February 22, 2021

Tyson Foods provides more incentive for workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Tyson Foods, Inc. is providing an additional incentive for frontline workers at its US sites to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The company, which already offers free, on-site COVID-19 vaccinations, has announced it will also compensate workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source.

Several hundred Tyson Foods team members, mostly health service staff and workers over the age of 65, have already been vaccinated, Tyson said. The company expected about 1,000 frontline workers in Illinois, Missouri and Virginia to be vaccinated last week and is prepared to provide free access at other locations across the country as more doses of the vaccine are made available.

Tyson Foods is partnering with Matrix Medical Network to educate the company's 120,000 US team members about the vaccines and is working with local and state health officials as well as approved vaccine providers to access doses, pursuant to prioritisation regulations.

Vaccinations for Tyson Foods team members are voluntary, but highly encouraged.

"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 at Tyson Foods. "We're ready to vaccinate more of our people, especially through the free, on-site vaccination programme we've developed. However, vaccine availability continues to vary by state."

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

- Tyson Foods