Tyson foods settles racial discrimination and retaliation suits

Poultry giant Tyson Foods agreed to pay $871,000 to settle two racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuits against the company filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and a group of 13 former and present African-American employees. The lawsuits alleged that black workers at a chicken processing plant in Alabama were retaliated against and racially harassed. The lawsuits also accuse Tyson Foods of maintaining a racially hostile work environment at the processing plant by allowing a racially segregated bathroom facility, racial slurs, intimidation, and retaliating against employees who complained. In settling the lawsuits, Tyson Foods denied violating any laws, citing its requirement that employees receive annual training on the company’s harassment and discrimination policies and emphasizing the company’s support for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The EEOC stated that under the terms of the settlement, Tyson’s Ashland, Alabama facility must:

• Appoint a senior level employee to oversee the implementation of the settlement and who is responsible for reviewing and supplementing Tyson's policies and procedures for addressing discriminatory workplace conduct.
• Periodically train all employees on what constitutes racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and on how to respond to such actions.
• Monitor employee discipline practices to ensure that no unequal treatment exists in the distribution of discipline or the resolution of grievances.
• Hold accountable supervisors who permit, participate in, or fail to report incidents of racial discrimination or harassment. Compliance with the company’s discrimination and harassment policies will now form part of supervisor’s performance appraisals.

Source:
HR Business & Legal Reports.com

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