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McDonalds’ Workers Serving Up Unhappy Meals? Injured Workers In the News, #109

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Edward Singer

A problematic workplace has plagued an Australian McDonalds. Alleged rat infestation created workplace disharmony along with “… falling ceiling tiles, exposed wiring, and broken air conditioners that are subjecting workers to unnecessary risks.” News.com.au

This article will discuss how whether these workplace problems necessarily translate into workers’ compensation claim for work injury.

Do These McDonalds’ Facts Constitute a Work Injury?

With California Law, horrible work conditions do not automatically translate into work injury claims. Dangerous work conditions are a matter for the Department of Industrial Relations. In California, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), better known as Cal/OSHA, protects and improves the health and safety of working men and women and the safety of passengers riding on elevators, amusement rides, and tramways. This is achieved in a variety of ways including setting and enforcing standards, providing outreach, education, and assistance Issuing permits, licenses, certifications, registrations, and approvals. While there may not be any physical injuries, the conditions may warrant inspections and fines.

Could These Facts Lead to A Work Injury?

Yes. These facts could not only lead to work injuries, but they could also lead to a claim of Serious and Willful Misconduct. Ceiling tiles can fall and injure workers. Workers can trip and fall on exposed wires. Further,, employees can develop heat stroke while working in hot conditions. Finally, there is the possibility an employee could get an infection or disease as a result of the rodents. Finally, these conditions might be so horrible that the workers might suffer emotional stress to the extent that they develop a mental disorder. Any mental disorder claim should be supported by the opinion of a mental health practitioner.

What if I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

TACO HELL? INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS, #107

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Edward Singer

A Mexican Restaurant- Taco John’s-was on the verge of being renamed Taco Hell. Reportedly, an infestation of unruly teenagers was turning a paradise of guacamole and fajitas into purgatory.

According to the Nypost.com, there were multiple events which involved activities such as middle school students stealing soda and condiments. The teens were accused of leaving huge messes and disrespecting employees. They also made problems in the lobby. On one occasion, a rock was tossed at am employee.

This article will discuss the nature of workers’ compensation stress claims in a hostile work environment.

Can This Conduct Give Rise To A Workers’ Compensation Claim?

Yes. If this matter happened in California, the Food Service Workers at the establishment might have claims for stress. Certainly, the teens’ reported horrible conduct could certainly trigger emotions that could lead to a full blown psychiatric disorder. The activities alone, however, are insufficient to prove a work-related injury claim. Injured Employees must have must have an actual medical diagnosis, i.e. anxiety disorder. These diagnoses are opined by medical professionals.

What Type of Injury Claim Would It Be?

Workers’ Compensation has a variety of ways to please claims on the workers’ compensation DWC-1 form. Give these fact pattern, there is likely both cumulative traumas or specific incidents that occurred. For instance, a “specific” injury might have occurred to the worker who was subjected having a rock launched at them. With respect to the workers who had to frequently address the messes left behind by the allegedly devilish teens, their complaints would be along the lines of a cumulative trauma claim.

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Man Threatens Wendy’s Employee With A Gun: Injured Workers in the News #70

Posted on November 23, 2022 by Edward Singer

A Wendy’s Fast Food Worker reportedly had a bad drive thru incident. A customer pulled a gun. Apparently, there was a missing sauce packet! It was reported that the man “was driving around the parking lot brandishing a gun and refusing to leave.” foxnews.com

There is no report of any physical injury. Thus, we will discuss whether this fact pattern can give rise to a workers’ compensation claim.

Can This Fact Pattern Give Rise to A Work Injury?

In California, there is no need to have a physical altercation in order to have a work injury claim. In this instance, there was an actual incident. We have a customer acting in a hostile fashion. He was reportedly brandishing a weapon and acting in a menacing fashion. If the Worker experienced a physical reaction to this event, it would be considered as a work-related event. In this matter, if the Worker had accidently not provided the customer the sauce packet, it would not be relevant. Workers’ compensation is a “no fault” system. This event would not be considered as a “good faith personnel action.” It was merely an exchange between an employee and a customer.

What Type of injury Can Be Claimed?

In California, it is possible to have both physical and psychological injuries arise from such an incident. Injuries, however, must be documented by medical specialists. In this instance, there could be a physical injury, i.e. an aggravation of a blood pressure condition. Likewise, a psychiatric disorder could be found as well, i.e. a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. It should be emphasized that the incident alone does not make a claim. There must also be an injury.

