Michigan Imposes Requirements for Employee Health and Safety at Meat Processing Plants

In recent months, slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities have become hotbeds for coronavirus transmission among employees. These facilities require employees to work in close proximity to one another and employees have relayed to the public that many employers have not provided adequate PPE or sick leave policies to protect them as they continue working throughout the pandemic. Meat processing plants have seen widespread COVID-19 infections and fatalities.

As the crisis worsens, and meat companies are failing to adequately take actions to protect employees, Governor Whitmer of Michigan is one of the few government officials who has imposed regulations to protect employees in meat processing plants. Governor Whitmer outlined 10 requirements for these facilities, including offering sick leave policies for employees who are sick, providing adequate face coverings and physical dividers, and reducing or modifying production schedules to prevent overcrowding inside these facilities. Unlike the Trump administration, which has focused on preserving the meat supply at all costs by requiring meat processing plants to stay open, Michigan is attempting to prioritize the health and safety of workers in the meat supply chain.