Navigating the Workforce: A Gen Z's Personal Journey and Insights

The subject of Gen Z in the workplace often frustrates me. Numerous companies assert they won't employ Gen Z, labeling them as 'poor' workers. Being born in March 1997 places me at the forefront of Gen Z.

I didn't secure a job as quickly as some of my peers, despite my efforts, but eventually, I did. I worked as a part-time cashier at Walmart for 7 months. I bear no resentment; the store had every right to let me go. I experienced two quick-change scams. The first time, I was unaware of what was happening, as I had never encountered such a situation before. The second time, I recognized it and attempted to stop it, but I was unsuccessful. It was unfortunate, and I lost money in both instances.

A few months later, I started working at Lowe's as a part-time cashier. I left that job just a month short of 6 years, not because I was fired, but because I resigned after giving two weeks' notice for various reasons. I spent 2 years as a cashier before transitioning to the garden center as a plant waterer, although I took on many different tasks during that period. In the garden center, I watered plants, assisted customers with loading, and worked in quick load during the summer. Occasionally, I was needed inside to assist with other departments, which was frustrating at times since no one came out to help me with my tasks while I was helping them. I also worked on yearly inventory and participated in a major company-wide reset at my store and three other locations.

After spending 2 years at the garden center, I decided to switch to full-time work due to some personal changes and having more time available. I transitioned to a 3rd shift stocker role with the expectation of being recognized as a full-time employee and receiving the corresponding pay increase. However, 2 months into the position, I was informed I would not receive either. I applied for other roles both within the store and the company without success. I needed to stay with the company because I was attending school through them, which wasn't an issue, but my current position was becoming increasingly unsuitable for me.

About fifteen months into the job, my grandfather became seriously ill and was admitted to the nursing home next door to us. I intensified my efforts to apply for various positions to return to the dayside. I didn't request time off or fewer hours, just the full-time schedule I was promised and a dayside shift to make it easier to visit him after work. During this period, I was also supporting a cousin with a custody case. On some weekends, I would finish work and accompany her, or go with her and then head straight to work. One weekend, we received two trucks on a night when we hadn't had deliveries for months, and it was her weekend, so I ended up going over 24 hours without sleep. Dislike me if you must, but I found the decision to send two trucks on an unscheduled night, especially when there was a no-truck night midweek, to be inconsiderate and disrespectful. I'm not a machine, and I had more important commitments than receiving trucks on a night when we weren't typically scheduled to do so.

Sadly, my grandfather passed away three months after moving into the nursing home. I took a week off from work, and upon my return, I was offered a dayside position, which I had properly applied for and was recorded in the system. However, shortly after, the position was given to someone else. Less than two months after my grandfather's passing, my step-grandfather, who had been a part of my life since I was two, also passed away. I understand that these personal events were not the company's responsibility, and I did receive my time off. However, during the second bereavement, my manager called me multiple times to inquire about my return. I was only away for a week, having coordinated with HR and using some of my saved PTO hours to cover the absence.

I believe it's important to mention that I rarely called out. I would come in on my days off, arrive early, or stay late. It was uncommon for me to say I couldn't make it. On the 3rd shift, things were a bit different. Often, if there was no truck, part-timers were advised not to come in. Occasionally, I declined to work on no-truck nights, usually because my cousin needed my help. However, if there was a truck, I was there to work it. My frustration grew over time. Three people had switched from night shift to dayside—individuals who hadn't been there as long as I had and had never worked dayside before. Yet, I was repeatedly told I hadn't done enough to earn full-time status and that it had been too long since I worked dayside, even though it had only been a year and a half. I had also moved out of my parents' house and was living independently with three animals. I developed stomach ulcers but couldn't afford health insurance to see a doctor. Fortunately, my mother, a nurse who also has stomach ulcers, could advise me on the necessary medications. I had to pause my education to make time for a second job so I could pay off some debts that were becoming too much for my Lowe's paycheck to handle. Unfortunatly I never managed to get and I was eager to get off the 3rd shift.

