Tyson Foods distributes roughly $50m in bonuses to hourly, frontline workers: 'Tyson wants to be the most sought-after place to work, period'

06-Dec-2021 - Last updated on 06-Dec-2021 at 16:57 GMT

Photo Credit: Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods said it will give approximately $50m in year-end bonuses to frontline and hourly team members for their ongoing efforts over the past year.

For team members in the US, the one-time bonuses will be based on tenure, and will range from $300 to $700 per person, and be distributed starting this month.

“This is yet another way for us to say thank you and show how grateful we are for our frontline teams’ efforts to keep each other safe, our company strong and our world fed over the past year,” said Donnie King, president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods.

“While 2021 presented many challenges, our entire Tyson team continued to meet them, head on.”

According to the company, it has invested more than $500m in wage increases and thank you bonuses for its employees over the past year. The average hourly pay is more than $18 per hour (not including overtime) with medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and other benefits. Earlier this year, the company paid $200 to each frontline employee that became fully vaccinated.

Tyson said it is looking at other ways to better support its frontline workforce and that in addition to pay increases and bonuses, it is offering more flexible work schedules and paid sick leave at some facilities starting January 1, 2022.

“Tyson wants to be the most sought-after place to work, period,” added King.

“Our frontline team members tell us higher pay is important, but that’s only a part of the story—they also want more flexibility and more say over their time. In rural parts of the country, they don’t want to have to drive miles to see the doctor. Everything we’re doing is because our team members are the heart of our business and its future success.”