Nestlé Food Company is a diverse company that produces an array of food products and beverages. They provide many employees decent paying jobs. Are you an employee of Nestlé Food Co.? If you are hurt while performing your job duties, would you be able to afford the medical care that you would need to get well? What would happen to your monthly bills? For many employees, an injury would leave them financially devastated and unable to work. Workers’ Compensation and You Many employers, like Nestlé Food Co., are self-insured. Commonly, states require employers, by law, to provide workers’ compensation insurance to provide protection for their employees. Self-insured employers only pay out on their own claims. They do not go through an insurance company. They have a specific amount of money set aside and have proven to the state that they are capable of paying out on their own claims. It is important for employees of self-insured employers to seek consultation from an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer. Self-insured companies may minimize the incident to decrease their payout for medical care and lost income. Company Profile: Nestlé Food Company Nestlé Food Company is headquartered in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland. They have a corporate office in Glendale, California that oversees their operations in the United States. They have 51,000 employees in the United States. Injury Risks for Nestlé Food Company Employees There are numerous risks that employees face on a daily basis. Factory employees who work on an assembly line face risk of equipment malfunction. They can be at risk for getting their hand, clothing, or hair caught in machinery or conveyer belt. These type of injuries can leave employees permanently injured and unable to work. Factory and warehouse workers are at risk for slip and falls due to spills from broken or leaking product. They are also at risk for slipped discs, pulled or strained muscles from heavy lifting. Delivery drivers are at risk of injury off company property from automobile accidents that can occur while on their delivery routes. What Should You Do If You Are Injured? If you are a delivery driver and you are in an accident, call 911 before you do anything else. For injuries that aren’t the result of a car wreck and aren’t a medical emergency, immediately stop working and inform your supervisor. Fill out an accident report. Do not continue to work, lift heavy items, or drive. Continuing to work could cause even minor injuries to worsen. If you require immediate medical attention, contact 911. An officer will respond and take a report. The officer will give you a report number. In a few days, you’ll be able to get a copy of the report. Ask your manager or HR Rep to assist you in filing a workers’ compensation claim. You are entitled to medical care even with self-insured companies, regardless of fault for the accident. Your HR rep should be able to give you information on a doctor that you can see without cost. While you can opt to see your own doctor, you may have to pay out of your own pocket. Make sure that you keep any receipts for medical care, prescriptions, or other required care costs. You may be reimbursed. 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 be beneficial to you. If you have questions, talk with a workers’ compensation attorney and do not sign anything. You do not want to accidentally sign away your rights or settle for less than your claim is worth. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Nestlé Food Company, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
