The Hershey Company is famously known for their classic Hershey chocolate bar. As an employee of Hershey, if you were hurt on the job could you afford medical care? If you were left unable to work, as many are, would you be able to provide for your family? For many, they are left without an income leaving their family financially unstable. Assistance for Hurt Employees There is hope. Injured Hershey employees have a safety net put into place to help. Each state has a law that requires most employers to have a workers’ compensation policy in place to help. Workers’ compensation is provided at no charge to employees. If you are hurt on the job, you should file a workers’ compensation claim. It can help with medical expenses. For people who cannot work because of their injury, workers’ compensation may provide a portion an employee’s wages. Company Profile: The Hershey Company The Hershey Company is a publicly traded company. They are headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. They employ over 14,800 employees. Hershey’s has six factories in the United States. Risks Faced by Hershey’s Employees All Hershey’s employees face risk each day when they go to work. Overall, the risks they face will be dependent upon the scope of their job. Slip and falls – Regardless of wearing non-slip shoes, slip and falls can still happen. Chocolate, sugar, chemicals used for cleaning, and even water can cause someone to slip and pull a muscle, break a bone, or even hit their head. Heavy lifting – Hershey employees who move heavy products or ingredients are at risk of injuring their back, neck, shoulders, or even their knees. These injuries can be mild or they can be so severe that they cause permanent damage. Ladders – Climbing ladders to check on equipment or to move boxes of ingredients can be a hazard. Falling from a ladder can cause a broken arm, a broken neck, paralysis, or even death. Product Packaging – Hershey employees who work on the line packaging products can be at risk of many things. Common risks include repetitive stress injuries and getting hands, fingers, hair, and clothing caught into machinery. Hurt During Your Shift? An injury can cause you to feel disoriented or confused. The first thing that you need to do is let your manager know about your on the job injury. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Do not continue to work if you’re hurt. This can make your injury worse. Your manager will complete an accident report. If you’ve called 911, a responding officer will complete a report. You will be given a report number and you can pull a copy of it at a later date. Ask your manager or Human Resources rep how you can start a workers’ compensation claim to get help with the expenses of your on the job injury. You are entitled to get medical care. When you file a workers’ compensation claim, you can see a doctor listed on the policy to be treated for your injury. You can choose to see your own doctor, but you will likely have to pay out of pocket. However, you can keep any receipts for out of pocket expenses related to your on the job injury. You may be reimbursed by workers’ compensation. Get Legal Help If you are having trouble getting workers’ compensation benefits or want to learn more about your rights under workers’ compensation law, consider talking to an experienced lawyer. A consultation with an attorney may help you clear things up and determine if you would benefit from representation. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against the Hershey Company, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
