Employer negligence is a common workplace occurrence. Regardless of what you may have heard, you can sue your employer or supervisor for causing you harm or neglecting your safety and health at the workplace. While there may be some exceptions to this rule, there is no reason for you to ignore your employer’s blatant negligence. When you signed a contract with your company, your employer became liable to protect you at work; if they failed, you have every right to sue them. In this article, find out seven common signs of employer negligence.
- Lack of care for potential hazards
Ignoring health risks or hazards falls upon the shoulders of your employer. Specifically, following healthcare guidelines is crucial for those working in industries where manual labor is involved. Your employer must review the job site frequently for potential health risks to the workers. In building and construction industries, harmful materials and dangerous machinery are common. For instance, asbestos exposure can harm workers coming in contact with it. Asbestos, though banned, is illegally used in construction and steel industries. Suppose you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma; you can file a claim for employer’s negligence. Many mesothelioma law firms like Sokolove Law can help you get financial compensation for your employer’s failure. Treatment for mesothelioma can cost you thousands of dollars. Through a lawsuit, you would be able to hold the culprits accountable.
- Negligent hiring
An essential part of an employer’s duty is to hire suitable individuals for the role and workplace. A proper screening must take place before hiring each new employee. It includes conducting background checks, personality tests, and other methods for testing skills and suitability for the role. Not only for the company, but new employees must not pose a significant threat to coworkers, the general public, or others at the workplace. Crimes like murder, injury to a coworker, harassment, assault, or property loss are results of negligent hiring.
- Negligent training
After hiring, an employer must properly train you or anyone they hire for work. Lack of training can cause irreversible issues at work. For example, if you don’t know how to use a machine or handle a task, there could be health risks or economic losses. Similarly, if the untrained employee causes harm to the general public or a coworker, the employer is to blame. Specifically, in industries with specific safety rules and guidelines, adequate training is essential. Unfortunately, some employers avoid training due to high costs and time, but the consequences are safety hazards for everyone involved.
- Lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Similar to adequate training and addressing health risks, your employer is responsible for providing you with protective equipment to complete your job. Apart from medicine, PPE is widespread in a lot of other industries. The building, construction, and mining industries are common examples. Employees must have the gear to protect their eyes, mouth, and body from potential injury or exposure to toxic substances. Before COVID, PPE wasn’t commonly used in many fields and workplaces. However, in the post-pandemic era, employers are expected and ordered to address health risks and provide Protective equipment like masks and hazmat suits when necessary. PPE will not just protect you from coming in contact with something harmful but prevent its spread.
- Negligent retention of employees
Failure to take disciplinary action against unsuitable behavior in the workplace is negligent on the employer’s end. Negligent retention refers to an employer retaining an unfit employee for a job which puts the well-being of the workforce and the organization at risk.
- Negligent supervision
Negligent supervision arises from incompetency or excessive workload. For example, suppose your employer or supervisor is too busy to assess and supervise a new hire. In that case, they risk other workers and the workplace’s harmony. Specifically, in jobs requiring handling machinery or sensitive equipment that costs thousands of dollars, leaving the workers on their own isn’t very responsible. In addition, lack of training and supervision can put others in the workplace or the general public at risk, for which the employer must be held accountable.
- Breach of privacy
Many background checks and screening tests take place during the hiring process. It involves exchanging sensitive information that must be kept within company records, away from those it doesn’t concern. If personal information is leaked, it constitutes a breach of privacy. Your employer is liable to protect you from privacy breaches. It is common for personal contact information, performance reviews, or salary information to get leaked at workplaces, though it must not happen. If you’re the victim of a privacy breach at work, you can take action against your employer’s negligence.
Conclusion
If you have experienced any of the above signs at work, you might have encountered a negligent employer. Bodily harm, psychological stress, or lack of attention are signs of employer neglect, and you can hold them accountable. Plenty of law firms and lawyers specialize in this field, so book a consultation to explore your options and gain the compensation you deserve.
