Workplace Audit, Safety Programs Focus of Tyson Foods Sustainability Report

Tyson Foods Inc. released its fifth and final segment of its sustainability report today.

It includes information about diversity, employment, retention rate, working conditions and social responsibility at company plants for fiscal 2015, which ended Oct. 3.

As part of a social compliance program, third-party auditors are evaluating workplace conditions. The program goal is to provide customers with transparency of workplace conditions.

“We believe we’re a caring, responsible company but also know we must strive to be better in all we do,” said Joe Lloyd, vice president of ethics and compliance for Tyson Foods. “This new program enhances our social compliance efforts and is intended to help us be more transparent with our customers about our working conditions.” 

According to the report, work-related illnesses and injuries at Tyson Foods decreased 2 percent from fiscal 2014.

For every 100 employees, about eight work-related illnesses or injuries happened in fiscal 2015. In fiscal 2014, almost nine work-related illnesses or injuries occurred per 100 employees.

As far as diversity, women comprise of 39 percent of the workforce, the report shows. Ethnic minority employees represent 64 percent of the workforce.

The company employs 113,000 people. Nearly 95 percent work in the United States. Almost 98 percent work full-time. About 48 percent are between 30 and 50 years old, more than 30 percent are older than 50, and about 22 percent are younger than 30.

Employee retention rate was 72 percent. More than half of the employees have been with the company for five years or more.

Other highlights in the report include:

• Zero lost workdays related to disputes, strikes or lockouts.
• U.S. employees earn $13.24 per hour, on average.

Previously released segments of the report covered animal well-being, corporate social responsibility, environment and marketplace.