After spending 2 years on the third shift, I finally managed to secure a dayside position. However, I had to wait for someone to replace and train for my previous shift, which hadn't been required for the other three people. During this period, my manager openly stated in front of two different people that he had no intention of letting me leave the third shift. The only reason I stayed was because it was my only job and I had bills to pay. If I still lived with my parents, I would have quit without giving a two-week notice. I almost cried; in fact, I think I did a little. Eventually, I did move to the dayside. Although I wasn't particularly excited about the job, it was an opportunity to get my foot in the door, so I was determined to give it my best effort.

For those who have never worked at Lowe's, the shelves with all the brown boxes on top are referred to as top stock. My task, in preparation for the upcoming inventory count, was to handle one bay at a time. A bay is what we called a section of shelves between two beams, always numbered. For instance, in the tools and hardware section, a bay might contain all the pocket knives and blades, while another bay might hold all the screwdrivers. My responsibility was to remove everything from the top stock, integrate it into the sales floor shelves, and then return any remaining items to the top stock and scan them for future reference. Although it sounds straightforward in theory, it involved a lot of physical labor, and I was doing it all by myself. I performed so well that I was nearly emptying some bays. The store manager was boasting about it to other stores.

After about a month of this routine, I had a week off that I had requested some time before. Aside from family deaths, I hadn't taken any time off in a year and a half, and I just needed a break. During that week, I discovered I was pregnant. I informed work immediately, and upon returning from my week off, both my manager and store manager asked me to continue using power equipment and keep downstocking. I expressed that I wanted to wait until my doctor's appointment, which was in two weeks, to discuss it with the doctor. My manager repeatedly questioned if I was certain about not using the power equipment, asking nearly every time we crossed paths. Even when I faced car issues and wasn't sure if I could get home, let alone make it to work the next day, her main concern was whether I would use the power equipment. To clarify, the power equipment in question included ballymores and order pickers.

Certain equipment requires the operator to wear a harness before use. I finally had my doctor's appointment, and while the doctor was nice, he wasn't the best listener. I tried to explain my job to him in detail, but my mother interrupted, and then he interjected, saying, "I believe what a woman does before she is pregnant, she can do while pregnant." I somewhat agree with that, but that's a topic for another day. As a result, he missed the part about operating power equipment, and I was still uneasy about it. There were two reasons for my discomfort: first, I had researched online and learned that I shouldn't be on the equipment, and second, it made my stomach feel uneasy. I didn't experience any sickness throughout my pregnancy, but this was my first, and I was unsure how my body would react. Additionally, I was very worried about the possibility of a miscarriage.

However, they kept insisting, so I went ahead and did it. I worked at a slower pace than before, which meant I wasn't on the equipment for long, or it wasn't jerking as much. I also never received any assistance, while other departments had groups of 2-3 people, including my area manager. One day, she approached me and said she wouldn't alter my schedule and would leave it as it was in the system. I explained that at least the day of my doctor appointment needed to be changed because the two schedules conflicted. I had scheduled my next appointment based on the work schedule we had agreed upon. It was never adjusted, and I had to cancel my doctor appointment.

Around this period, my fiancé secured a job, so I needed to adjust my schedule for us to share my car. His car hadn't been used in nearly two years, with an expired and out-of-state license plate. It would take a few weeks for the new schedule to be implemented, and during that time, I was repeatedly asked to handle top stock. My fiancé and I discussed it and decided it wasn't worth it anymore. After nearly six years at this job and being promised full-time status several times, I was never officially made full-time, my base pay never reached above $15 an hour, and my hours were reduced again. I decided to leave. During my two-week notice, I was probably the least motivated employee. I still arrived on time, completed my shifts, and assisted customers as best as I could, but beyond that, I no longer cared.

Many companies and older individuals in senior positions might argue that I shouldn't discuss or share these matters publicly, but I chose to do so anyway. Here's why: numerous companies complain about not having good employees or struggling to attract applicants, and they often criticize Gen Z as the worst generation in the workforce. This is an example of why they can't retain their talented employees and why Gen Z is reluctant to work for them. They frequently deceive you, pay wages below the cost of living, and reduce your hours. If they truly want quality employees, they should treat us with respect, not just as numbers on a spreadsheet. We are human beings, living and breathing. I’m not interested in making millions, but I do care about being able to cover my expenses and support my family.