A warehouse worker's job description can include shipping, receiving, sorting and inventory functions. This person might also be responsible for operating material-handling equipment, such a forklift or pallet jack. He might work in a variety of conditions and can often spend a great deal of time standing and lifting heavy objects.
Preparing goods to be shipped is often an important duty of a warehouse worker. This person might be responsible for pulling the product off the shelf and stacking it on a pallet. These materials may then need to be shrink-wrapped and loaded onto a truck. After doing these things, he might also prepare a packing slip or invoice for the customer's reference.
Many times, a warehouse worker can be responsible for receiving merchandise when it is delivered to his workplace. This might require him to unload the product, sort it by type or size, and record the amounts received. He may also compare these amounts against a purchase order or vendor invoice, to make sure the company is not charged for items that were not shipped.
Most companies require an inventory to be done at least once or twice a year. A warehouse worker usually plays a key role in this process because he can typically locate products quickly. This employee might record quantities on an inventory sheet, or he may use a hand-held scanning device to read product bar codes and tally on-hand amounts.
Knowing how to operate different types of forklifts can often be very helpful to warehouse workers. This is because these pieces of equipment can normally move products from one location to another faster than doing so by hand. These machines can also lift product that would otherwise be too heavy for people to pick up themselves.
Warehouse conditions vary from location to location, but are typically hot in the summer months and cold in the winter. Some facilities have loading docks that are located outdoors, so some people may sometimes have to work in rain or snow. Warehouse workers often spend much of their day standing on hard surfaces. They might also need to bend often and repeatedly lift heavy items above their heads.
This employee should have good mathematical skills and be able to work well with others. He must also be in good physical condition in order to withstand the rigorous demands associated with this position. A person with these qualities might find a position as a warehouse worker to be an enjoyable career.
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StringBender
Post 7 |
I have to do a "me too" here. I worked in a warehouse and the best thing about it was that it fed my desire to have everything just "so." In other words, I can be a little obsessed with the old "a place for everything" routine, and that's what that job is. It made my days go fast because it always seem like there wasn't enough time to put things into their place where they should be. |
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RussellS
Post 6 |
I, too, did my time working in a warehouse. I agree, it can be a pretty good job if you like variety. One moment you might be operating semi-heavy equipment and the next you might be putting data into a computer. It can be really fun if you get into one of the warehouse manager jobs. The thing that got me about the job was being up on a second level. On that level I could see straight down to the floor below because we walked on grates. Since I'm afraid of heights, I always had to make sure I didn't look down. |
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tigers88
Post 5 |
I have worked in a few different warehouses. There is a great variety of activities, but your duties all come down to the basic task of moving things from one place to another. This is the most basic function of warehouses and most of the work revolves around this goal.
That is not so bad though. I always enjoyed the work and found that it never got boring even as it became repetitious. I moved on to a different career but I will never regret the time I spent in the warehouses. I met a lot of great people, I stayed in shape and I had the time and space to let my mind wander around to almost any subject I could think of. |
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Bertie68
Post 4 |
There are quite a number of retired folks who need some supplementary income. A relative of mine, a woman, 68 years old, and retired, worked in a warehouse for a while. After about six months, she finally had to quit. She began having back trouble and was exhausted every night after work. She did quite a bit of lifting and standing on a hard floor.
I don't know how jobs are set up in warehouses - whether you do a variety of chores or if you do just a few. The recently retired people have worked for years in their careers, they are hard workers and usually get along well with others.
I envision these retired people working with light weight products, inventory, and other paperwork. As an extra benefit, it would give them good exercise without even noticing they are exercising. |
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lovealot
Post 3 |
I really respect the warehouse worker. Americans are such avid consumers and we want our desired items always available in the stores. The warehouse worker's salary should be much higher than it is. And, they should have good health benefits.
They are risking the health of their bodies by doing some of the requirements of the job. For example, with all the lifting, they risk injuring their backs and shoulders. These workers spend their days either standing or walking on a hard cement floor, which is hard on the feet.
I would really like to see these workers earning higher wages with benefits. |
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indemnifyme
Post 2 |
@strawCake - A job in a warehouse doesn't sound too bad. However a lot of warehouse workers are hourly employees with very few benefits. Also the risk of getting hurt while operating a forklift is moderate to high.
I would recommend anyone working in a warehouse to seriously consider disability insurance. Workers comp does pay, but not as much as people think. If you're seriously injured disability insurance can be a life saver. |
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strawCake
Post 1 |
A friend of mine worked in a clothing warehouse right after high school and she really enjoyed it. She liked being active all the time and warehouse work actually pays pretty decently as well.
Eventually my friend became a bartender and was making far more money. However she told me the warehouse environment was much nicer and calmer than the bar environment! |
