November 19, 2020

Anna Murray 

Tyson Foods is the second largest processor and marketer of meat in the world, whose managers at a meatpacking factory in Iowa were accused of betting on how many workers would get infected with COVID-19. On November 19th, Dean Banks, president and CEO of Tyson, stated that Tyson had suspended those supervisors without pay and retained former Attorney to conduct investigation.

In addition to the “winner-take-all” bet, managers kept the plant open, assigning low-level supervisors lack of management training or experience resume to work while keeping themselves away from the factory due to concerns of being infected with COVID-19 in late March or early April.

According to the lawsuit, besides the existing long working hours in cramped conditions, Tyson lacked proper personal protective equipment and fell short in adequate social distancing or safety measures to keep employees away from the outbreak.

Photo:Webshot.