Avoiding Injury During a Seasonal Job

Spring, summer, fall and winter. Each season offers different seasonal job opportunities for people looking for extra money. Whether you’re a college student home on break or a homemaker looking to earn a little extra gift money before the holidays, it’s important that you understand your rights as a seasonal employee as well as the risks that are involved. For example, did you know that seasonal workers are at a much higher risk for workplace injuries than is true of full time or part-time workers who are in the same job through the course of the year?  It’s true. Whether you’re talking about helping out during the harvest or retail sales during the Christmas shopping season, you need to focus on safety and understand what your rights are in the event that you get hurt on the job.

There are a few reasons why seasonal workers are at greater risk than others. The most common reason is that workers who are viewed as being short-term help, and who are hired to fill in during the busiest times of the year, are often not given the same amount of training as those who employers view as long-term employees. Where companies are willing to invest in people who will be staying with them for an extended period of time, those who are only going to be with the company for a few months aren’t seen as worth the time or money. Though this may not seem like a big deal to the seasonal worker, safety should always be a priority: you need to know what the hazards of the job are, what to do in an emergency, and proper use of equipment. Cutting back on training and safety instructions for seasonal employees is short-sighted. When this type of on-the-job training isn’t provided, it leaves employees far more vulnerable to injury, and far more likely to end up needing to file for workers’ compensation from their employees.

Workers’ compensation is not only available to employees who work throughout the year. When seasonal workers are hurt on the job, they are just as eligible for this benefit as the rest of a company’s employees. Workers’ compensation provides relief by paying for medical expenses and can also provide a portion of lost wages. If you have been hurt on the job and need information about your right to file for this important benefit, contact us today to set up an appointment.