5/11/2020
David Eaheart, APR
david.eaheart@seaboardfoods.com
(913) 261-2621
Plant-Wide COVID-19 Testing Statement
Seaboard Foods will begin COVID-19 testing plant-wide for our pork processing plant employees in Guymon, Okla., on Tuesday, May 12.
Seaboard Foods will begin COVID-19 testing plant-wide for our pork processing plant employees in Guymon, Okla., on Tuesday, May 12. This is an essential next step to build on our commitment to keeping our employees safe and to honor our promise to listen to our employees who have asked for broader testing. We have partnered with the Oklahoma State Department of Health to ensure we have access to COVID-19 testing kits for all of our plant employees.
The goal of our testing program is to provide employees the opportunity to determine their COVID-19 status, so they can better protect themselves, their families, co-workers and friends. It will also help us understand how we as a community have been affected by the global pandemic, and the next steps that we need to take together to slow the spread.
We know from watching testing efforts in other areas of the country that when more tests are conducted, more positive test results come in. We are prepared for that and believe that broad employee testing is the right thing to do for the well-being of our employees and community. The more information we have, the more we can do to prevent the spread of the virus in our community.
Since the county health departments in and around the Oklahoma panhandle started testing in March, 206 people who work at the Guymon plant have tested positive as of May 9. Of those, 90 are active cases and 116 have since recovered. As background, this facility employs more than 2,700 people.
The health of our employees is paramount and our work is considered essential. Seaboard Foods will continue navigating the balance of ensuring the well-being of our employees’ while still working to meet our commitment to produce much-needed food for our customers and pork consumers.
If an employee tests positive for COVID-19 or shows symptoms while at work, they will be sent home and asked to self-isolate. To support our employees’ ability to stay home, we have created a temporary COVID-19 Leave Policy and Support Plan, which includes:
Paid leave for up to two weeks of normal wages or 80 hours if paid hourly for employees who:
Received a medical directive to self-quarantine or isolate because of testing positive for COVID-19.
Are directed by the government or company officials to quarantine or self-isolate in accordance with CDC guidelines and TCHD guidance.
Are living in the same household with a person who has received a medical directive for COVID-19 related symptoms.
Additional health insurance coverage that provides 100% paid coverage for COVID-19 testing and other medically related diagnostic testing if not covered by public health services or the company health insurance plan.
Prescription coverage flexibility if shortages or issues with access to prescription drugs.
We are grateful for the frontline public health agencies, like the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Texas County Public Health Department, as well as our local healthcare providers who have all significantly increased the availability of testing in our community.
For more information about how Seaboard Foods is addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit: Seaboard Foods' COVID-19 Response Page.
###
