Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a debilitating injury which some workers are prone to because of the repetitive type of manual work they do. It is more likely to develop in the wrists, hands and fingers of workers who tend to use their hands a lot, such as cashiers, packers and some maintenance workers. Good training can help those employees who are at risk to identify when they are first experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome so they can rest or relieve the pressure before it worsens. Carpal tunnel injuries can cause severe pain and when fully developed can prevent a return to work until the pain eases. Fortunately, workers’ compensation payments can help to pay medical bills and compensate for lost wages while recovering. You should discuss your injury and the possibility of filing a claim with a workers’ comp. attorney. Walmart: the World’s Largest Corporate Employer It’s hard to imagine that America’s best known super-sized discount store was started in such a humble way. Sam Walton actually opened his first variety store, the earliest version of today’s discount department stores, just after the Second World War ended in Arkansas. The first Walmart didn’t open until 1962, but the concept was soon a commercial success. Today, there are more people employed (nudging two and a half million) across Walmart’s nigh on 12,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada than in any other commercial enterprise in the world. How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Might Affect Your Ability to Work Carpal tunnel syndrome does not develop in the same way as some other injuries. It gets progressively worse over time. There are ways of preventing it, but once it has encroached it can cause so much pain that the hands are effectively crippled until relief arrives. Even if you take a few days off work, it doesn’t mean that you can return to work and repeat the way you were working before. You must learn how to prevent this from happening and only return to work as a cashier or stock handler once your doctor says you are able. Your doctor may also suggest surgery, or other aids like wrist pads and ice pads. You may need to discuss your job with your supervisor if the syndrome doesn’t improve. There may be a possibility of switching jobs within Walmart so that the pressure is not placed so much on your wrists and hands. Where Workers’ Compensation Comes In When you file a Walmart workers’ comp claim, it is based on your employer’s insurance cover. This is a no-fault type of insurance that is designed to help employees obtain medical treatment and a reasonable percentage of their normal weekly wage if they are injured while at work. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a recognized workplace injury that cannot easily be cured and often gets progressively worse if you don’t treat it while continuing to work. Medical treatment is covered by workers’ compensation, as is around two thirds of lost earnings. Your employer’s workers’ comp. insurance cover may also include temporary and/or permanent disability payments and training in the event that it is unlikely you can do the same job as before. Why You Should Hire an Attorney All workers’ comp. claims require proof that your injury happened while at work. Because carpal tunnel syndrome is progressive, it may be harder to justify compensation for it than obvious physical injuries caused by a single accident at work. This is where a workers’ compensation attorney can help you with your claim. Attorneys that deal with workplace injuries will have dealt with carpal tunnel syndrome cases before and will know how to proceed with a claim. Even if Walmart’s insurer initially denies the claim, there are options available to fight the decision. You will definitely need your attorney’s advice and legal help if you need to make an appeal. Additional Resources I Had a Broken Arm Injury While Working at Walmart! Employers’ Duties and Workers’ Comp *Disclaimer The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Walmart, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
