It appears that employees of Hyatt hotel locations in Illinois and across the country may have an increased risk for a work accident. Hotel employees have protested and picketed at the annual shareholder meeting to voice their anger. There are claims that the hotel giant embraces an environment of unsafe work conditions, putting their employees at risk of a work accident.
The employees claim that management has been firing long-term staff personnel and replacing them with minimum wage employees. Additionally, the housekeeping staff is allegedly made to clean 30 rooms in an eight-hour shift. This could cause a potential work accident as they are rushing to finish their duties.
There are claims that Hyatt tried to persuade an employee to come back to work after a C-section. When she refused, they attempted to fire her, even though she was recovering from major surgery. To work in that condition would have been a risk to her health and well-being.
Claims filed by employees with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in OSHA sending inspectors to Hyatt hotels in Illinois, as well as another state. There they found work conditions that result in back and neck issues. These hotel locations required employees to do a certain amount of bending and twisting. OSHA has issued 18 citations against the hotels.
Employees that find themselves suffering a work accident from increased risk factors may be eligible for financial compensation. Filing a workers’ compensation claim should begin with careful examination of all evidence from the accident. No worker should be forced to carry out their work duties in an unsafe environment. Those that suffer injuries during the scope of their normal duties do have the right to file for workers’ compensation benefits to help ease their financial strain while unable to work.
Source: thinkprogress.com, “Hyatt Hotel Workers Protest At Its Shareholder Meeting,” Bryce Covert, June 10, 2013
