Florida Power & Light (FPL), established in 1925, is the third-largest electric utility company in the United States. They provide service to more than 4.8 million customers in the state of Florida. They offer a wide-range of employment opportunities providing a good income for many people. If you are employed at FPL and get hurt, would you be able to afford the medical care that you would need? Do you have money saved to help with rent or your utilities? For many FPL employees, an on the job injury would be devastating, leaving them unable to work and provide for their families. Safety Net for Injured Workers Many states require employers, by law, to provide workers’ compensation insurance to protect employees. However, many employers, like FPL, are self-insured. Self-insured employers pay out on their own claims. It is important for employees of self-insured employers to seek consultation from an attorney to get the treatment they deserve if they are hurt on the job. Self-insured companies minimize how much they will pay an injured employee for medical care and lost income. Company Profile: Florida Power & Light FPL is headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. They are a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Incorporated that generates, distributes, and sells electrical energy. They have over 9,000 employees. Risks Faced by Florida Power & Light’s Employees Each position held by FPL employees has its own risks, depending on job duties. Office staff and customer service reps can develop repetitive stress injuries from being confined to their desk and chair for a long periods of time and repeating the same motions over and over again. They are also at risk of tripping or falling at work, which can cause slipped disks, torn muscles, broken bones, and closed head injuries. Technicians face risk of bites from domesticated animals when answering service calls at a private residence. Car wrecks may occur when traveling from job site to job site on company time. Electrocution is a very real possibility that can lead to permanent nerve damage or even death. Hurt on the Job? There Are Some Things You Should Know If you are hurt during your shift, immediately stop working. Continuing to drive, answer customer service calls, and climb can make a minor injury worse. It increases your chance of being permanently hurt. If you have a medical emergency, such as bites from a domesticated animal, electrocution, head injury, or if you are involved in a car wreck, contact 911. A police officer will respond and make an official report. You will get information on how you can obtain a copy for the report. Otherwise, you will complete an accident report for FPL. Ask your manager or supervisor to assist you in the workers compensation filing process. Your HR rep can provide you with the information for a doctor that you can see at no charge. If you decide to see your PCP, keep all receipts from anything that you pay out of pocket. You may be eligible for reimbursement. Learn About Your Rights Under the Law It is important to seek legal counsel when dealing with a self-insured employer. Learning more about your rights under the law can help you determine if you would benefit from legal representation. If you are unsure about signing any documents pertaining to your workers’ compensation claim, take some time to talk to a workers’ compensation attorney. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Florida Power and Light or NextEra Energy, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources What is the Workers’ Compensation Filing Process in Florida?
