US meat giant Tyson Foods will pay out up to US$32m following a lawsuit over payment for hours worked.

Tyson will pay up to $17.5m to nearly 17,000 workers and ex-workers and also faces $14.5m in legal costs.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The 12-year dispute was finally settled following a decision by the United States District Court in Georgia.

The lawsuit charged Tyson with violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Meatpacking and food processing workers wear specialised protective gear while they work to protect both themselves and the food.

Before the lawsuits began, meatpacking companies did not pay workers for time spent taking the gear on and off, which plaintiffs argued added up to thousands of dollars of lost pay over years of work.

A Tyson spokesperson said: “The terms of the parties’ joint settlement agreement prohibit public commentary from the company and the plaintiffs. We can say the action was resolved on a satisfactory basis.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact