Subway restaurant franchise owners and managers call their employees "sandwich artists" because they are trained to create works of art from the basic ingredients used to make Subway sandwiches. Subway remains a global phenomenon and is the largest fast food chain in the world.
They are known for selling affordable custom sandwiches. Typical responsibilities of a Subway Sandwich employee include:
- Cheerfully greet customers when preparing an order.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of each menu item and provide instructions to help customers prepare their sandwiches.
- Leverage Subway's point-of-sale policy to use cash registers to determine billing and accurately take customer orders.
- Take payments in cash/change or help customers swipe their credit/debit card to complete the transaction.
- Responsible for any form of payment that employees receive during their shift.
- Always follow Subway's instructions for preparing and chopping vegetables.
- Prepare your sandwiches neatly and in time by following the Subway recipe.
- Replenishes depleted inventory in the sandwich line to ensure adequate merchandise and menu options are available throughout the shift.
- Follow proper food handling procedures, including maintaining a healthy and safe environment during preparation, delivery to customers, and thorough cleaning of sandwiches.
- Clean and maintain each area of a Subway restaurant using Subway cleaning methods and procedures to ensure cleanliness.
While Subway offers a variety of part-time and full-time opportunities, Subway "sandwich artists" pay significantly less than other entry-level jobs, according to CNN Money.
If you or someone in your family is injured while working at a Subway Sandwich shop in Chicago, IL, you may be entitled to workplace injury benefits.
Contact Chicago, ILWorkers Compensation AttorneysLearn more and review your legal rights and opportunities with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC for free.
The Perils of Subway Sandwich Workers
According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regarding the restaurant industry, approximately 28,000 fast food restaurant workers are injured each year and require emergency care and treatment. Most of the injured workers were teenagers who lacked the experience to perform their jobs safely.
Research shows that many young people who work at Subway, McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and other fast food restaurants have overconfidence in their ability to do their jobs and create dangerous situations through reckless behavior.
In addition, the rapid turnover of restaurant staff often means that managers and supervisors do not adequately train new employees. Lack of training can lead to serious safety hazards when workers are required to use knives, work near hot ovens, and use mechanical cutters to prepare deli meats. Some of the more common hazards Subway sandwich makers face every day in their work environment include:
- Puncture wounds, cuts and bruises- Every subway worker has to prepare sandwiches for the customers in the back room with knives, cut vegetables and finish the sandwiches on the assembly line.
- electric combustion- Workers may come into contact with faulty equipment and frayed/cracked cords, which may cause severe electric shock.electric shock, or combustion.
- Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD).– Standing in one place on the assembly line and assembling sandwiches from customer orders can lead to fatigue. When workers work long hours in uncomfortable positions, they can develop musculoskeletal disorders that lead to muscle strains, strains, and pain.
- Heavy lifting injury– Most containers of goods shipped to Subway sandwich restaurants come in large boxes filled with industrial-sized containers, jars and bottles. If workers are not adequately trained to effectively lift heavy objects, including boxes and buckets, they can develop serious back injuries that can lead to lifelong chronic problems.
- Exposure to toxic fumes– To ensure a clean environment, workers must use toxic chemicals and detergents. Mixing ammonia and chlorine creates toxic fumes which, if not properly ventilated, can cause serious breathing problems, lung damage and possible death.
- Repetitive Motion Injury (RMI)– The essence of the fast food job in a subway restaurant is the repetitive movements of making sandwiches on the assembly line or chopping vegetables and other foods in the background. Over time, workers who repeatedly perform the same motions may develop RMI symptoms such as tingling in the fingers, hands, wrists, arms, elbows, shoulders, back, and neck. In severe cases, workers may develop carpal tunnel syndrome, which may require surgery to minimize numbness in the hands.
- worked tired- Many restaurant workers, including those at Subway, McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Carl's Jr. and others, work late, especially during night shifts. Overworked hours can leave workers physically and mentally exhausted, which can take a long time to fully recover.
- violence in the workplace- Like many fast food restaurants, Subway sandwich shops are often the target of violent crimes such as burglary, theft or robbery. These violent incidents often result in tragic outcomes with injury or death to employees, guests and visitors.
Getting so sick while working at a fast food restaurant that employees are forced to stay home with nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting is a serious problem. Statistics from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that more than 12% of fast food workers become seriously ill each year and have to take time off work.
