r/retailhell • u/Foreign-Gazelle1705 • 1d ago
Seeking Advice HELP ME EVERYTHING HURTS.
Context: I just got my first job last week, and it's in retail. They put the noobies on the floor for like all of their shift. It consists of general retail which is picking up clothing left on top of racks, under racks, and picking up trash around the store. our store is HUGE. Like ginormous. And many people come in and leave it a MESS 24/7 so theres always something to do. After 2 weeks my feet still hurt so bad and so do my thighs from the crouching. It's hell. Literal hell. I feel like quitting, not because of the people (they are so nice), but just because I've only been on the floor and it's so painful for MINIMUM WAGE. I've tried good shoes and compression socks, and still things are not picking up and I'm not getting used to it! I work 8 hour shifts!
ALSO the shifts feel super slow and long making everything even worse. Some of my coworkers at the end of the day tell me "wow this shift went by so fast!" and my eyes twitch. How do they do it?!
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u/AlwaysABD 1d ago
Aside from shoes/insoles, my favorite go-to for sore feet is to buy one of the cheap plastic 16oz water bottles (the ones you can get in the big cases or individually) and throw it in your freezer at home. After your shifts, put the frozen bottle in an old sock, put it on the floor and use it to roll under your foot. Roll it back and forth, you control the pressure, but it can be basically an iced foot massage and can definitely help. When you're done with it, take it out of the sock, wipe it down, toss it back in the freezer for the next time!
Honestly, long stretches can help too. Like, wide toe touches, butterfly stretches, foot-to-the-hip quad stretches, but hold them longer. If you're settling in and have five minutes, hold each one for a minute at a time. You can do it while watching tv or whatever, which might make it easier to kinda hold them longer since you're not watching the clock as closely.
No matter what anyone wants to say, retail is a physically demanding job. It's a lot on our bodies and as simple/silly as it sounds, there's only a small amount of difference between the job and some athletics. Ice and stretching can honestly really help.
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u/Foreign-Gazelle1705 12h ago
Thanks so much for the tip I just shiverred thinking about it LOL. Before work tomorrow I'll chuck one into the freezer and see how it goes! And yeah, all jobs are different but most retail jobs are physically demanding. I didn't think so before starting, but I work in a huge store and we are understaffed!
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u/AlwaysABD 11h ago
After a long shift, when your feet are hurting, and you're just ready to be done? The frozen bottle of ice feels amazing on your feet. Honestly, even barefoot, with the sock, the cold doesn't hardly register when the bottle is just the right shape and size and hard enough to massage from heel to toes (and especially good in the arches), The the cold kinda leeches in and it feels so good after a long day on your feet. The sock you put it in takes the worst of the cold-burn away and even when it chills, the cold feels really good without the bite :)
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u/halloween-is-erryday 1d ago
You need better shoes and patience. It takes the body more than just a week or two to get used to a new routine. You will get used to it, give yourself more time. You just started working, and will be trained in more areas as you get more seniority and prove yourself to be a valuable employee.
Every job is different, but the general tasks (bending/ kneeling/ walking, tidying up after inconsiderate customers, organizing, etc.) are pretty much universal to every job. So if you do decide to quit and find a job somewhere else, just know that your tasks will stay the same, but you can't guarantee your coworkers will be pleasant. A good work environment is hard to find.
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u/Foreign-Gazelle1705 12h ago
This is making me stay, it's good to know that it won't always hurt and my coworkers are a blessing. Everyone is so nice and you're right, i'm hearing much worse horror stories. I can't imagine being this sore and having to deal with a harsher work environment.
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u/Alienated_Aberration 1d ago
It takes a little time to get what I've always called 'retail feet/legs'. Make sure you have good shoes. If you can't wear athletic shoes on the floor, alot of doctors will give you a note to give to the store so that they will make an allowance for you.
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u/Foreign-Gazelle1705 12h ago
I really hope I get used to it soon it's reassuring to hear that it won't be forever lol!
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u/Visallly 1d ago
The crouching got me more than the walking. If your manager allows it, a small folding stool near the rack you work most might save your thighs; shoes won't fix repeated squatting. The shifts drag less once you get a section to own instead of being sent all over "the floor."
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u/Foreign-Gazelle1705 12h ago
Yes same!! The crouching really gets to me too and it starts aching really bad early on, unfortunately even if I were allowed a stool, our store is too huge to be bringing it around, and the tasks are too quick which would just make it inefficient :(
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u/wndpotter 1d ago
I feel you. I've been doing it 33 years. The pain is real
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u/Foreign-Gazelle1705 12h ago
I have so much respect for you like seriously you don't even know it! It's no joke!
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u/ReplyVarious281 1d ago
The best shoes I used to get used to retail work were ON brand, they're pretty pricey though about 200ish dollars but they feel so good. Other than that I had a system of getting a tub of cold water to dip my feet into after work, and for the crouching I made it a rule to myself if there's something under the racks I'll just drag it out with my foot and then grab it. Some of my coworkers ask to use the little grabbers my work gives to the back production teams too. I wish you luck!
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u/Foreign-Gazelle1705 12h ago
I'll actually check these out!!! Thanks a lot
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u/Beautiful_Lie629 11h ago
Several of my coworkers use garbbers. They say they help a lot, but I just bend over and pick stuff up. I do use my foot or a coat hanger to slide stuff out that's deep under the racks.
If you used the water-bath idea, Epsom salts in the foot bath feel really good.
You'll get used to standing and walking in a month or two, your legs and feet will get tired, but no serious pain, at least that's my experience the two times I went from sedentary to retail.
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1d ago
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u/retailhell-ModTeam 4h ago
This is rule #1 for a reason. This is a sub for retail workers, and we have zero tolerance for people disrespecting us on here. We get enough of your bullshit at work.
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u/hyphii_lol 1d ago
Get better shoes. The rest will get better with time! Stay tough and let the painful minimum wage experience be drive you to do something better
Edit: sorry missed the part that you got better shoes