Tyson Foods To Pay Workers For Getting the COVID Vaccine

In an effort to encourage frontline workers to get the coronavirus vaccine, Tyson Foods announced Wednesday it will compensate workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shirt via an external source. This comes in addition to Tyson offering free, on-site COVID-19 vaccination at several plants nationwide.

Company officials said Wednesday hundreds of Tyson Foods team members, mostly health service staff and workers over the age of 65, have already been vaccinated. Tyson expects about 1,000 frontline workers in Illinois, Missouri and Virginia will be vaccinated this week and is prepared to provide free access at other locations across the country as more doses of the vaccine are made available.

“This incentive is an additional way we can encourage our frontline workers to receive the vaccination, which we believe is another important protective measure,” said Johanna Söderström, executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Tyson Foods. “We’re ready to vaccinate more of our people, especially through the free, on-site vaccination program we’ve developed, however, vaccine availability continues to vary by state.”

Providing workers access to the vaccine is latest in a series of measures Tyson Foods has taken to fight COVID-19. Since the spring of 2020, the company says it has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to transform its U.S. facilities with protective measures, from walk-through temperature scanners and workstation dividers to social distance monitors and always-on testing, as well as provide additional team member pay and benefits. Tyson Foods has also expanded its health services staff, added a chief medical officer and plans to pilot health clinics for team members and their families early this year.

Tyson Foods reported Wednesday that it continues to experience success in its efforts to protect workers from the virus. The incidence of the virus involving the company’s U.S. team members remains low.

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