Meijer is a pioneer in supercenter grocery stores being the first to add general merchandise to their retail locations. Meijer is known for their focus on fresh food and dedication to better serving their customers and their employees. If you work at Meijer and get hurt, how would you support your family? Could you still buy food for your family or even pay your rent? For many Meijer employees, an on the job injury would also financially hurt their family and leave them without the income they need to survive. Help for Injured Employees There is hope. Injured employees have a safety net put into place to help them. Each state has a law that requires most employees 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: Meijer Meijer is headquartered in Walker, Michigan. It is legally owned by the Meijer Family. There are 224 stores and 195 gas stations in the Midwestern region of the United States. They have around 72,200 employees. Risks for Meijer Employees The employees of Meijer all share the common risk of injury in their work environment. The main reason is that all employees share similar work tasks and responsibilities. They lift heavy boxes, clean, stock products, and assist customers – putting employees at risk. The most common risks for Meijer employees include, but are not limited to: Slip and Fall – Meijer employees, including cashiers are at risk to slip and fall. Spilled milk, a dropped carton of eggs, or a freshly mopped floor can create a hazardous situation for employees. Slip and falls are common and may seem minor, but they can cause more damage than you may think. The result could be a torn muscle, broken bone, permanent back injury, or severe head injury. Heavy Lifting – Lifting heavy boxes is common task. The simple act of lifting a box to stock new product may result in pulled muscles, slipped disc, shoulder strain, or a severe permanent injury that can affect an employee for life. Ladders – Stocking and helping customers reach products placed on higher shelves is a risk. Falls can happen from tops of ladders unexpectedly resulting in extreme pain, head injuries, or severe permanent damage to the spine. Of course, there are other risks. A few may come to your mind as you think about your daily work routine. Hurt During Your Shift? An injury can cause you to feel disoriented or confused. Remember that the first thing you need to consider is filing a workers’ compensation claim. Do not continue to work. Continuing to work can cause further injury. Contact your manager immediately so that they can assist you in filing your claim. In case of emergency such as head injury from a slip and fall or a product falling from a shelf or deep cuts from a box cutter while stocking goods, immediately call 911. A responding officer will provide you with a police report number. You will be able to get a copy of the police report within a few days of your injury. Ask your manager or Human Resources advisor for a list of approved doctors that can treat your injury at no charge. If you do choose to see your own doctor, you may have out of pocket expenses – check with your private insurance provider on the cost of co-payments or deductibles. Keep your receipts. You may qualify for reimbursement. 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 a lawyer with experience in worker's comp. 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 Meijer, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
