Employee has unexpected ending to his first day of work: A viral video and a legal breakdown

A viral video, in which an employee has unexpected ending to his very first day on the job has gone viral, and a TikTok lawyer has weighed in on the legal implications of the incident.

The video features a newbie employee on his first day on the job. Attempting to open a container, he has encountered an unexpected surprise when a package falls out, hitting him square in the face.

The Unlucky Incident

In response to the video, Attorney Lord points out the need to be careful when dealing with unstable objects, such as the container in the video. He points out that contents may have shifted during transportation, and therefore, it would have been sensible for the employee to open the luggage slowly.

“The smart thing to do is to open this container slowly cause we all know that contents may have shifted while it was in transit.” he said.

He then goes on to explain that if an employee is injured on the job, “it’s actually the employer who’s responsible under Workers Comp.”

“And makes this employer liable for all the damages that happen next” Lord concludes.

Related Legal Implications

This situation casts the principle of Workers Compensation in sharp focus. Under this scheme, when employees fall sick or get hurt as a direct consequence of their jobs, they are due benefits. These include medical care, disability payments, lost wages and even death benefits.

Nevertheless, there are various criteria that should be met to qualify for such benefits.

First, the individual must be employed, for the most part independent contractors. And, freelancers are generally not covered by the Workers Compensation laws.

Secondly, the injury or sickness must have a direct connection to the job.

Finally, California law requires employees to notify their employer of any work-related injuries or illness within 30 days of occurrence.

Of course, there are always exceptions to these rules. Self-inflicted injuries, injuries while committing crime, or even when an employee was not at work are not eligible.

In terms of the rights accorded to employees filing a Workers Compensation claim in California, these include the right to medical treatment, temporary and permanent disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and the right to appeal if the employee disagrees with the decision made regarding their benefits.

This eventually means the employer of the man in the video is liable for any damages of a workplace accident.

Users’ Attention

As anticipated, the fact that this employee has unexpected ending has led to a flood of comments from TikTok users. Some people find the unfortunate event funny while others could be concerned about the health of the employee.

“Bro opened that container like it was full of money”

“Remember kids, whenever it’s someone’s first day on the job. Instead of training them, just whip out your phone and record the injury you saw coming from 20 miles away.” Another joked.

And, some users also shared their experiences with workplace injuries.

“I used to be a trucker and was told by my trainer to always stay behind the door as you are opening it. Keeps you from getting hit and it’s easier to hook the hook the trailer door to the trailer.”

Conclusion

In all, this video offers laughter and a reminder of workplace safety and employee rights in accidents, as well. All of us have to be careful with shifting contents, whether in a container or our everyday office tasks.