The world's largest processor of beef, chicken and pork, US-based Tyson Foods, Inc., has resolved a disagreement with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) over employment practices involving five locations in Arkansas and one in Oklahoma.

Following OFCCP compliance evaluations of Tyson’s hiring activity from 2002 to 2004 at poultry plants in Grannis, Clarksville, Berryville and Van Buren, Arkansas, and Broken Bow, Oklahoma, as well as its Springdale, Arkansas, trucking operation, the agency alleged the company discriminated against certain female and minority job applicants for entry level production jobs and some trucking positions. Tyson officials denied the claim, stating there were legitimate non-discriminatory reasons for not hiring the applicants. However, the company acknowledged that its defence of this position was hampered by the passage of time since the reviews began and incomplete documentation of its selection processes at these locations.

Tyson Foods has since implemented new procedures to ensure the company retains all relevant documentation of its selection processes and is now conducting more frequent audits of its employment practices. In addition, in an effort to avoid litigation, Tyson has agreed to pay $1.5 million to approximately 2,500 women and minorities who were not hired during the period involved and to make employment offers to some of those individuals who are still interested in working for the company.

During the time period covered, Tyson's representation of minorities at the named processing plants averaged 59% while the number of females was 49%.