More retail employees on the floor this season
The nation's second-largest retailer, Target, is hiring an additional 100,000 people to work for their distribution centers and retail stores during the 2017 holiday season. This is a 40% increase from the number of seasonal employees they hired last year. This news came after Target posted higher than usual sales in the second quarter of this year. Each year, the number of seasonal employees a company hires gives a look at the retailer's holiday demands. The 100,000 additional employees, combined with the fact that Target has also lowered their prices on a large number of items, clearly indicates that they expect an influx of shoppers.
Of course, it's not just Target. In an attempt to keep up with online retail companies such as Amazon, many retail stores are including more locations for their "ship to store" online option. This will require a large number of seasonal employees to meet that demand and work extra hard.
Injured seasonal employees deserve workers' compensation
Many retail stores hire additional workers during the holiday season. With the surge of sales and seemingly endless crowds of people searching for that perfect holiday gift, it makes sense to hire extra help. However, adding such a staggering number of new employees during the holiday season can greatly increase the chance of a workplace accident. Even after orientation, it takes time to adjust to a new work environment. The holiday rush can also be stressful for retail workers, increasing pressure to work harder. It only takes one careless mistake during the holiday crunch time to cause a workplace accident.
At Hochman & Plunkett Co., L.P.A., our workplace accident lawyers know that if a temporary employee is injured while they are at work, that employees has the same rights to workers' compensation as any of their coworkers who may have been there longer. Moreover, it is the responsibility of corporations such as Target and other retail stores to ensure that their employees are working in a safe environment and that all necessary safeguards have been put in place to reduce the risk of an accident.
When you are faced with the difficulties that arise after a workplace accident, you need a lawyer who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. If you were injured in an accident while at work, contact us today.