Tyson Foods workers get paid sick leave; 75% vaccinated

NEW YORK (AP) — Tyson Foods is offering paid sick leave for the first time to its front-line workers, part of an agreement that secured union support for its mandate that all U.S. employees get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

The meatpacking giant said 75% of its 120,000 U.S. workers have now been vaccinated.

That’s up from 50% when the company announced the mandate on Aug. 3.

Workers have until Nov. 1 to get vaccinated, but the agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers provides for medical and religious exemptions.

Tyson Foods is among the few companies with a large front-line workforce to impose a vaccine mandate so far.

Many companies have taken aggressive steps to encourage workers to get the vaccines while avoiding mandates that could worsen a labor shortages.