A grocery store can be an ideal employment option for many people. Grocery stores often provide flexible schedules and there’s also room for advancement. Yet, if you’re working in a grocery store such as Acme Markets and you get hurt on the job, what would you do? Do you have enough money saved if you can’t work? For many, an on the job injury is a waking nightmare. Workers’ Compensation: A Safety Net for Workers Thankfully, every state requires most employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. It is provided without any charge to workers. If you are hurt on the job or made sick because of your work environment, workers’ compensation can pay for the medical treatment, prescriptions, or other necessities to help get you well. For employees who can’t work, it may also provide part of their lost wages. Company Profile: Acme Markets Acme Markets is a chain of grocery stores located in the Delaware Valley and in New York City. They are owned by Albertsons, Inc. They have 107 stores with more than 10,000 employees. Risks Faced by Acme Markets Workers Acme Markets has a wide variety of positions. So, the risks faced depend on whether a person works in the bakery, as a cashier, in the pharmacy, or as part of their supply chain division as a warehouse worker or delivery driver. For instance, working in the bakery can put someone at risk for severe burns from the ovens and hot pans. A cashier can slip and fall or suffer from repetitive stress injury. Pharmacy workers are exposed to medicines and chemicals that could make them sick. Warehouse workers could injure their backs by moving heavy pallets of goods. Delivery drivers could be involved in a serious car wreck that causes permanent injury. Hurt on the Job? If you’re hurt on the job, you may be confused about what you should do. Immediately stop what you’re doing. If you’ve hit your head, burnt your skin, or if you’ve been involved in a vehicle accident then you should call 911. Tell your supervisor right away about your injury. Continuing to work could make your injury worse. If you slipped and fell, your supervisor can ensure that the spill is cleaned up so that everyone else is protected. Next, you should file a workers’ compensation claim. Ask your supervisor how you can get started. You’ll also need to fill out an accident report. If you called 911 because you were making a delivery and you were in a wreck or for another emergency, the responding police officer will give you an incident report number. You can get a report at a later date. You need to get medical care. You can ask your supervisor how you can make an appointment to see the doctor on the workers’ compensation insurance. This is often free. You could see your own doctor, but you may be required to pay out of pocket. Protect Your Legal Rights You should talk with a workers’ compensation attorney to learn more about how workers’ compensation law can protect you. Workers’ compensation cases can get complicated. Don’t leave your compensation to chance. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Acme, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
