I have been hearing about a lot of shortages in the news lately. First it was the ketchup shortage, then we had an oat milk shortage, but now we have a real problem: a work shortage.

I didn’t really believe it at first. How could there not be enough people to fill in these spots?

Then I went to Wal-Mart and saw flashing signs saying they are hiring starting at 15 dollars an hour. I saw how only three registers are open with long lines, people waiting for their turn. There were not enough cashiers.

I recently went back to work for my summer job where I work as park supervisor, a job where I do activities with the kids at our city parks. Typically, my summer job gets hit with job applications like crazy, up to the point we have to send out rejection letters. This year, we barely have enough supervisors for each park. We don’t know when we can take the kids to the city’s pool because they don’t have enough lifeguards, so now the pool does not know when they are going to open. I am in disbelief.

But again, I am not. I want to say I kind of saw it coming. I think there are several factors to this.

People who had to work back home realized the terrible work environment they were in. Maybe the app, TikTok, had an influence as there are thousands of videos of people wanting to go against capitalism. Perhaps people relocated and moved away because they thought they would continue to work from home.

I certainly don’t believe there is a shortage because people want to stay unemployed and receive government checks. That belief is based on stereotypes about the lower class.

I would like to think people woke up and think that this is not the way of life. Working 9-5 every single day and living for the weekend and 15 days of vacation pay, constantly being in debt because your minimum wage job cannot cover any expenses is not the way to go. You might have a party once you do not have to work anymore, but only if you were smart enough to save your money for retirement. If you weren’t, well, you’ll be back on Monday.

It’s disgusting how we make the workplace our lifestyle. Because that isn’t life. Life is not working until we die.

I know we all know this, but I am hoping with this work shortage and the influence of the internet, companies are going to listen to the people. I am watching companies start to pay more because that is what the people are demanding for.

I hope the next step is to change typical work schedules. We need more than two days off. I am curious what other changes we’ll see.

Karina Delgado is a senior English major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or kmdelgado@eiu.edu.