Nationwide — Civil rights activist Essie Berry says that Tyson Foods Inc. in Waterloo, Iowa appears to be allowing people of color to be violated leading to emotional and mental trauma associated with depression in employees who have suffered from serious injuries while working. She also says that they are also denying employees who have been traumatized and suffering from mental health issues that are directly connected to their work.
A Black woman was reportedly severely burned and ended up with third-degree burns to her back that happened directly in front of another employee and traumatized him. The next day following this incident, she was reportedly ordered to return back to work. Tyson is also alleging that the company is pressuring employees that have been diagnosed and evaluated by professionals such as a psychiatrist and therapist to return to work while not fully recovering from their injuries and trauma.
Employees have reached out to Mrs. Berry sharing their personal experiences of malicious treatment of employees. Several employees have shared how they have been mistreated by management & supervisors when they were injured in their specific jobs. Employees explained that they have had severe injuries such as body part replacements, broken & fractured bones, and some have been given an ultimatum to return to work while not fully recovered from their injuries or risk being fired. Mr. Washington is an employee who was threatened to be cut off workers compensation while still being mentally and physically impaired. Tyson appears to have no remorse for their employees or their feelings.
Mrs. Berry comments, “I know for a fact because Mr. Washington, an employee, was injured at Tyson Foods in 2019 and continued working while being on medication and physically impaired. He was placed on reasonable accommodations by his doctor and taken off these accommodations and restrictions by Tyson’s careless and malicious decisions, which He re-injured himself and caused a meltdown. It is sad to know that a company of this magnitude would do this to their employees especially when this person has been there for 14 plus years.”
This man is now 61-years old, underwent a complete total hip replacement, suffered a broken thumb, and had shoulder surgery. He is on several severe prescription medications. He has lost over 50 percent of his body capacity, disabled and his quality of life will never be the same. Mr. Washington had retained two attorneys previously that were ignoring his mental and emotional state but is now he’s pleased with his current attorney.
Tyson knows that employees should not be working while taking heavy prescription medications to prevent endangering other employees and this is against OSHA guidelines. It is not fair to employees to be pressured to return to work when they are not well mentally or physically which places them under constant fear of reprisal. It is now time to take a stand and expose what’s really happening behind closed doors and for Tyson to be held accountable for its actions. Many employees are afraid to speak because of internal intimidation. I have witnessed this for myself firsthand. It’s now time for a change to assist employees.
For more details and/or for press inquiries, contact Essie Berry at 202-425-1901.