Tyson Foods Strengthens Benefits for Frontline Workers
September 03 2021 - 9:00AM
Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) announced today that it would strengthen
the benefits it offers its fully vaccinated U.S. frontline team
members. Effective January 1, 2022, fully vaccinated team members
can begin earning up to 20 hours of paid sick leave per year. New
hires will also receive one week of vacation after six months of
employment.
“These measures are the latest examples of our ongoing efforts
to make Tyson the most sought-after place to work, while
reinforcing the importance team members’ health and safety,” said
Johanna Söderström, the executive vice president and chief human
resources officer of Tyson Foods.
The new policies come on top of recent compensation
improvements, which have included pay increases and other
incentives as well as referral and signing bonuses. The average
base pay plus benefits for Tyson’s U.S. production workers is
currently valued at more than $22 per hour, which includes medical,
vision and dental benefits. Tyson is also piloting flexible work
schedules at its production facilities and has introduced health
clinics at seven locations to allow easy and free access to health
care.
Tyson continues to provide its U.S. workers with free, on-site
access to COVID-19 vaccinations. Continuing vaccination events are
scheduled throughout the country to offer all team members the
vaccine in time for the November 1 deadline. The company is also
giving $200 as a thank you to fully vaccinated frontline team
members as well as giving out more than $6 million in sweepstakes
to incentivize vaccinations. It is also conducting an extensive
outreach campaign to educate and inform team members about the
COVID-19 vaccinations.
These efforts are working. Today, more than 90,000 (or more than
75%) of the company’s U.S. team members have received at least one
dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Over 30,000 team members have been
vaccinated since the company announced its requirement in early
August.
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), and the
affiliated Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU),
have discussed the vaccine roll-out with the company and announce
that they support Tyson Foods’ vaccination requirement. The UFCW
and RWDSU represent more than 80 percent of the 31,000 Tyson Foods’
workers in the U.S. who are unionized.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone said, “As the largest
union for Tyson Foods workers across the country, UFCW's first
priority is to keep these essential workers safe on the job as the
COVID-19 Delta surge continues, and we recognize the need to do
more. UFCW and Tyson agree these policies will ensure these
workers have the paid leave they need as they continue to keep
our food supply chain secure. We will continue to strongly
encourage our members employed by Tyson Foods to get vaccinated if
they have not already, and we are calling on companies across the
industry to follow Tyson's lead with similar policies that put the
safety of essential workers first as this pandemic continues."
“We’re pleased that the UFCW and RWDSU are joining us in
taking this important step,” Söderström said. “Getting vaccinated
remains the single most effective thing we can do to fight this
pandemic and continue to help feed this country and our world.”
Other measures Tyson Foods is taking to support U.S. frontline
workers during the vaccination process include:
- Providing paid administrative leave for up to two weeks for
employees who are fully vaccinated and test positive for COVID-19
over the next six months.
- Compensating workers for time spent in educational sessions
about the benefits and risks of the COVID vaccines.
About Tyson Foods, Inc.
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food
companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by
John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family
leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and
brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®,
Wright®, Aidells®, ibp®, and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates
continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for
everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for
how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas,
the company has 139,000 team members. Through its Core Values,
Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its
shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as
a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
Visit TYSONFOODS.COM to learn more.Media Contact: DEREK
BURLESON, 479-290-6466
Category: IR
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