Many of these diseases are believed to be work-related and are caused by a weakened immune system caused by overwork or public exposure.
Subway sandwich worker wages
Annual U.S. Employment Data for 2016 The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there were 81,000 fast food workers in the Chicago, Naperville and Arlington Heights area.
These statistics show that Subway sandwich workers make an average of $10.07 an hour or $20,950 a year. Labor-related income is slightly higher than the national average. see graphic
violent crime, death and injury
Working in fast food restaurants like Subway, Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, Carl's Jr., KFC, Taco Bell, etc. it is often a teenager's first job in high school.
Unfortunately, violent incidents at these outlets have increased significantly, putting the health, safety and lives of young people at serious risk.
Some recent examples of violence associated with Subway and other fast food restaurants include:
- Fall 1:LITTLETON, Colo. — The U.S. Department of Labor has fined a Subway sandwich restaurant $18,625 after a young teenager was killed after working long hours at the facility. The tragic incident occurred in 2000, when minors were responsible for closing the doors at 10:00 p.m. The franchisee was fined for violating the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which states that all minor children may not work after 7 p.m. or before 7 a.m. The then-Deputy Secretary of Labor said: “Too many young people are being injured – and killed – in the workplace. Employers must act responsibly and respect child labor laws when employing young workers."
- case two:DALLAS, Texas – Around 11:00 PM in June 2015, a Dallas Metro restaurant worker died in an on-premises robbery. Two suspects entered the establishment before closing to demand cash, while the third stood guard outside the restaurant. One worker was shot multiple times in the chest, despite the fact that the workers were cooperating with armed robbers. Emergency services took the 28-year-old worker to hospital, where he later succumbed to his gunshot wounds.
- case three:Whittier, Calif. — In August 2017, a jury convicted a convicted murderer-robber of killing an employee at a Subway sandwich shop in Whittier and another victim miles away in a San Gabriel parking lot. The 30-year-old assailant was sentenced to death for first-degree murder in connection with the two murders. The jury also found the killer guilty of one count of attempted robbery and 16 counts of robbery.
- Fall 4:SAN FRANCISCO, CA — In May 2017, a customer at a Subway sandwich shop was frustrated because he refused to pay for a sandwich he ordered. When the Subway Sandwich employee refused to give the sandwich to a customer, the assailant grabbed a knife and began stabbing the elderly employee. A passing security guard ran into the restaurant to stop the attack and grabbed the knife from the assailant. Shortly after the guard took the knife, the police arrived on the scene, injuring and killing the assailant. Paramedics transported the stabbed worker to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
- case five:HOUSTON, Texas -- An 18-year-old Subway employee was killed by robbers who stormed the restaurant amid a hail of bullets. The young worker stood in front of his mother and took a bullet from her.
- Case Six:QUEENS, N.Y. -- A masked robber at a metro Queens sandwich shop held a restaurant employee at gunpoint and demanded to open the safe. Another worker grabbed the robber's gun and pinned him against a wall. Before they could run out of the sandwich, the robbers and accomplices were surprised. Queens police believe the violent robber is responsible for more robberies in the county. In two other incidents, gunmen stole about $500 in cash after robbing a Subway sandwich shop. Two days later, the dangerous couple robbed a gas station and stole about $500.
The level of violence and exposure to harmful chemicals and other hazards that occur in Subway sandwich shops can threaten the health and well-being of workers. In response, many of the injured employees filed lawsuits, demanding legal and financial liability from the restaurant franchise owner and Subway. However, these cases are often extremely complex and require the skills of an experienced personal injury attorney to file a claim before the statute of limitations expires. Attorneys can settle cases to ensure that victims are fully compensated.
Are you ready to crush the claims of subway sandwich workers?
Our law firm helps injured Subway Sandwich workers obtain compensation under Illinois workers' compensation laws and through civil litigation. Available from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers (888-424-5757)Free case updateAnd no profit/no fee guarantee.
Are you receiving only minimal workers compensation? Our lawyers can show you that the law does not prohibit you from seeking further compensation from third parties who may also be responsible for your damage. These additional people, companies, and entities could be equipment manufacturers, property owners, or many others who have acted negligently or failed to take steps to ensure that you stay safe while working.
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