The Exploited Worker 138
Hi.
I’m Eli.
I’m currently 41 years old.
And I’m The Exploited Worker 138.
That’s how I feel, like a worker that is nothing more than a number.
A little about me
I’ve been working since I was a teenager.
Like most people.
I’ve worked in warehouses.
Call centers.
Returns departments.
IT.
Tax preparation.
Tire shops.
Full-time. Part-time. Seasonal work.
If there was work available and I needed it. Chances are I’ve done something like it.
And if you’re here, there’s a good chance you’ve walked a similar path.
I’m not here as an expert
I want to be clear about something.
I’m not a career coach.
I’m not a financial guru.
I’m not trying to sell a course or a “get rich” system.
I’m just a person.
Someone who has spent more than two decades trying to make a living in an economy that feels harder to survive in every year.
What I was told vs what I experienced
Like many people, I grew up believing a few simple things:
- Work hard
- Show up
- Do your job
- Be dependable
And eventually, things would work out.
But for a lot of us, that’s not how it played out.
I’ve never been formally laid off, but I’ve experienced:
- Seasonal jobs ending
- Hours being cut
- Opportunities disappearing
- Promises breaking
- Promotions going elsewhere
- Long periods of uncertainty
I’ve also experienced unemployment, and learned quickly that those benefits don’t stretch far when rent, food, and bills keep rising.
I’ve been homeless twice because of circumstances tied directly to work ending and income disappearing.
There’s nothing like not knowing where you’re going to sleep, or carrying everything you own because there’s nowhere else for it to go.
That’s not something I ever expected to experience.
And it’s not something people talk about enough.
Invisible struggles
One thing I’ve learned is this:
There’s a difference between being unemployed and being invisible.
And a lot of people end up feeling both.
When you’re in that position, even people close to you don’t always see what you’re going through.
Where I am now
Right now, I work as a seasonal employee.
And like many others in similar roles, I’ve watched:
- Seasons get shorter
- Hours get reduced
- Income become less stable
At the same time, we’re told that technology and artificial intelligence are making everything more “efficient.”
But efficiency often feels like:
- fewer hours
- fewer opportunities
- fewer people needed
Why I started this channel
I started The Exploited Worker because I know I’m not the only one dealing with this.
I see people who have worked for decades struggling.
Good people. Hard-working people. People who did everything they were told to do.
And still finding themselves in uncertainty.
Some are job hunting.
Some are trying to change careers.
Some are surviving on gig work.
Some are worried about being replaced.
Some are unsure they’ll ever retire.
And many of them are carrying that weight alone.
What this channel is
This channel is not about having all the answers.
I don’t.
I’m still figuring things out myself.
This is a place for honest conversations about:
- Work and unemployment
- Job searching and starting over
- AI and changing industries
- Corporate culture
- Financial stress
- And what it feels like to navigate all of it
Some days will be frustrating.
Some days will be hopeful.
Most days will be somewhere in between.
But everything here comes from real experience.
Not a boardroom.
Not a marketing team.
Not someone who has never worried about rent.
Just real life.
Who this is for
Maybe this is for people who feel:
- ignored
- overlooked
- disposable
- stressed
- or left behind
If that’s you, you’re welcome here.
Join the conversation
Leave a comment.
Share your story.
Talk about your experience.
Because there are more people going through this than most of us realize.
My name is Eli.
I’m The Exploited Worker 138.
And this is my voice.
Maybe it can be yours too.