Those who are going back into the workforce right now are understandably concerned about their own welfare and how well their employers will be caring for them. Workers have legitimate concerns about the safety in the workplace and how protected they are from exposure to the coronavirus and other dangers.
What they see behind the scenes of their workplace is often different from what customers see when they visit the establishment or what safety inspectors see when they assess pandemic readiness in the workplace. Workers may see a surface level adherence to state and federal guidelines for workplace safety and virus protection, but then they may also see that their employers and fellow employees frequently flout the rules and forgo safety recommendations to save time or money.
This kind of behavior is alarmingly common, and it can leave many employees feeling at risk. What kind of legal recourse do they have to protect themselves or to prove negligence in the case of a personal injury or sickness?
Assessing the Legal Implications
It can help to consult with a legal expert right away. For injury or illness, employees should seek out an injury lawyer suggests Mark who is a Toronto Brain Injury Lawyer. For workplace risk and concerns over an unsafe working environment, an employment lawyer may be helpful. Seeking legal counsel can give the employee an idea of what their options are. They can discuss with their lawyer what the next step is and what they can do to protect themselves.
It is often best to work things out with the employer, but that is not always possible. In many cases, the employee has already voiced their concerns to their superiors by the time they seek out legal help.
An employment lawyer or a personal injury lawyer can help to assess the situation and determine if legal action is viable or if the employee needs to wait and gather evidence. A lawyer may sometimes advise talking directly to management, perhaps with the support of a lawyer to strengthen the employee’s plea and to ensure that the concerns being raised are taken seriously.
Moving Forward with Legal Action
Each situation is different, but clients should know that when they take legal action against their own employers, it can create some friction in the workplace. Their lawyer should advise them about what to expect from their employers and fellow employees. In cases where the employee has left the workplace, taking legal action against a former employer can be simpler and less awkward, but while still in the workplace, they will want full legal protection and counsel helping them out as they proceed with litigation.
If you feel unsafe where you work and at risk for contracting coronavirus, or if you see instances of safety guidelines not being followed, then it is important that you take action to protect yourself. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is seek out a lawyer who deals with these kinds of problems and who will be able to advise you moving forward.
