Standing all day working in retail can be detrimental to your orthopedic and spinal health, so what’s a poor soul working minimum wage to do when expensive insoles aren’t an option?
Here are three comfortable and affordable shoes for men and women to make the work day a little more bearable.
On sale for $35 and with a rating of 4.4 stars out of 5, this is the best shoe for the modern retail working woman. The mesh and foam rubber lining offers arch support, and is durable. The mesh lining makes it breathable, and it’s the best rated shoe (for the price) for women.
2. Saucony Originals Running Shoes
These shoes are a steal for men who stand on their feet all day. Priced at $32 dollars, these shoes are rated 5 stars of 5 by 44 people. They come in five different colors and has a built-in heel insert for additional support.
3. New Balance Fuelcore Nergize Training Shoe
This shoe is the most expensive on the list at $60, so it should only be purchased by those looking to invest. The reviews speak for themselves though. This sneaker has a rating of 4.7 stars out of 5 based on 350 reviews.
If new shoes aren’t your thing, Amazon has some affordable insoles too for less than $10. Insoles and comfortable shoes may not seem like a big deal at first, but long term standing on your feet can cause unnecessary pressure on the lower spine and knees. Even if it’s not long term, standing for hours on end will cause fatigue, which will lead to irritability and moodiness (trust me).
This will affect your customer service skills. Employees need to keep themselves happy, so they can keep the customers happy. Some businesses will utilize ergonomic mats for workers to stand on, but those mats can only do so much.
Your feet will still hurt at the end of the day without proper footwear or protection. It will be worth it to spend a little bit of your paycheck taking care of yourself and making sure you’re safe too. It won’t break the bank to have a good, sturdy pair of shoes or even to reinforce the shoes you already have. Work is hard, so go ahead and treat yourself to a little bit of comfort.
(all photos by me)
Not Retail Hell 