With the coming holiday season, many American workplaces experience a surge in production, demand, and seasonal employees. The holiday rush can make for extra stress and a time crunch both on and off the job, and for those in workplaces dealing with a holiday surge, it can also bring health and safety hazards.
The season begins with Thanksgiving and ends after New Year’s Day. This is generally a busier time of year for many across the United States due to holiday-themed social, community, and school events. The holiday season also means additional traffic on the roads for retail shopping and holiday travel.
Hazards of Holiday and Seasonal Work
Even for employees who are not in an industry, such as retail sales or shipping and transportation that are most affected by the holiday rush, the holiday can still bring health and safety hazards. Regular employment may be affected by the holidays, including more staff using time off, resulting in extra responsibilities for others. The season can also bring atypical work hazards, such as falls from ladders while putting up a display, electrical risks from decorative lighting, and weather risks. Staff with outside commitments may result in extra fatigue. Fatigue is a serious factor in many workplace accidents, so employers should be mindful of these factors that are not always obvious.
For those who are hired for seasonal work in industries that rely on short-term staffing to meet seasonal obligations, there are a different set of risks. Seasonal employees are hired on a shorter turnaround time and undergo limited health and safety training. Many seasonal workers are hired through temporary staffing agencies, further removing them from the on-site onboarding process that permanent hires receive. Holiday employment is also an attractive option for teenage workers with minimal work experience, meaning employers cannot assume they are aware of basic workplace practices.
Employers have a responsibility regardless of employees’ permanent or temporary status to comply with all occupational health and safety regulations. Employers are also responsible for supervising the training of seasonal workers. Communication is key to ensuring the onboarding process for all employees is sufficient and constantly monitored. Employees should know their rights if injured on the job. Workers’ compensation exists to protect workers and provide compensation for their injuries. If you were hurt on the job, regardless of your employment status, it is strongly recommended to contact a workers’ compensation lawyer.
Cherry Hill Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP Advocate for Seasonal Employees Injured on the Job
If you are a seasonal employee that suffered a work injury, the Cherry Hill workers’ compensation lawyers at Pietras Saracino Smith & Meeks, LLP can help. We know how devastating a workplace injury can be and we will work to obtain the compensation you deserve. Located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we represent clients throughout South Jersey, including Camden, Cinnaminson, Delran, Maple Shade, and Pennsauken. For a free consultation, complete our online form or call us at 856-761-3773.
