Tyson Foods demands all 139,000 employees get vaccinated against COVID-19

Tyson Foods is demanding that its entire US workforce of more than 139,000 people be vaccinated against COVID-19. Decision of the country’s largest meat producer aims to curb outbreak coronavirus infections who closed many processing facilities last year.

Senior Tyson executives must be vaccinated by September 24, office workers by October 1, and all other employees by November 1, the company said on Tuesday. According to the company, less than half, or more than 56,000, of Tyson workers have been vaccinated.

Tyson is offering $ 200 to frontline workers who get vaccinated as part of its efforts to fully vaccinate its workforce, according to the company, whose brands include Ball Park, Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm.

In the grip of epidemics, labor shortages and absenteeism due to COVID-19, Tyson and its meat industry competitors have struggled to get their hundreds of thousands immunized employees. They have also treated workers dying of COVID-19 and are facing lawsuits brought by some families alleging that the company had failed to take adequate measures to protect employees.

“We now believe that the growing number of new cases in the United States warrants advanced clinical strategies – including mandatory vaccinations,” said Dr Daniel Castillo, chief medical officer and president of Matrix Medical Group, hired by Tyson for the ‘help in its efforts, in a statement. .

At least 50,000 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to meat and poultry processing facilities in 38 states, according to the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. That includes at least 259 worker deaths reported at at least 67 factories in 29 states, the independent nonprofit media company has found.

Tyson joins a growing number of major U.S. employers in recently announcing vaccination requirements for workers as the Delta variant skyrockets COVID-19 infections.

Microsoft said Tuesday it would require proof of vaccination for all employees, suppliers and visitors to its U.S. offices starting in September, echoing actions taken by Google and Facebook, according to the Associated Press.

Walmart, the country’s largest private employer, said last week that all employees of the campus office and those who work in several establishments must be vaccinated before October 4. Disney said on Friday it was demanding that all salaried and non-union hourly workers nationwide be fully immunized within the next 60 days.

Other companies with vaccination requirements include asset management giant BlackRock, Lyft, Netflix, Saks Fifth Avenue and Uber, according to global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

And on Wall Street, where most companies take a strong stance In hopes of preventing the virus from spreading through their offices, Morgan Stanley not only requires employees but also customers and visitors to certify that they have received their vaccines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.