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Success stories of Refugees in Pennsylvania

Tyson Foods’ New Holland Poultry Complex was honored today as “Employer of the Year” by the LCFS Refugee Resettlement Program of Lancaster.

Over the past couple of years Tyson has worked with LCFS to employ people from other countries who have resettled in the Lancaster area. Most of the people assisted by LCFS are from the former Soviet Republic, Iraq, Myanmar or Bhutan and were displaced due to political instability in their home countries.

Tyson currently employs approximately 40 LCFS clients at the company’s New Holland Complex, which has a total workforce of more than 1,000 people. Just like other new employees, they go through orientation and training so they are effectively prepared for their jobs. In effort to foster good communications, the plant has bilingual interpreters to help those new employees who are not fluent in English.

“We value all of our employees, including those who have come to us from LCFS and are trying to make a new life for themselves here in Pennsylvania,” said Derek Baucom, manager of Tyson’s New Holland Poultry Complex. “We appreciate being recognized for our efforts to work with people who are new to our country and community.”

LCFS clients hired by Tyson, as well as other Tyson employees, can also benefit from the company’s Educational Assistance Plan. It can be used to help pay for the cost of General Equivalency Degree (GED), English as a Second Language (ESL) and U.S. citizenship classes. It is also available to help pay for the cost of college tuition. Under the plan, tuition, books and fees for all coursework required as part of a degree program is reimbursed at 75%, or a maximum of $3,500 per calendar year.

In general, LCFS clients have been successful in their employment at Tyson. In fact, some workers have already advanced to higher pay grades and responsibilities within the operation.