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BURGER KING MELEE LEAVES YOUTHFUL FAST FOOD WORKERS INJURED: INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS #62

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Edward Singer

Fast Food Workers at a Burger King encountered a true “burger insanity” moment.

According to the reports, “[i]t started with an unruly customer and spilled pop. By the time it was over, a 17-year-old worker had to get stitches for a cut to the forehead and a 15-year-old, working her first job, suffered a busted jaw and broken teeth.” www.woodtv.com

It was reported that the unruly drive-thru customer came into the store and started to make a disturbance. Apparently, the staff tried to get the customer out of the store and lock the door. A scuffle occurred. The 15 year old worker said that “[w]hen I got up, all I heard was ringing. I was crying. I couldn’t open my jaw. As soon as I opened up, all you seen is blood coming down,” the 15-year-old, who asked not to be identified, said. “I barely remember what happened. After the surgery, it was just too much.” www.woodtv.com The worker reported that “I have screws right here, right here and under here,” she showed News 8 Wednesday, pointing to her still-swollen jaw. “Right here, it’s all numb. The doctor says that might never go away. www.woodtv.com “I have like five teeth cracked and he knocked out one in the back,” she continued. “I’m on a full liquid diet for six weeks straight. No solid food. I can barely open my mouth.” www.woodtv.com

Also, for one of the workers, it was her first day on the job.

This article will address many issues concerning young workers and a multi-faceted injury.

Why Was This a Mult-Faceted Work Injury?

Given the facts, it appears that the blows to the face caused a number of injuries. The injuries could include head trauma, dental trauma, cosmetic trauma, and psychiatric trauma. As such, its is important for these workers to see a variety of specialists to obtain a proper work up.

The Fact that A Worker Had Only Worked One Day, Is That Important?

In Workers’ Compensation, Permanent Disability and Temporary Disability payments are made based upon the Worker’s Average Weekly Wage. In this instance, assuming this was the young worker’s first day of ever working anywhere. Also, assuming that the the worker had a future schedule of part-time hours, there are many ways of figuring out what should be the proper wage. If a wage cannot be figured out and the earnings were not much, workers’ compensation law has a minimum rate which is paid to the worker.

Below is an article about the calculation of the wages.

How Workers’ Compensation Benefits are Calculated

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WAS A MCDONALD’S WORKER BEING SHOT IN THE FACE A WORK INJURY? INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS, #50

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Edward Singer

In Brooklyn, a McDonald’s Worker was shot in the face. After the incident, the worker was reportedly in critical care as a result of the incident.

The facts of the case are that there was this Worker was in a dispute with a customer inside the restaurant. After the incident, the Worker, for reasons not clear, went outside of the store. There, the dispute continued. It is reported that the customer’s son shot the McDonald’s Worker in the face. Nypost.com

UPDATE: Since this post, there is additional information from a Nypost.com article. It appears that there was an initial dispute concerning cold fries. The customer’s son and the McDonald’s Worker exchanged words in the store and there was a conversation apparently about taking the matter outside. It is reported that the Worker may have gone outside to search for the customer’s son and an incident occurred.

This case will be discussed along the lines of California Law with respect to the issues.

Was This an Industrial Injury for the Purposes of Workers’ Compensation?

While a case may look like it is work-related, in order to get workers’ compensation benefits, an injury must arise out of and be in the course and scope of employment. This requires some analysis.

In this particular case, there are questions that need to be answered. Two matters of important is whether the Worker was the Initial physical aggressor and whether the Applicant deviated from employment.

Given this fact pattern, the reason why the McDonald’s Worker left the store is important. Did the Worker want to get in a fight with the customer? Did the worker initiate physical contact?

The other aspect to consider is whether there was a deviation. Did the employee’s actions remove him from being considered to be in the workplace? With this analysis, the location of the outside incident is of importance. Was it on the McDonald’s premises or off? Was it a mile away from the store? Further, was he on a break, or was he working on the clock when he went outside?

Can A Claim Like This Be Delayed?

Yes. Labor Code Section 5402(b) affords an insurance company 90 days to investigate. In this matter, given the analysis provided above, an insurance company should send an investigator out to obtain witness statements, obtain the video from the store if any, and obtain a copy of the police report. My personal impression is that the additional facts would likely support a finding of industrial injury. Without knowing more, I would think that the incident happened while on premises. The fact that the incident was on the premises would play a large factor in the analysis. [update: If the worker left the work site to have a confrontation, more facts are needed concerning what happened. The location of the confrontation and its nature are important. Further, the reason for the confrontation is important as well.

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