Starbucks is a relatively safe place to work, and while there are always hazards in the food and service industries, the proper training and regulations can keep accidents to a minimum. It’s impossible to fully eliminate them though, which is why even you could end up with a really bad cut while working at Starbucks. Company Profile: Starbucks The original Starbucks was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971. It started off as a storefront that only sold roasted coffee beans, and the company didn’t start brewing coffee until 1986 (when the owners made the choice to start brewing espresso). By that point, the company had six stores in Seattle. Today, the company is arguably the most recognizable coffee company in the world. The chain has ballooned to over 24,000 stores worldwide with 238,000 employees (2016). In 2015, the company earned over $19 billion in revenue-- a fate that its three owners probably couldn’t have imagined back in 1971. Your Work at Starbucks Would Be Affected by a Bad Cut Depending on where the injury is, a bad cut at Starbucks could suddenly make all of your tasks impossible. For example, if you slice open your arm on something sharp behind the counter, you could tear a ligament and your mobility may be limited for a short time. Similarly, if you get a bad cut across your knuckles, you may find it harder to move your fingers. Not being able to move your fingers is a big problem for a barista, who needs to have fine motor skills and the ability to move quickly in order to succeed in the high-pressure atmosphere. But that kind of injury could also affect a cashier who has to handle money and buttons at a fervent pace. A bad cut could affect just about any job at Starbucks, which is why you should consider taking the time to fully recover. How You Could Be Compensated If tips aren’t part of the equation, the average hourly wage for a Starbucks barista is $10 per hour (according to Glassdoor), which comes out to about $1,700 for a month’s worth of of full time work. A laceration takes about a month to heal, which means that your claim could leave you eligible for more than $1,700 in compensation if it covered the salary that you’d be missing out on, along with any other relevant medical expenses. If you do get this kind of compensation, then you’ll be able to focus on healing rather than worrying about how you’ll make ends meet while you’re unable to work. It’s valuable to have that kind of peace of mind, both for your finances and for your recovery process. Consider Contacting an Attorney It’s frustrating and painful to deal with a workplace injury, especially if it leaves you unable to work for a long time. A bad cut has the potential to do this, and it’s why you should take the time off to allow your body to heal. Filing a successful workers’ compensation claim lets you do this, because workers’ compensation will cover lost income and your medical expenses. And of course, workers’ compensation lawyers can be an enormous help, and you wouldn’t even have to pay upfront; they only receive payment if you win your case. This means you can reach out without fear and get started on getting the compensation you need. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Starbucks, or any other company, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
