In some instances, working overtime offers an employee a much-desired chance to earn some extra income. However, it’s not uncommon for many California employers to ask that employees work overtime when said employees themselves might prefer not to.
Working overtime can result in working while fatigued. This may be very dangerous in certain industries and jobs. When you are fatigued, your chances of being harmed in an accident at work tend to increase.
Have you been injured in a work-related accident that occurred when you were working overtime hours? If so, contact an Encino workplace overtime injury attorney at the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach to review your case. We are prepared to help you recover the compensation for which you may be eligible.
Asking an employee to work longer than they usually would put an employee at risk if they are forced to work when they are relatively tired.
This can easily increase a worker’s chances of being involved in an on-the-job accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lack of sleep can result in a degree of impairment very similar to what someone would experience if they were drunk. If a worker is getting less sleep than they need because they are working long hours, their ability to safely perform a variety of work-related tasks will be limited.
Additionally, simply being at work and attending to one’s work duties can result in even greater fatigue. This is another factor contributing to an increased risk of being harmed in an otherwise avoidable accident.
Signs that you may be fatigued at work include the following:
It’s easy to understand how these symptoms can put you at risk when performing certain work tasks. Unfortunately, some employers fail to consider this when asking that employees work overtime.
California’s workers’ compensation laws are designed to favor employees. You do not need to demonstrate that an accident resulted from anyone’s negligence to show that you are eligible to recover workers’ compensation benefits. You merely need to show that the accident which caused your injury occurred while you were operating as an employee.
However, this does not mean that filing a workers’ compensation claim will immediately lead to a fair payout. To minimize their financial losses, an insurance company will often attempt to deny a claim by arguing that an accident was not genuinely work-related. When denying a claim outright is not an option, an insurer will still typically attempt to convince an employee to settle for less than their claim may be worth.
You do not need to accept the unreasonably low offers an insurance company initially makes. Our Encino workplace overtime injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach are prepared to negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online or calling us at 818-609-7005 to schedule your free consultation.
