Kohl’s is one of America’s most popular and successful retail chains. This department store good paying jobs for retail professionals looking for work. They also hire warehouse workers. However, both retail and warehouse work provide occupational hazards that could potentially lead to a financial nightmare. If you were injured on the job at Kohl’s, how would you handle it? Could you continue to put food on the table for your family? How Each State Protects Injured Workers Most employers are legally required by the state in which they operate to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. For injured employees, this provides a much-needed safety net. If workers are injured on the job, workers’ compensation insurance can help pay for needed medical care. If the workers cannot continue to work, workers’ compensation may provide a portion of the wages lost because of the injury. Company Profile: Kohl’s Kohl’s is owned by Kohl's Corporation. There are over 1,100 Kohl’s locations in the United States. As a whole, Kohl’s employs over 40,500 workers. The corporate headquarters for Kohl’s is located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Risks to Kohl’s Employees Kohl’s is a department store that hires retail workers and warehouse workers. A warehouse position is decidedly the more hazardous of the two. Warehouse workers may fall from great heights when moving freight into the store, experience slipped discs and other back injuries from lifting heavy loads, and may be injured from an equipment malfunction. Retail positions have their own serious risks, even as a cashier. One slip and fall could break a bone or cause a permanent closed head injury. Moving heavy goods for shoppers can also result in back or neck injuries. What To Do If You Get Hurt Working If you’re injured while working at Kohl’s, you may not know what to do next. First, you should immediately stop doing whatever it is you were doing prior to the incident. Under no circumstance should you continue to work; this can cause even minor injuries to get much worse. You should inform your supervisor right away so that any dangers can be addressed, no matter who was at fault. This protects shoppers and your coworkers. If you hit your head, fall from something high, or if you’ve hurt your back, call 911. These injuries can be very serious even if they don’t feel like it. A police officer will respond and complete a report. Be sure that you get the report number and request a copy of the police report. If your injury is minor, such as a minor sprain, you should ask your supervisor how you can start your claim for workers’ compensation. This will involve completing an accident report. You should make an appointment to see a doctor. The workers’ compensation policy lists a doctor that you should be able to visit. In most cases, any appointments scheduled with this doctor will be free. You can see your personal doctor, but this may require you to pay out of your own pocket. How To File a Workers’ Compensation Claim Against Kohl’s Kohl’s is the largest department store in the country and employs cashiers, warehouse workers, cleaners and shelf stockers and many other types of workers. Most of these employees will be covered by workers’ compensation if they are injured at work. If this has happened to you there is a process to follow before you can guarantee workers’ compensation payments. If you don’t follow the requirements you face the risk your WC claim could be rejected. Steps You Need to Follow for a WC Claim from Kohl’s If you are injured while working as a shelf stocker and you believe you are eligible to file a claim for workers’ compensation, there are a number of steps you need to follow so that you can get your workers’ compensation entitlements. The first step is getting medical treatment as soon as possible. Kohl’s insurer may ask you to go to a named medical facility and be treated by a doctor approved by the workers’ compensation board. If you refuse and choose your own doctor it could be at your cost. The next step is to inform your employer about the injury. If you are not well enough to do this you can always arrange for someone to do it on your behalf. There is a time limit and if you fail to follow it your WC claim may not be accepted. The time given depends on the company policy and could be within 24 hours of the injury taking place or up to 30 days. The next step is completing a workers’ compensation claim form. You are expected to provide all the facts about the injury such as: the time, date and location of the injury; if any other kohl’s employee was there at the time of the injury; a rundown on how the injury happened; complete details of medical treatment required up to the present. You are sometimes given up to 2 years from the injury date to complete the claim form. If you do not conform to this deadline you may never have a chance again to file a WC claim for your Kohl’s injury. Because your WC claim includes all medical treatment until full recovery has been reached you must keep in a safe place all receipts paid so far for treatment. This includes the cost of the ambulance, emergency room treatment and any medicines that have been prescribed to you as part of your treatment program. If you have called a taxi to get to the medical facility or you have taken on a paid care assistant these should be part of your WC claim too. Once you have completed the workers’ compensation claim form you will have to wait for the decision from Kohl’s WC insurer. The insurer will decide whether to accept or deny your claim. If are not happy with the amount particularly in relation to the diagnosis and treatment time decide by the workers’ compensation board doctor you may ask for a second opinion from another doctor. You may be able to negotiate a compromise with the insurer. If you lose your claim and you may be able to file an appeal. This is when you will need help from an experienced WC attorney who will sieve through the evidence you have provided in support of your claim and see if your claim can strengthened. It may just be a simple mistake you have made on the claim form that has led to the denial. Gathering Evidence for a Kohl’s Workers’ Compensation Claim If you have a head injury caused by a carton falling on your head while stocking shelves the evidence must support that the injury took place at work. Examples of Evidence That Can Be Used in a Kohl’s WC Claim To be certain your WC claim will be accepted you should include evidence as follows: receipt for an ambulance if required. photos showing the accident site and injury taken by you or another employee; eye witness reports stating the cause of the injury; photographic proof recorded on kohl’s surveillance cameras; medical report from your doctor with the right diagnosis and medical treatment you have received so far and any further medical treatment you are likely to need; receipts for medical treatment you have already paid for; invoices for medical treatment that still need to be paid. ;ul> Your WC attorney can go through your evidence and suggest any improvements before you file your WC claim. Talk to a Workers' Compensation Attorney Today It is important that you speak with an experienced lawyer about workers’ compensation. You have certain rights under the law and the insurance company may try to get you to sign your rights away. A workers' compensation attorney can give you the best chance of getting the benefits you deserve. Additional Resources Workers’ Compensation for Department Store Injuries Time to File a Workers' Comp Claim? *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Kohl's, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
