On July 6, I had 2 brain aneurysms rupture while on the job.in company vehicle, clothes, etc. A co-worker took me to the emergency room where I was then taken to a larger facility.
Not one phone from my company to check on my condition, in which I had emergency, life saving surgery for the ruptured brain aneurysms. No workmans comp. Nothing. Zippo.
I was in the hospital for 16 days. Recooperated for app. 3-4 weeks before returning to work. They made accomodations for me, as far as my work load due to the fact that the doctors had found 2 more aneurysms on the other side of my brain and we all knew I would have to leave work again to have a second surgery. However, no mention of any financial help, medically, salary, nothing. I did not have insurance for these procedures.
The co worker who took me to the hospital said she and the lead meter reader filled out workman's comp papers and each made a statement to what had happened that day. They then noticed that the papers had suddenly disappeared. I received no paper work at all regarding this matter from Bermex at all.
I would think that because it did happen while I was on the job that Bermex would have filled out some kind of workmans compensation papers, called my home during my recovery, but they did absolutely nothing. They did not call to see if my prescriptions were being paid for or did I need any help and YES I did, physically, mentally and financially.
This company offered me nothing more than zero. Other than a few close friends, it was NOT discussed except one time by any supervisor or anyone else in the office. I could've died due to the severity of this and they sat on their rear ends, doing nothing.
As if this is not bad enough we were told by more than one supervisor that we didn't need to take a lunch, we should just eat on the run since we were meter readers and had to get the job done. Most of us never took a lunch and worked straight through but were never once paid anything extra on our paychecks for not taking lunches. Many days we worked overtime to get the routes finished and still received nothing extra. Only if we mentioned it a million times did we now and then get an hour here and there overtime.
We were told, rain, snow, sleet, hail and including lightning, we were to continue working. Yes, in our handbooks it does mention most weather conditions, but I don't think life threatening conditions should be included. We were never given water bottles or anything such as this when the weather reched 90 degrees and above. We're busting our rear ends running to get our jobs finished and they could not offer you a drink of water.
When I came back from my second surgery I was due for my annual raise of, wait... Are you ready??? 30 cents!!! The district manager told my supervisor that I should have to wait due to the fact "that I hadn't been there." When I finally decided to quit this joke of a company, I still had not received the back pay in which I had finally been approved for my raise.
We had one co worker who never worked past 2 P.M., because he "had to get his daughter off of the school bus." He would leave a route that he was splitting with someone else and never even try to contact his co-worker to tell them he was leaving. He would do this literally each and everyday. Nothing and I do mean nothing was done about this. He received the same full time pay the rest of us did. Yes, there were days when we would get finished earlier than our quitting time and receive a full days pay, but for the most of us, it was ALL day. We didn't have the option to leave early.
I feel as this company not only owes me every penny of workman's comp, but should be held liable for my ruptured brain aneurysms. I could have died on the side of the road if the Good Lord above had not given me the strength to make a call to my co-worker to help me. Bermex, Inc. Could have cared less. These people offered no help what so ever.
I busted my butt for them when I was on the job. Many days I would go help other co-workers that were not even on my schedule of routes to do. Write the reads on paper, so that they could leave with the rest of us. I did not mind, but did Bermex ever recognize the fact that I was willing to do this? Absolutely not!
I have a few witnesses that will back up every word I have said here.
I was on the clock, going to start my route when this very unfortunate thing happened to me. Whatever reasons it happened, I don't know, but it did happen while I was on Bermex Inc.'s time. I think I deserve more than a pat on the back or a handshake. The people at Sawnee Electric in which Bermex contracts from were far more concerned than my own district manager or anyone in the corporate office. I think they should compensate me in everyway imaginable. What do you think?
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