In a September 3rd release, Tyson Foods announced that benefits would be strengthened for vaccinated U.S. workers. Effective January 1st, 2022, fully-vaccinated team members will earn 20-hours of paid sick leave per year and new hires will receive one week of vacation after six months of employment. During recent weeks, Tyson Foods announced that the base pay for workers would be raised to $22 per hour and the Company is also evaluating flexible work schedules. In addition Tyson Foods provides medical, vision and dental benefits and seven large complexes now have health clinics.
Tyson offers free on-site COVID-19 vaccination in most plants and facilities and a comprehensive program of testing. The company will award $200 to fully vaccinated employees and will initiate a $6 million sweepstakes competition to encourage vaccination, reinforcing an outreach campaign complementing the August announcement of a vaccination mandate.
The results of active promotion of vaccination are evidenced by the fact that 90,000 team members have received at least one dose of vaccine, representing 75 percent of employees. Since early August, 30,000 vaccines have been administered.
The Tyson initiatives are supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union that represents most of Tyson Foods 31,000 unionized employees. Marc Perrone, President of UFCW International stated, "as the largest union for Tyson Food workers across the country our first priority is to keep essential workers safe on the job as the COVID-19 Delta surge continues and we recognize the need to do more". He added, "UFCW and Tyson Foods agree these policies would ensure workers have the paid leave they need as they continue to keep our food supply chain secure". Perrone called on companies across the protein industry to follow Tyson's lead with similar programs that encourage vaccination to protect workers.