Like at any company, you may get injured while working at Starbucks. Some positions are more prone to injuries than others. Starbucks Corporation is a multinational chain of coffee houses which has its headquarters in Seattle, Washington. It is the world's biggest coffee house chain. In September 2020, the company had 32,660 stores in 83 countries and employed 349,000 workers. Positions Likely to File a Claim for Workers’ Comp. at Starbucks There are two important positions at Starbucks which involve working within the restaurant and which are most likely to be involved in an injury. These are baristas and general workers. Baristas are workers who are hands-on in a Starbucks coffee shop as they handcraft beverages according to Starbucks menu. Shift Supervisors provide guidance to baristas by managing their shift, making decisions, running the barista team so that the best customer service is provided. The sorts of injuries that are most commonplace for a barista are the following. Repetitive Stress Injury or “barista wrist" or medial epicondylitis or “tennis elbow" caused by the constant lifting of heavy pitchers of milk and cream and the operation of quite complex machinery. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is another injury suffered by baristas caused by the repetitive motion of their arm and hand which inflames the nerves that run through the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers. A general worker at Starbucks may suffer heavy lifting injuries as most products and merchandise delivered to Starbucks arrive in large packaged containers and heavy boxes that need to be lifted to the place they are stored. If the worker hasn’t received any heavy lifting training a serious injury to the back, hips, and neck, shoulders and legs could take place that could result in the development of chronic pain. The Process for Filing a Claim as a Crew Member at Starbucks If you are injured while working at Starbucks you should ensure you get the medical treatment you need as soon as you can. If you are capable enough you should attempt to take photos of the accident scene and if possible the precise cause of the injury. A report of the accident and injury should be forwarded to your HR or supervisor as well. The next step you should take is preparing and submitting your workers’ compensation claim with Starbuck’s insurer. You will need to provide adequate evidence that proves the accident your injury occurred while working as a barista or general worker at Starbucks. The evidence could include: your physician’s medical report which includes complete details of your injury, the type of treatment you are receiving and your likely recovery time; eye witnesses’ written accounts from customers or co-workers; photos taken at the accident scene including your injury; receipts for medical treatment including the ambulance fee, if required; test results from x-rays and other tests relevant to your injury; any photographic evidence saved on security cameras situated in the Starbucks’; a copy of your accident and injury report you sent to your hr. Work with a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer You may have been told that you automatically qualify for workers’ compensation from Starbucks’ workers’ compensation insurer but many workers’ compensation insurers look for mistakes you may have made in your claim. You should ask for help from a workers’ compensation lawyer who can evaluate your evidence that proves your accident and injury occurred while you were working at Starbucks as a barista or general worker. The lawyer Can work on your behalf to get the WC you deserve. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an attorney who subscribes to the website today. *Disclaimer: 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 another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Additional Resources Do You Need a Lawyer if You Were Hurt Working at Starbucks*? Who Is Covered Under Starbucks’ Workers’ Compensation?*
