Many employees who work in nursing homes in Hollywood, Homestead, and other Florida communities are concerned right now. With the coronavirus outbreak, staff at nursing homes are at risk if there is an outbreak in a long-term care facility, and since there have been many such outbreaks, many employees are justifiably worried.
Compounding the problem is the fact that there is not enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect all staff and in some locations getting tested for the virus can be difficult. In addition, some people who have the COVID-19 virus are asymptomatic. They can pass the illness onto others because they do not know they are unwell, allowing the illness to spread rapidly. Since nursing home staff work closely with residents, they are especially at risk.
What You Can Do as an Employee
If you work in a nursing home and are worried about job safety, you may have questions. You may wonder whether you must report for work, even if you are concerned about the virus or even if you are immunocompromised and thus more likely to suffer serious ill effects from COVID-9. You may wonder what you can do to protect yourself.
If you work in a nursing home, you will want to learn from your employer what they are doing in order to keep you safe. Your employer should be providing you with safety protocols and taking steps to prevent an outbreak at the nursing home.
If you are not being provided with protective equipment, contact your union if you’re unionized. You can also bring your own protective equipment to work. Wash your hands often and try to maintain social distancing whenever possible. You will also want to contact your physician or clinic to find out about getting tested for the virus.
What Are My Rights?
Many essential workers, including those working at assisted living facilities and care homes, wonder whether they have a right to refuse to work if they are worried about the virus. You do have a right to refuse work if it is unsafe, but in general your employer can terminate your employment if you refuse to work. If you have questions about your rights, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free, no obligation consultation with an attorney.
What Can I Do If I Get Ill at Work in Hollywood?
If you do get the virus, you may qualify for emergency benefits and possibly worker’s compensation as you recover at home. If you have been exposed to the virus and would like to know what options you have or would like to speak to someone about filing a legal claim, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation with a worker’s compensation attorney. You can also contact us if you think you have been denied workers’ compensation benefits when you do qualify.
Our legal team has more than six decades of combined experience and we are able to offer virtual consultations. Even if you are ill or do not want to travel to meet with an attorney, our consultation can happen over the phone or through video conferencing to help you get the answers you need.