Navigating Holiday Scheduling Injuries for Nurses and Aides: What Counts and What Doesn’t

The healthcare industry is notorious for long shifts, especially during the holiday season. Many nurses and aides face last-minute schedule changes and extra hours, and the added stress can lead to more workplace accidents if they’re not careful. If you’re working during the holidays and suffer an injury, New York’s workers’ compensation benefits can give you the lifeline you need as you recover.

Why Holiday Scheduling Increases Injury Risks

Holiday staffing shortages often force nurses and health aides to pick up more shifts to make up for lost coverage. Many healthcare workers also report heavier workloads and fewer breaks. When you combine all these factors, you get healthcare workers who are exhausted, stressed, and more likely to make serious mistakes.

What Injuries Usually Count as Work-Related

In most cases, any injury that happens while you’re at work counts for workers’ compensation benefits. This includes accidents that happen during overtime hours or extra shifts. Some of the common injuries that nurses and aides might face during holiday scheduling include:

• Slip-and-fall accidents from wet floors
• Back and shoulder injuries from lifting equipment or patients
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Mental health issues
• Worsening of pre-existing injuries due to overwork

Even if your injury develops over time, you may still be eligible for workers’ comp. The most important thing here is that your injury happens during your assigned schedule and while performing your job duties.

Injuries That Aren’t Covered

Not every accident that happens during a holiday shift qualifies. Injuries that occur during unpaid breaks or when you’re off the clock generally aren’t covered. For example, if you were hurt while running personal errands or having lunch somewhere, you won’t be covered.

The same goes if you caused your injuries by ignoring safety rules, such as incorrectly lifting equipment after repeated training. Commuting accidents are also out of the question, even if you were called in at the last minute. The only exceptions to this are if you’re driving a company-provided car, traveling between sites as part of your duties, or performing a task your employer requires you to do while working.

Why Holiday Injury Claims Are Often Disputed

If you file a workers’ comp claim during the holidays, expect more scrutiny from your employer’s insurer. Due to how chaotic scheduling is at this time, an adjuster might push back on your claim. This becomes an even bigger issue when you’re covering for someone else or when the schedule changes randomly, as the timing can create even more confusion.

Fatigue or exhaustion might also be another reason why insurers could dispute your claim. They could try to pin your injury on simple burnout rather than address the real issue. Regardless of their arguments, always have strong evidence showing when and how the injury occurred. This reduces any chances of them denying your holiday claim by blaming it on unrelated issues.

Schedule A Case Review With Our Lawyers

If you get injured during a holiday shift, remember that you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. Our lawyers have decades of experience helping nurses, aides, and other medical staff resolve insurance disputes and ensure they receive the benefits they’re entitled to. Contact us at 855-208-7852 to schedule a free consultation with us today.