Anheuser-Busch is an American beer company. They were the first brewer in the United States to use pasteurization to keep beer fresh. They have provided jobs to many in the nation since 1876. Are you an employee of Anheuser-Busch? If you are injured during your shift and couldn’t work, do you have enough money in savings to pay for the unexpected medical costs? Could you pay for rent or groceries? A Safety Net for Injured Employees Did you know that every states requires most employers to have workers’ compensation policies? Those policies are provided to employees at no charge. Those policies often provide injured employees coverage for medical care. If you are hurt on the job during your shift, you should consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. If the injury leaves you unable to work, you may be eligible to receive a portion of your lost wages. Company Profile: Anheuser-Busch Anheuser-Busch is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Incorporated. They are headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. They have 12 breweries and employ approximately 16,852 people. Anheuser-Busch Employees Face Risks Each Day There are numerous risks faced by employees on a daily basis. Warehouse employees working with machinery are at risk from faulty equipment. Injuries can happen when operating fork-lifts or pallet jacks. They can be at risk for getting their hand, clothing, or hair caught in machinery or conveyer belts. These types of injuries, regardless of who caused them, can leave employees permanently injured and unable to work. In some instances, these injuries can also cause death. All Anheuser-Busch employees are at risk of a slip and fall if products fall and break or begin to leak. They are also at risk for slipped discs, sprains, and other soft tissue injuries including repetitive stress injury. Delivery drivers are at risk of injury from automobile accidents that can occur while driving their delivery routes. They may hurt their back, neck, or knees while moving product from their truck to take it inside of retail facilities. What Should You Do If You Are Hurt? First, if you are a delivery driver and you are in a wreck or if you get hurt while moving product, call 911 before you do anything else. Then, call your supervisor to let them know. Do not continue to work after the wreck or after you realize you’re hurt. If you are hurt in the warehouse or factory, contact your manager immediately. Fill out an accident report. This is important for any injury, but especially if you slip and fall. Your manager can clean up the spill and protect your coworkers. Do not continue to work in any capacity. This can cause your injury to get worse. You are entitled to medical care. Call 911 if you hit your head, get a body part caught in a faulty machine or conveyor belt, or if you hurt your back. These can all be very serious injuries. A police officer will respond and fill out a report. You will be given a report number. You can retrieve a copy of the report within a few days. If it is not a medical emergency, ask your HR Rep for a list of doctors you may see at no charge because of your on the job injury. You should also ask about the steps involved to seek compensation for your injuries. You can see your own doctor, but you may have to pay out of pocket. If so, keep your receipt. You may be reimbursed. Melena V. Anheuser-Busch In the case of Melena v. Anheuser-Busch, Joann Melena worked in the Mt. Vernon distribution center for Anheuser. In September of 2002, Ms. Melena injured her wrist and was placed on temporary disability. Six months later, she was terminated. Ms. Melena alleged that her termination was in retaliation from her filing a workers’ compensation claim. A motion to dismiss was filed by Anheuser stating that Ms. Melena was bound to follow an alternative dispute resolution agreement and enter into arbitration. The motion was denied by the circuit court. Anheuser filed an appeal. The court stated in its majority analysis that employees, such as Ms. Melena, cannot bargain or sign their right to damages in a case of retaliation. This is a prime example of why it is imperative that all documents that you are presented with regarding your workers’ compensation claim should be reviewed by an experienced lawyer before signing. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Anheuser-Busch, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
