Citing a sharp decline in active COVID-19 cases among its workforce, Tyson Foods is easing its rules that require employees to wear masks.
In a memo to all of Tyson’s U.S. employees, Tom Brower, Tyson Foods’ senior vice president for health and safety, said that effective February 15, team members at certain locations who are fully vaccinated can choose to no longer wear masks at work. Brower defined fully vaccinated as having received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one does of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, with two weeks having passed since the last dose.
This applies to workers at distribution centers, feed mills and some production facilities, Tyson Foods spokesman Derek Burleson said in an email to WATT Global Media. However, the company’s change in policy is dependent upon local, state and federal regulations that may require that people continue to wear masks at certain locations.
These modified rules also apply to Tyson Foods hatcheries and all facilities within Tyson’s Cobb-Vantress subsidiary, Burleson said.
Meanwhile, if fully-vaccinated employees still choose to wear masks, they will have the complete encouragement to do so. Free masks will still be provided at Tyson Foods facilities. The company is also strongly encouraging fully-vaccinated workers to get booster shots that are offered by Tyson.
Brower communicated to the workers that the company will continue to review its policies, and may adjust guidelines around social distancing, testing, conference rooms and cafeterias.
Brower also expressed his appreciation for the employees for their cooperation in previous company COVID-19 prevention policies, which helped Tyson Foods to become “one of America’s first vaccinated workforces.”
Tyson Foods announced in August 2021 that all of its employees would be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19. It was a move that at first was opposed by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which has members that are Tyson employees, however, the company mandate was eventually supported by the UFCW and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
