Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 4/26/17


Tyson Foods Inc. has announced separate programs that are expected to boost sustainable food production at its facilities and provide higher wages for workers at its poultry facilities in an effort to retain employees in a tightening labor market.

Tyson said the sustainability efforts will affect the more than 95,000 employees who work in its chicken, beef, pork and prepared foods operations and include, among other programs:

• A continuing commitment to reduce worker injuries and illnesses to zero and setting a goal to reach a 15-percent year-over-year reduction in worker injuries and illnesses. 
• A commitment to reach a goal of zero turnover and working toward a 10-percent year-over-year boost in worker retention.
• Adding 25 or more poultry plant trainers to the ranks of the 260 trainers and 30 training coordinators Tyson has hired since 2015.
• Publicly sharing the results of third-party social compliance reports of Tyson plants.

Meanwhile, Tyson also announced a pilot program that possibly raises base wages for poultry workers by as much as 3.5 percent starting in November, according to a report from Reuters. Tyson executives said the program is a response to a shrinking pool of available workers in an increasingly competitive labor market. Tyson told Reuters that the company expects to recover the unspecified higher costs in “a lot of ways,” including operational efficiencies.

Tyson tested wage increases at one unidentified poultry plant in November 2016 and another unidentified facility in January. The protein giant plans to evaluate whether the wage increases helped attract or retain workers or otherwise affected their performance in the workplace, the report noted.

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