Sweat and toil are what Ohio State students can expect when working at FedEx, but a hefty paycheck at the end of the week can be what keeps them coming back for more.

OSU graduate Brian Landrum, now in his second year of optometry school, has worked at FedEx for two years.

“It’s pretty serious work, and they have a lot of demands, but you still have fun while you’re there,” he said.

Of the nearly 600 people FedEx employs in Columbus as package handlers, about 200 of them are OSU students.

FedEx package handlers start out at either $10 or $11.50 per hour, depending on the shift, and are responsible for loading and unloading vans and trailers. They “must be able to lift packages that vary in size and weight from 1 to 100+ pounds regularly in a fast-paced environment,” according to the FedEx Web site.

“They have you loading packages for four hours straight during your shift,” said Alain Kabbara, a previous FedEx employee. “You are allowed to go to the bathroom or get a drink, but there are no set breaks.”

Kabbara, a junior in civil engineering, worked at FedEx for just more than two months and quit before spring quarter because of his class schedule.

“It’s pretty strenuous labor, and a lot of people can’t adapt to it,” Landrum said.

He said part of the reason he has worked at FedEx for so long is because of the benefits. If employees have been with the company for more than 1,000 hours, they are able to get health care coverage at a good rate, even if they only work part-time.

He said many people do not stay at the job very long because of the hard labor, and other people just take the job during the summer or the holiday season.Jennifer Pagnanelli, a human resources representative at FedEx, said the employee turnover rate “used to be really high, but we have done a lot as far as benefits to reduce it.”

Benefits include a $100 sign-on bonus, four raises within the first year and tuition assistance.

The tuition assistance program provides active students with an additional dollar for every hour they work to go toward tuition payment. After one year, students get an extra $1.50 per hour, and after two years they get an extra $2 per hour.

The strenuous labor can also lead to another downside – injuries. Landrum said the most common problems include back injuries and twisted ankles.

He said if employees get injured, they get sent to a doctor, and those with more serious injuries are assigned to another job that is not as strenuous for the same amount of pay.

Landrum also said they talk about safety every day and go over different safety methods before each shift.

The physically demanding work, however, has at least one upside.

“With school being so busy and stuff, I don’t get a chance to work out a whole lot, and it keeps me in shape,” Landrum said.

Lindsay Betz can be reached at [email protected].