work for all the temp. workers that are employed on site. Tomorrow I get to work the "Core" section again but its bittersweet since I am currently sick with a chest cold.
I guess I'll be wearing warm clothes tomorrow.
How long will this temp. job last? Hopefully into the new year or longer until I can find something better.
Relatively.
Was it faster?
Yup.
By the end of the shift, I had completely sweated my way through two t-shirts. Note to self: DO NOT WEAR LIGHT OR GRAY SHIRTS AGAIN.
My second week started off much like the first - working the insert line, which I was happy to see! Then on the Thursday of the second week, I was told I wouldn't be needed in the packaging area but would be working the "Core" section of the receiving docks. I thought I was being punished for not "working hard enough".
Working in the docks meant that you had to unload 40-foot trailers by hand in the 8-hrs. To be honest with you, I like it more than working in the packaging area since you had no one watching you except for the forklift driver and he doesn't care if you take your time because as long as you get the trailer done, he won't have to "find work" to do.
We finished the trailer with 45 minutes to spare so we took our time signing out so as to only lose 30 minutes pay.
This week however, its been a totally different story.
Thanks to the recent economic state, work inside the plant has slowed right down. Monday I was sent home after 3 1/2 hrs when work ran out. Today I didn't work because they didn't have enough work for all the temp. workers that are employed on site. Tomorrow I get to work the "Core" section again but its bittersweet since I am currently sick with a chest cold.
I guess I'll be wearing warm clothes tomorrow.
How long will this temp. job last? Hopefully into the new year or longer until I can find something better.
