Unilever North America produces over 400 brands of various home, personal care, and food products. They hire many employees and provide a range of jobs. As an employee of Unilever, you face daily risks. Those risks may result in you getting hurt on the job. If you were hurt, would you be able to afford medical care? Do you have a plan in place to provide if your family if you are left unable to work? Many employees who are hurt on the job are left financially unable to provide for their family. Help for Employees Hurt on the Job If you are hurt during your shift, you should consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is provided to employees at no cost. Did you know that all states have statutes that require most employers to have workers’ compensation insurance? Workers’ compensation covers a variety of injury related needs. Workers may be eligible for compensation of lost wages, out of pocket expenses for medical care, and more. Company Profile: Unilever North America Unilever North America is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. They are a subsidiary of Unilever Global, a public limited company. They have around 179,000 employees. Risks Faced by Unilever Employees Employees performing their job duties face risks on a day-to-day basis. Some risks are minor, but many can be life threatening. Even with safety precautions in place, injuries still occur. Line operators overseeing quality assurance and final assembly deal with fast moving conveyor belts. They face risk from repetitive work due to the speed and movement. Workers can develop carpal tunnel, muscle strain, torn muscles and ligaments in joints. If a product, such as liquid soap, is spilled on the floor, they are at high risk for a slip and fall. Although a slip and fall may sound minor, it can cause devastating injuries such as a closed head injury. Electricians maintaining equipment face the risk of electrocution. Electrocution can cause hearing/vision impairment, loss of muscle movement, paralysis, and even death. If heavy equipment of any sort malfunctions or even falls on electricians, they can be left with permanent neck and back injuries, broken bones, or can even be killed. Machine operators deal with a variety of machinery and boilers within Unilever facilities. They face the risk of burns from high temperatures. They face the risk of machine malfunction which can cause injury to shoulders, loss of limb or fingers, or head injuries. What You Need to Do If You Are Hurt If you have a severe injury needing emergency medical care, call 911. A responding officer will write a report about the incident. You will be provided with a report number and directions on how to obtain a copy. You may need to provide this to Unilever and to their workers’ compensation insurance agency. If you are hurt, even if your injury is minor, stop working. Continuing to work can make your injury worse. Continuing to carry boxes, operate machinery, or work on the production line can lead to further injury. Report your injury to your manager. They need to document and ensure that all hazards have been removed. Consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. You can get a list of approved workers’ compensation doctors from your manager or HR rep. You can see your own doctor. However, you may have to pay medical care costs out of your own pocket. You may be eligible for reimbursement – keep your receipts. Know Your Rights Under the Law If you have any issues getting workers’ compensation benefits, consider talking with an attorney. A qualified and experienced workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to help you through the process. Consult a lawyer before signing any documents or settlements. An experienced lawyer can help determine if you would benefit from representation. It is important to know your rights so that you do not risk losing care and benefits 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 Unilever, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
