I'm an Amazon warehouse worker. I love the Black Friday chaos, but I needed hand surgery after working the packer line, and the raffle-ticket 'incentives' are kind of a joke.

"There's a lot of competition, and we all know who the high producers are. So when the game is on, it's fun," one Amazon warehouse worker says.

ane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images

• An older Amazon worker shared their experience preparing for Black Friday at the warehouse.
• They used to be a packer but switched to a new role after getting carpal-tunnel surgery.
• The worker loves the Black Friday chaos but finds the employee-raffle incentive discouraging.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with an Amazon warehouse worker in their 60s. They asked to remain anonymous for professional reasons, but Insider has verified their identity, salary, and employment with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I started working for Amazon as a warehouse packer four years ago. I initially took the job because my wife got sick and we needed health insurance. Health insurance at Amazon kicks in on day one.

The first year, I struggled. It was pretty difficult on my legs and my body. I work 10 hours a day with two 45-minute breaks. This means I'm standing for 8 ½ hours every shift.

But as time went on, I was able to manage a little bit better. I developed a system where I pause intermittently and do simple stretches at my table, so I don't destroy myself.

I recently transferred to a different department out of packing. Even though I was very good at what I did, I wanted to go slower. My hands hurt, and I had to get surgery for carpal-tunnel syndrome. I had issues with my hands before I joined Amazon, but it got worse the more I worked.

Black Friday is peak time. I thrive in the madness.

At my warehouse, a week before peak period starts, all the equipment is serviced in anticipation of the busiest time of the year. Then the warehouse often shuts down an entire shift to do what they call a stress test to make sure all the equipment is functioning. Peak period starts just before Prime Day and extends into the Christmas holidays. The week before a major peak day, like Black Friday, there's mandatory overtime.

During Black Friday, Prime Day, and the holiday season, work shifts are increased from 40 hours a week to 55 hours a week — 11-hour days, five days a week. The size and types of boxes don't really change, just the number. But I'm a high producer year-round. When I was a packer, I'd still try to pack a bit more than usual, as the place got busier.

I find that when we hit peak period, that's when all hell breaks loose and I look around and see people running here and there. With increased orders, there are more boxes to pack and most people are very stressed, but I really enjoy it.

I'm very fast at what I do, and I produce a lot. So when there's a lot of work, I put my head down and the next thing I know I've packed hundreds of boxes. Usually from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., I'd pack 380 boxes. By lunch, I'd try to break 500. I used to pack at least 1,000 boxes a shift, but I've packed up to 1,100 during peak periods.

I see a lot of Apple AirPods being bought during Black Friday. I've also noticed a ton of sex toys. In addition, I've packaged a lot of electronics and Amazon-branded products, like Amazon Fire Sticks. There are a lot of kids toys, too. When I first got here, I packed a lot of books, but I've noticed lately books are less popular.

When I first started at Amazon, I liked the competition

There's a lot of competition, and we all know who the high producers are. So when the game is on, it's fun.

You're there for 10 hours. Can you imagine, you're living in your head for 10 hours? You're either going to pack mindlessly, or you're going to pack with a purpose. You have to have a system that you like — one that doesn't stress out your body and gets the job done.

The supervisors used to call out how much each packer produced, starting with the lowest, then hitting the people that were doing 100 an hour. The supervisors made these public announcements for a while, but then it wasn't fun anymore because people would come up to me and tell me I was stupid for working so hard. They'd say, "Amazon doesn't care about you — they're ruining you." But to me, they're paying me to do the job.

I think some people complained to human resources about numbers being called publicly, but I don't know for sure. Now messages are sent via our computer terminals. It provides rank and rate — for example, it could say you're in third place out of 65 packers with a rate of 117 boxes an hour.

During Black Fridays and other peak periods, Amazon gives out incentives

Amazon used to give out $50 Amazon gift cards during peak periods. Now it's changed to raffle tickets for prizes like TVs, bicycles, or BBQ sets. Once a week, managers pull out the winning ticket. Instead of going to each department and having a department pick somebody, they do the entire building.

It's like the lottery. How are you going to win it?

One time, the supervisors announced the prizes and a person who's never at work got a 60-inch TV. A fast worker saw that and freaked out. He never worked the same.

A lot of people think it's rigged. I see the same people getting the same presents. Now, when I get tickets, I just give them to somebody else. I think they should just throw in $200 as a reward for top performance every quarter instead of giving raffle tickets.

Whenever there's a raise, you could be the worst employee in the world and still make the same as the guy who's the most productive in his group

I was making $16.40 an hour earlier this year, but Amazon raised me to $18.40 an hour in October. I couldn't believe it. It recently gave raises to all employees. You get raises based on your years worked, but 36 months, four years, and five years get the same raise. During Thanksgiving week, I can make $1,150.

Then there's inflation to worry about. It's not fair. There's a guy I work with who was the fastest at packing boxes, but this raise cycle and raffle incentive killed his drive.

I'm really looking forward to retirement, but I have some financial goals to hit before leaving. I'm really grateful for the ability to earn and care for my family, especially my wife's health. I just wish it didn't come at the expense of long hours and damaged hands.

Are you an Amazon worker with a story to tell? Email mlogan@insider.com.

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