I got hurt at work due to negligence on their part now they are harassing me..Lawyer or not?
I am a CNA at a nursing home I reported twice in the last two weeks to my dirstor of nursing that I need more help in my area my patients are extemely demented and heavy and no one will help me with them. Toileting and transfering. Both times she said she was going to think about it and I got no help. On sunday morning after a previous hard days work I woke up unable to walk(my left leg wouln’t work) and severe lower back pain. The day before my back was sore but I stayed in bed iced it and took some alieve didn’t get up till the next morning. I felt better and I went to work on sunday. I was taking care of a 260lb woman and followed procedure to transfer with another personand raise the bed so she didn’t have far to go. She started to fall back so I lowered the bed to hip level and had her sit down only the mattress that was suppossed to be secured to the bed wasn’t so her feet started to slide forward her bottow was sliding off the bed because she slipped off the mattress and she was going to fall. Just then my supervisior walked in I asked her to get a machine to safely stand her(it was right outside the room) she said no went behind the bed behind the patient to block the matress (like that was gonna help)and started pulling her backwards by her safety belt the patient was yelling so I asked the supervisor agin to get the machine. she said no lift her by the legs and I’m gonna pull her back. I did and when I stood up I had shooting pains in my lower back and leg.I reported my injury immediately. She blew me off when I told her so I made a big deal then she had to call around because she didn’t know work injury procedure. It is now 5 days later. Doctor is pretty sure I have nerve damage and a possible slipped disk. When I went in to see my HR person she tried to write me up for not reporting the injury on saturday.Anyfeed back? She also made me wait 24hrs until my drug screen to come back to see a doctor cancelled my physical therapy on her own judgement and violated dotors orders by making me walk to and from a rest area while on “light duty” no walking light duty…The rest area was at least 200ft from my work area…HELP!! These people are monsters what do I do??
get a better job…..
First thing you should do it contact your HR persons supervisor. Tell her you want advice on how to handle the situation. If there is a problem with her also then you need to get yourself a lawyer or legal aid who can explain your rights to you. Some lawyers will do this without wanting paid for it (they hope you will hire them if it comes to something)
My suggestion is to document EVERYTHING that is going on and that has gone on.
You are injured at work, you file a first report of injury with the
HR dept. Go to the Dr, and follow the treatment plan. You did not
provide your state, but in all states it is illegal to
harrass/discriminate an employee due to work related injury. Any
time you are delayed or denied benefits you consult with an
attorney competant to handle industrial injury claims. You don’t
get legal advice from a message board. That comes from an attorney.
There is no use discussing this with your HR people. If a light
duty job can’t be offered, you go back to your Dr and request a
return to TTD status.