The Holiday Season is here and it’s officially that time of the year where people are running around like crazy trying to find their last minute gifts. It’s the best time of the year for businesses as they’re making their most sales. However, it can be the most stressful time for workers who are trying to do a million things at once. Many businesses need help and hire seasonal workers.

Having more than enough staff on hand helps keep both workers and customers happy. Workers will get the chance to slow down and not feel like they’re being over worked. Customers will also be satisfied with a better shopping experience where their needs will be met from readily available workers. Oftentimes, seasonal positions are only available for a couple months just so businesses can survive the Holiday Season madness. Even though their time of employment may be short, there is still a likely chance that an injury can arise.

In the event of an injury for a seasonal worker, many want an answer to the following question : Do seasonal workers get workers’ compensation in the event of an injury? 

If you are currently working a seasonal position or know of someone who is, it’s important to know that seasonal workers’ are entitled to receiving workers’ compensation in New York State. There are many reasons why a seasonal worker may be more at risk for an injury as opposed to someone who has more experience there and is a full time employee.

Common reasons include the following : 

• Lack of Training : Business owners don’t always have the time to sit down and make sure that new hires are fully trained on everything. However, inexperience and lack of knowledge can lead to a bad injury. Proper training should always be a priority no matter how busy things are. If you don’t have the time to train a worker, then you certainly shouldn’t be hiring seasonal workers. 

• Doing too much at once : Seasonal workers get thrown into the mix at the craziest and busiest time of the year. Oftentimes, they want to be up to speed like the full time workers and over do it by going at a pace beyond their experience level. This then puts them at more risk for accidents like slips, trips, and falls. It’s important to remember that your safety is the most important even when you feel like customers and your co-workers are yelling at you to do things for them. Slow down and go at a pace where you feel comfortable

• Lack of sleep: It’s very common that seasonal workers already have another job, but picked up the position to make more money. Working two or even three jobs is exhausting and can take a toll on your body. Balancing the long hours with no rest time can also throw off one’s sleep schedule. Working all day at your first job  and then going to your next job to work a late shift or even night shift means minimal sleep. Getting proper sleep is crucial for humans to function properly. Lack of it prevents the brain from thinking clearly, which puts yourself in harms way. 

Seasonal workers can be a huge help to businesses during the Holiday Season, but often times don’t get treated as fairly as full-time workers do. If you have recently suffered a bad injury at work or any other work-related injury, please contact Losi and Gangi at 716-854-1446 for a free consultation. We will make sure you are represented fairly throughout every step of your case.

Article adapted from : https://www.insureon.com/blog/small-business-seasonal-worker-poll