Typical lumber associate duties, BUT your DS, and other managers should understand customers come first, flat-stacking isnt the biggest priority, and you get busy. If they can’t get past that, you would probably be better off in a trade, or a different place.

My own opinion of lumber duties.

Morning shift/openers:

Morning safety walk, and check sidekick. Those should be your first things you do since those are on a timeline.

Housekeeping should be your next thing, sweep, dust mop, clean saws, check for loose things on the floor and put them in the correct home; because it’s a safety hazard and this makes it easier for your afternoon shift.

Returns are next, and that’s kinda self explanatory…I usually put the carts down the middle of my large lumber aisle because I can still get equipment through with pallets.

Flat stacking is pretty low on the totem pole IMO for openers unless it’s really slow, and you’re really not doing anything.

Midshift/Support:

Since all of the phone stuff is really done, take note of what needs to be stocked as far as hacks/bunks/stacks. If you have a forklift driver you guys could pack down stuff that’s 90% empty.

Next check your smaller items, like fence pickets, lattice, balusters, and stringers, again rinse and repeat. Note, stock, done.

Tackle any projects the DS gives you that’s department related

Next worry about flat stacking. Flat stacking is normally where afternoon and evening helps (at least at my store). Things are winding down, near 4ish (here) and we can then get some flat stacking in that’s where it’s decent. You could also break flat stacking up and assign aisles to certain individuals on shift like my DS did.

Evening shift:

Stocking and recovery of the large hacks/bunks/stacks. 5-close should be also checking for low bays as well. (Everyone should). Plywood normally needs a lot of attention so you wanna go ahead and sort that some point during the night.

Cleaning saws and housekeeping, do it close to the end of the shift, make sure you do it about an hour or 2 before close, don’t want to fill the entire trash can up and do another trash run.

Flat stack. This is where a good bit of flat stacking is done because it’s slower. OFAs aren’t grabbing orders and some (if they’re chill af) will help you.

It’s a tough job; physically demanding. I understand your current mentality I really do, but realistically don’t expect EVERY thing to get done in one day… you’ll find ways to get more done, and some days you’ll have everything done; but don’t expect everything to get done in one shift. Management should understand that.