Tyson Foods” establishment of weekly Bible studies and prayer groups, along with the hiring of chaplains, demonstrate its commitment toward meeting the needs of its Christian employees.
And if someone approached the company with requests to hold meetings relating to religions other than Christianity, they would be given the same consideration, according to John Copeland, who serves as compliance officer under Tyson chairman John Tyson.
Copeland said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides broad protection of religious rights, and the company must uphold that. “We want people to feel like they are being treated with respect.”
The notion that Tyson Foods cared anything about employees’ spiritual welfare might have been called into question in early 1998.
Tyson Foods Inc. bought Arkansas-based competitor Hudson Foods Inc., and six months later Tyson chose to eliminate company sponsorship of the chaplaincy program at Judson plants. Former Judson plants were given the option of keeping the chaplains who were in place, but Tyson Foods decided not to hire additional chaplains for any other plants.
After re-evaluating that decision, Tyson brought back many of the chaplains who had previously been let go.
“You have to balance everyone’s beliefs. You can’t have a captive audience, and you can’t offend anyone,” Copeland said.
Alan Tyson, corporate chaplain with Tyson, praised John Tyson’s efforts.
“He’s very interested in trying to meet the spiritual needs of people and running the company by faith values,” said Alan Tyson, who is not related to the Tyson family. (RNS)
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