The holiday season is a whirlwind for retail workers – and retailers know that. Retailers have added over a half million extra workers are just to get through the period.
Unfortunately, a lot of those retailer workers are going to struggle with the extended hours, crowds of customers and demands of the high-stress environment, and that can lead to significant workplace injuries like these.
Slips, trips and falls
Crowded aisles, spilled beverages and wet floors from snow or rain increase the likelihood of slips and falls. Temporary employees may not have experience navigating these kinds of obstacles – and they may lack the appropriate slip-resistant footwear.
Muscle strains and sprains
Heavy lifting is a common task for retail workers, especially when restocking shelves or handling the kinds of large boxes that those “big ticket” items tend to come in. Holiday employees may not know the right way to lift to avoid back, shoulder and neck injuries.
Cuts and lacerations
There are tons of boxes that have to be opened when retail workers are stocking and restocking the shelves. Box cutters and scissors can slip from their grasp and cause serious injuries. Even relatively minor cuts can lead to infections and other problems.
Customer violence
Unfortunately, the holiday shopping season is not always fun. Some customers can lose their cool and take their frustrations out on the nearest retail employee. Confrontations can turn physical, and retail workers may be injured.
Regardless of the cause of a workplace injury, seasonal employees need to understand that they’re entitled to the same workers’ compensation benefits that all other employees are due.
