MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. It’s the holiday season. For many workers, this is a time of year to push forward, put in longer hours, and get the job done. However, for Amazon workers, the holiday season may be pushing some beyond their limit. When this happens, injuries can occur.
Amazon is known for its fast delivery service. Yet, with the holiday season underway, Amazon’s push to deliver orders in a timely fashion may have unintended consequences. According to the Seattle Times, Amazon is a prized employment opportunity in many communities. The company offers workers benefits, including stock shares, 401(k), and health insurance. However, many workers may push themselves to the limit in a quest to keep the prized job. The Seattle Times notes that Amazon tracks its workers’ performance with the same rigor it tracks the public’s shopping habits. While Amazon claims that its hard-working warehouse employees are injured at lower rates than department store workers, manufacturers, and other industries, federal lawsuits may suggest otherwise. CBS News reports that federal regulators cited Amazon for failing to report 26 workplace injuries and illnesses in a New Jersey warehouse. In addition to failing to report injuries, the citation notes that workers were not provided with the safety equipment they needed to prevent amputations and other injuries. In another report, workers with cancer or mothers who had suffered miscarriages were not given appropriate time to recover.
In some instances, reports indicate that workers may have been instructed to tell doctors and emergency personnel that their injuries were not workplace related. Other workers claimed that Amazon pressured employees to report their injuries in ways that wouldn’t trigger worker’s compensation claims or be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Seattle Times reported on other instances where Amazon allegedly tried to get rid of injured workers, rather than put them on lighter duty.
Reports indicate that the company’s work culture can be ruthless. The company monitors employee efficiency. Inefficient employees are fired. Workers who have been injured may be more at risk of losing their jobs or being written up.
Amazon is not the only company that has been known to violate OHSA’s rules. The holiday season puts strain on workers across many industries. From delivery personnel to department store workers, the holiday season can bring the risk of more injuries to workers who may be putting in overtime or may be facing higher workloads. For example, many jobs like this that involve warehouse work either invest in forklift hire, or buy forklifts themselves – to use a forklift you need to have a license and be trusted to drive the forklift safely. If you have acquired injuries which affect you in any way, such as impairing your vision, you are a health and safety risk to yourself and other people. This is bad practice. Anyone who has responsibility over machinery let alone staff welfare has to be aware of this. If you have been injured on the job, it is important to protect your rights. You may be entitled to receive compensation for lost wages and money to cover your medical expenses under worker’s compensation.
If you are having trouble with a claim, consider speaking to the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino, personal injury lawyers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our firm can work with you and your family to help you receive the compensation you may deserve under the law. Some companies may try to discourage workers from making a claim, or may unfairly deny a claim. If you believe this is the case, you have rights. Visit our firm at https://www.martinmontilino.com/ to learn more.