From Broken Steering to Christmas Cheer

 Routes, Rentals, and Holiday as work, winter, resilience in Pay Snow, Shifts, and Small Victories

Christmas party and long day

Friday was a long one: I woke at 4 a.m. to get ready, stretch, and grab my coffee, and didn’t finally fall asleep until around 8 or 9 p.m. Even so, Kim and I made it to the company Christmas party. I was wiped by the time the awards rolled around, but I stayed for her and for the chance to be social for a few hours—she looked beautiful and carried the conversation while I rode out the day’s fatigue.

Hours and holiday pay

Lately I’ve been wrestling with my schedule and holiday pay. My Monday holiday pay disappeared in spring and summer, then reappeared in November, and now I’m missing a Wednesday right before another holiday. I’m eager to work hard and I want to be reliable, but it feels like I only get the pay restored when winter hits and other drivers can’t do the routes—like my benefits and pay are tied to everyone else’s misfortune.

Safety and equipment frustrations

This month’s stress was amplified by vehicle problems: the van’s power steering went out and I heard someone drove it for days, another van had no heat and a fogged front window, and I ended up with a rental I had to return on a snow day while still finishing deliveries. With wages as low as they are in Alberta, you’d think a rental would be a relief, but the way equipment and safety get shuffled around makes it feel like some drivers are expected to take risks while others don’t. Being called pampered or a whiner for raising safety concerns only adds to the frustration.

Gratitude and perspective

Despite everything, the party was a bright spot. Kim had a wonderful time and so did I; the meal and company were stellar, and for a few hours it felt normal and warm. I still love my job and the benefits it provides, but I’m left wanting clearer, fairer treatment around hours, pay, and safety so the work doesn’t keep pulling me in two directions.