Early last week I begain to notice a sharp pain in my shoulder and elbow. After a couple days working in the produce department I realized something was really wrong this wasnt normal aches and pains caused by continuous heavy lifting. When I first began to feel pain I mentioned it to my produce backup manager overnight it got considerably worse to where it was difficult to lift y arm to brush my teeth. I went into work that day and that same back up was there and I asked him to go to a comanager with me to report the injury. Which he did not so I reported it to her and while I was filling out the paper work she asked me if I do any physical activities on my off days, when I replied no she looked at me dead serious and said "so your saying you dont move that arm at all on your off days" I knew right then and there I was in trouble. I went to my Dr the following morning and was diagnosed with severe tendonitis in my right shoulder and elbow. He suggested I take a couple weeks off work, I told him I couldnt afford it that I was off the next 2 days and would request off the following 3 days on he next weeks schedule. When I got to work to take them the note he gave me they informed me that they had alreayd decided that I was not going to get any hours next week. Which I cant understand how they could even get away with that. I told them what the Dr said and gave them the note and begged them for hours I said if I could get 5 or 6 days off to recover which would give me wed-sat to work they were very unfriendly. It was a very uncomfortable situation, I was sandwiched between two mangers who not only took my hours away before they even knew I went to the Dr. but kept asking me if I am sure this occured at work. The next day I get a call from our HR manager to tell me they did give me hours and I was scheduled sun-tuesday and off the last part of the week. After I specifically asked for those days off to recover. The HR chick was also very cold and indifferent and again said to me she was under the impression that this was not a work related injury. I feel like they are trying to screw me over. Why else would they go from saying they dont want me to work next week so I can recover to scheduling me at the beginning of the week.

I am so angry because I had no intention of filling a workers comp claim, I was just following their policy of reporting any work related injury and for that I am being penalized. I dont know what to do now, I cant get a straight answer out of any of the mangers. Fortunately I have an awesome Dr and he told me if they wouldnt let me off to call him and he would take me off for atleast a week. After the way they have treated me I would like to file a claim and report them to my union.  I have already left a message with my union rep but I am not sure where to get the paper work I need to give my Dr to file a comp claim.

I thought Krogers was a good company to work for. I have never given them any problems in the past in fact I have received nothing but praise from these same managers who are treating me so poorly now.

Can anyone give me any advice or guidance on how to handle this situation. I think they have already labled me as a "PROBLEM" employee. Can they penalize me in any way for filing a claim and contacting my union rep? I want to inform him of the working conditions and the many safety policies my dept ignore. I dont particularly like  my job, btu its all I have right now until a position I can us my BS for opens up I am stuck.