There are many things that can go wrong if you work at a warehouse. You can pull your back lifting a heavy box, trip and fall if there are items on the floor, get in a forklift accident and so on.
In the event of an injury, you might think that reporting the incident will cause trouble with your supervisors. However, you have the right to know if you are eligible for worker’s compensation, and sometimes the only way to find out is by filing a claim.
Reporting an injury
As long as your injury came from a work-related accident and you are completely honest in your report, your employer is not allowed to fire or punish you. The same goes for testifying in a coworker’s case if you see something happen. Any disciplinary action would qualify as discrimination under the California Labor Code. While you might feel uncomfortable about it, you are doing your due diligence when you report an injury.
Taking unpaid leave
After filing a report, you might worry about getting fired for taking unpaid leave for too long. However, your employer cannot fire you if you are eligible for time off. The California Family Rights Act and Medical Leave Act often require employers to grant up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, depending on the injury.
You must look out for yourself and your coworkers. Warehouse staff can miss out on a whole range of benefits if people are afraid to speak up. No matter what happens, your rights matter.
