One of the world’s largest meat-processing companies was forced to shutter two of its US plants this week after four of its workers died from coronavirus and more than 100 tested positive – but the pandemic isn’t the only entanglement the company’s facing.
Last week, JBS – owned by Brazilian billionaire brothers Wesley and Joesley Batista – announced plans to close a plant in Greeley, Colorado, after four of its workers died of coronavirus, including long-term employee, 78-year-old Saul Sanchez.
A subsequent investigation carried out by the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment attributed the company’s ‘work while sick culture’ as the catalyst behind the meat-packing plant becoming a COVID-19 hotspot.
County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wallace wrote to the plant on April 2 – five days before the first reported death among its employees – warning that some of the plant’s laborers felt forced to keep up attendance even when they felt ill.
‘These concerns expressed to clinicians included a perception by employees of a ‘work while sick’ culture that included managers and supervisors coming to work while sick,’ Wallace wrote in the letter, as first reported by KDVR.
In his April 2 letter, Wallace ordered the company to take employee’s temperatures as they arrived on site, implement social distancing protocols, and direct anyone exhibiting symptoms to self-isolate at home.
‘If I find evidence of continued violations,’ Wallace wrote. ‘I will seek assistance from the District Attorney to consider criminal actions against you and your staff and/or the Weld County attorney to seek injunctive relief against your company.’
JBS eventually idled operations at the beef processing plant on April 15, but not before dozens more of its 4,500 workers became infected with the virus and at least four died.
A JBS plant in Souderton, Pennsylvania, was also forced to close up shop last month after dozens of workers came down with flu-like symptoms, but the company announced plans to reopen the plant on Monday.
The company has since denied obligating or encouraging workers to show up while exhibiting symptoms.
‘No one is forced to come to work and no one is punished for being absent for health reasons. If someone is sick or lives with someone who is sick, we send them home,; spokesperson Nikki Richardson told The Daily Beast. ‘The health and safety of our team members is our number one priority.’
Richardson further noted that the federal government has sought to keep food supply chains running amid the pandemic, citing them to be essential businesses.