Warehouse packers in Illinois work 12-hour shifts, packing 150-plus orders an hour to meet strict “quotas”—falling short even once can lead to reduced hours or termination. Their hourly wage is $15.50, and the work environment is unforgiving: warehouses are freezing in winter with no extra heating, and sweltering in summer, with fans that barely circulate air.
Last week, a packer in Chicago slipped on a wet floor and sprained their ankle, but the warehouse had no first-aid kits—they had to walk 10 minutes to a nearby pharmacy for treatment, and the company refused to cover the $45 medicine cost. Amenities are scarce: 50 workers share one small water fountain, so most bring their own bottles. Financial strain is constant: monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment near major warehouses is $1,100, and gas costs $300 a month (many drive 30 miles to work, as warehouses are in remote areas). With little savings, many skip meals—one packer said he eats two peanut butter sandwiches a day to save money. For those with families, it’s harder: a single parent in Rockford said she uses her lunch break to work a second remote job, typing emails while eating a granola bar.
