Welp MagazineThere’s a lot that a person needs to know before starting a new job in the warehousing industry, but many overlook the potential problems. Any number of things could go wrong while on the job, so it’s important to be aware of some of the more common issues. Whether you’re about to start this type of job yourself, or you’re the one who trains new hires, these are some of the problems you’ll want to know about.
The Job Will Be Physically Demanding
This first point might seem obvious, but many people underestimate how physically demanding a warehouse job can be. You will be on your feet all day, moving around heavy crates and pallets of products. While a few days of this might not seem too bad, it adds up over time. If you work around five to six days a week, you’re going to be worn out by the end of the week, especially if you push yourself too hard. The key here is to pace yourself for the long haul.
Mistakes Can Be Costly
When dealing with tons of products and expensive machinery, a simple mistake could end up being an expensive one. No matter what you’re working with, you have to make sure you’re very careful with it. For example, many things can go wrong if you overload a scale, so you must take special precautions to ensure that this doesn’t happen on your watch. Equipment such as pallet jacks and forklifts could also break if you misuse them, which could lead to a bunch of damaged products.
Lack of Communication Won’t Fly
If you don’t communicate clearly with your teammates and higher-ups, any number of problems could occur. A shipment could end up on the wrong truck, or worse, someone could get injured because you didn’t tell them to watch out for something only you knew about. Not only will problems like these weigh on you, but they could get you fired if the end result is severe enough. Make sure you tell others what’s going on at all times.
You Need To Produce Results to Get Noticed
This problem won’t apply to every new warehouse worker, but if you want to excel and get promoted, you really need to put in the work. Most warehouses are quite large and have staff that numbers in the hundreds or even thousands—that’s a lot of competition. If you want your managers to notice you, you’ll need to put in a lot of extra work to help you stand out. Failing to do so will get you lost in the crowd.
The Work Culture Might Be Toxic
Due to the previously mentioned size of warehouses, one unfortunate side effect is that it’s tough for management to keep an eye on everyone at once. This can lead to unsavory coworkers creating a toxic work environment, especially for new employees. Going into the job knowing about this issue should help you better prepare in the case it happens to you.
