Common Hotel Job Injuries and What Workers’ Comp Covers
Hotel Workers in New York Face Real Risks Every Day
Whether it is a luxury high-rise in Midtown Manhattan or a busy chain hotel near LaGuardia Airport, hotels across New York City rely on a dedicated workforce to keep operations running. From housekeepers scrubbing bathrooms to maintenance staff repairing HVAC systems, hotel employees work hard behind the scenes to ensure guests have a safe and comfortable stay.
Unfortunately, the nature of hotel work also means that workers face a high risk of injury. Many people think of hotels as clean, welcoming places to rest, but for employees, they can be filled with physical hazards, repetitive strain, and even threats of violence.
When an injury happens, New York workers’ compensation benefits provide a critical safety net. A successful claim can pay for medical treatment and replace a portion of lost wages while the worker recovers. However, many hotel employees do not fully understand the range of injuries that can occur or how workers' compensation actually applies.
As experienced New York workers’ compensation lawyers, the team at Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP has helped countless hotel employees get the benefits they deserve after a workplace injury. Knowing what to watch out for on the job — and how workers’ compensation can protect you — is the first step to securing your future after an accident.
The Most Common Types of Hotel Job Injuries
Hotel work is physically demanding, often fast-paced, and requires staff to handle a wide range of tasks. This combination can lead to a variety of serious injuries. Some of the most common include:
Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries
Wet bathroom floors, recently mopped lobbies, or cluttered service hallways are just a few of the hazards that lead to slip and fall accidents in hotels. Housekeepers and janitorial staff are particularly at risk because they spend much of their shift moving through different areas and may carry cleaning supplies that limit their visibility.
Falls can cause sprained wrists, torn ligaments, back injuries, or even broken hips. These incidents are not just minor accidents. They can result in prolonged absences from work and costly medical treatment.
Repetitive Stress and Overexertion Injuries
Making beds, pushing heavy carts loaded with towels and linens, or vacuuming dozens of rooms in a single shift puts enormous strain on the body. Over time, these repetitive motions can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, such as tendonitis, bursitis, or chronic lower back pain.
Lifting luggage or restocking supplies can also cause acute injuries if done improperly or without help. Many hotel workers develop long-term problems that are directly tied to the repetitive nature of their daily tasks.
Burns and Chemical Exposure
Kitchen staff, room service employees, and cleaning crews all face exposure to hot surfaces, boiling liquids, or harsh cleaning chemicals. Without proper safety equipment and training, workers can suffer painful burns or respiratory issues caused by inhaling strong fumes.
Even seemingly simple tasks, like using bleach to sanitize a bathroom, can lead to skin irritation or long-term respiratory problems if proper ventilation is lacking.
Cuts and Puncture Wounds
Maintenance workers and anyone handling sharp tools, such as kitchen knives, are at risk of cuts and punctures. Broken glass from dropped drinkware or mirrors can also lead to serious lacerations.
While some cuts are minor, deeper wounds may require stitches and could lead to nerve damage or infections if not treated promptly.
Workplace Violence and Assaults
Front desk employees, security personnel, and even housekeepers entering rooms unexpectedly sometimes face violent confrontations. Whether it involves an unruly guest or a trespasser who poses a threat, hotel staff can become victims of an assault that results in physical and emotional injuries.
New York workers’ compensation laws also recognize mental health injuries in some circumstances, such as when a worker experiences post-traumatic stress disorder after a violent incident on the job.
What Workers’ Compensation Covers for Hotel Employees
New York workers’ compensation is designed to help injured workers get the medical care they need and partially replace wages lost while they are unable to work. If you are a hotel employee in New York who gets hurt on the job, your benefits may include:
- Full payment for reasonable and necessary medical care related to your work injury. This coverage includes doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and mileage for travel to and from appointments.
- Cash benefits for lost wages if you are unable to work or if your injury means you can only work in a reduced capacity that pays less. Typically, wage benefits cover about two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a set maximum.
- Schedule loss of use awards if your injury results in permanent impairment to a body part, such as losing partial use of a hand or leg.
- Vocational rehabilitation services if your injury prevents you from returning to your old job, and you need help training for a new position.
- Death benefits paid to surviving family members if a hotel worker dies from a work-related injury.
Remember, workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. This means you do not have to prove your employer did anything wrong to cause your injury. You only need to show that your injury happened while you were performing your job duties.
Challenges Hotel Workers Often Face with Workers’ Comp
Although the law is supposed to protect injured hotel workers, insurance companies sometimes create obstacles. They may argue that your injury did not happen at work, that your medical condition is less severe than you claim, or that you can return to work sooner than your doctor says.
These tactics can delay benefits and put you in a tough financial position when you are already dealing with pain and stress. Hotel chains and their insurance carriers often have substantial resources on their side. Having a dedicated New York workers’ compensation lawyer gives you a stronger voice to fight back.
Our attorneys regularly assist hotel workers with:
- Filing initial claims and making sure all paperwork is complete and accurate
- Gathering strong medical evidence to prove the extent of injuries
- Handling disputes over whether an injury is truly work-related
- Fighting for full lost wage benefits, especially when employers push light duty or early return to work before it is safe
- Challenging improper denials or low settlement offers
We Fight For Injured Hotel Workers in New York
Hotels rely on employees to keep rooms clean, guests safe, and operations running smoothly. When you get hurt performing those duties, you should not have to worry about how to pay your doctor bills or whether you will be able to afford medical treatment.
New York workers’ compensation law exists to make sure injured hotel workers receive care and financial support without delay. Unfortunately, it is common for insurance carriers to look for reasons to pay as little as possible. This is why having an experienced legal team on your side can be so valuable.
At Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP, we have spent decades standing up for New Yorkers injured at work, including countless hotel employees across the city and state.
If you have questions about filing a claim or if your benefits were denied, contact us today for a free consultation. We will explain your rights, review your situation, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve under New York law.
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