Every person should be able to feel relatively safe at work, and in the U.S., we have a number of rules and systems in place to help people feel that way. Additionally, stores like Target may even have even higher safety standards than the federal ones. In other words, workplace safety isn’t taken lightly, and in most cases, you’re unlikely to do something like hurting your back while working at Target. Unfortunately, even with regulations in place, accidents will happen. But contact an attorney; you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Company Profile: Target The first iteration of Target was a department store called Goodfellows, which was moved to a new building in 1902. After it was renamed the Dayton Dry Goods Company, that chain expanded and in 1962, an employee, John F. Gleisse, launched the Target Discount Stores that were a part of the Dayton company. Today, there are over 1,800 Target stores in the U.S., and the company has 341,000 employees. In 2016, the company had over $69 billion in revenue. Not bad for a department store! Your Back Injury and How It Affects Your Job at Target Target offers a wide range of positions, but a back injury can hamper your ability to do just about all of them. If you have the kind of job that requires you to stock shelves and lift heavy objects, those types of tasks will be impossible with a back injury. Even standing at a cash register all day could be difficult with severe back pain. How You Could Gain Compensation Workers’ compensation is meant to cover your wages (and potentially medical expenses) for the time that you are unable to work. Since the minimum wage at Target is $10 (according to Glassdoor), if you find yourself out of work for six months while you’re recovering, you could receive at least $10,000-- and that’s before any additional costs that the insurance company may be asked to pay. This means that you have a way to provide for yourself while you are recovering from your injury. Getting this kind of compensation means that you can focus on healing. A successful claim can save you from the anxiety that comes with attempting to work while experiencing a lot of pain. Ask An Attorney for Counsel and Assistance Depending on the severity of your injury while working at Target, you may find working much more difficult. As you can see, hurting your back has the potential to dramatically alter your ability to work, which in turn can have a negative effect on your life in general. A way to get through this difficult period is by filing a workers’ compensation claim so that you can get the funds you need to get yourself through your recovery. An experienced lawyer is often the key to a successful claim, so find a trustworthy one and reach out about your case. Your lawyer will work tirelessly for you without even getting paid upfront--in fact, workers’ compensation attorneys don’t receive payment at all if you don’t win your case. So go ahead and call one without fear. You’ll want an ally and an advocate through this process, and an attorney will be well-equipped to serve both of those roles. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Target, or any other company, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
