Food, friends, and a fast paced environment! Those are three reasons why people love working for Chili’s Bar and Grille. The opportunity to get tips can really go a long way to living the life that you want! Yet, think about this. Even if you wear the right shoes, you could still slip and fall. What would you do if you couldn’t work? What Is Workers’ Compensation? Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance provided to employees by the employer at no cost. Each state has a law requiring most employers to carry it. It acts as a safety net for employees. If you are hurt on the job at Chili’s Bar and Grille, you may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation and get help with expenses caused by your injuries. It can also provide a portion of your lost wages if you cannot work. Risks Faced By Chili’s Bar and Grille Employees Chili’s Bar and Grille hires a variety of employees. Many face some of the same risks, such as slipping and falling. However, there are specific risks to cooks, servers, wait staff, and bartenders. Kitchen staff face more than a risk of slipping and falling. Cooking on a hot grill can cause severe burns to the skin. Working with sharp knives can result in cutting off a finger. Servers and wait staff carry heavy trays of food which can result in sprains of the wrist, shoulder, neck, and back. Of course, the risk of slipping and falling can almost go without saying. Even if servers and wait staff wear the right shoes, oil, water, and even mixed drinks can make a sticky and sometimes slick surface. Bartenders face many of the same risks as both the kitchen staff and wait staff. Cutting up garnishes for drinks and using machines located at the bar can cause injuries to the hands and wrists. Moving heavy containers, such as a beer keg, can also cause a back or neck injury. How You Can Protect Your Legal Rights If you’re hurt, tell your supervisor right away. If you’ve been cut, burnt, or hurt your neck, back, or hit your head, call 911. These injuries can be very serious even if they don’t feel like it. Talk to the manager to start your workers’ comp claim. You will need to complete an accident report. The accident report is easier if you do it directly after the incident. You’ll remember everything that happened much better. If you call 911 because of a severe injury, the police will complete an incident report. You can get a copy of the police report at a later date. Just get the report number. Medical attention is extremely important. If you don’t need to call 911, ask about visiting with the workers’ comp doctor listed on the policy after you file your claim. It is often free for injured workers. You can see your own doctor, but you may have to pay out of pocket. Keep your receipts for possible reimbursement. Make an appointment to see a workers’ compensation attorney. This is the best possible thing that you can do to protect your claim. Don’t Sign Anything! The workers’ compensation adjuster has one job: to minimize the amount that is paid on your claim against Chili’s Bar and Grille. Don’t sign anything without first talking with a workers’ compensation attorney. This is one of the best ways that you can protect your legal rights. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Chili’s Bar and Grille, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
