Link: https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/1vr378b/hands_worked_to_the_bone_then_laid_off/

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The original was posted on /r/antiwork by /u/AsaBurns on 2026-08-17 20:04:06+00:00.

The short version: I've been working in construction for a few years now. My company has been taking on a big project. We usually take hourly shifts with the Jackhammer when there's a lot of breaking to be done. I'll usually take an hour on the trigger, then about two hours working on anything else that needs to be done.

A few days ago, my manager insisted that I start pulling triple that much. Three hours on trigger, then two off, then close out the day with three more on. My hands were incredibly numb and weak. My ears are ringing, even though I wore hearing protection. Using my hands for anything simply hurts. My manager would absolutely insist that the other four employees who were approved to run the jackhammer were busy with other matters.

I dealt with these triple trigger-time days for three weeks, then I was very promptly and unceremoniously told that if I didn't resign effective immediately, they would lay me off and not provide a good reference for me.

My hands are properly injured now. Since my employment is gone, so is my insurance. Securing new work has been extremely difficult because I've not been able to type. I'm even using dictation to write most of this post.

TL;DR

Worked to the point of injured then swiftly laid off.