May 11, 2016 — We value our Team Members and treat them with respect. If they need a restroom break, we have extra people who can fill in for them. We do not tolerate the refusal of requests to use the restroom.
We’re concerned about these anonymous claims and while we currently have no evidence they’re true, are checking to make sure our policies on restroom breaks are being followed and our Team Members’ needs are being met.
We also already use an independent audit firm to assess working conditions in our plants to make sure our Team Members are being treated with dignity. The auditors interview dozens of workers and focus on areas like worker treatment, compensation and safety.
We listen to our Team Members through many channels to make sure they’re being treated fairly. In addition to their supervisor, they can talk to someone in human resources, plant management or one of our chaplains. They can also anonymously contact the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Help Line (1-888-301-7304) or , which are managed by the company’s Ethic and Compliance office and are available 24 hours a day in multiple languages.
We’ve previously met with officials of Oxfam America and the Northwest Arkansas Workers’ Justice Center to discuss their concerns. We’ve told them that while we believe we’re a caring, responsible company, we’re always willing to consider ways we can do better.
See also: Health Safety and Respect of Employees a Top Priority for Poultry Processors by the National Chicken Council.