Poultry Workers Forced To Wear Diapers Due To Horrible Working Conditions


It’s incredibly sobering when stories like this are revealed. According to Oxfam America, poultry workers across the nation face conditions so terrible that many have soiled themselves because they were denied bathroom visits.


A report released by Oxfam America stated that employees at some of the largest poultry plants in the nation are in danger. According to the organization:

“It’s not just their dignity that suffers: they are in danger of serious health problems.”

An unidentified worker at Simmons Foods in Arkansas said that she and many of her coworkers have taken to wearing diapers. Others decided to quit drinking fluids leading them to suffer from near dehydration.

In cases where employees were allowed to use the restroom, they were only given a 10-minute window in which all employees tried to use the restroom. This predictably caused long lines and some were unable to use the facilities in time.


Oxfam says these problems are industry-wide, but four companies control the majority of the market. These companies, Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Perdue, and Sanderson Farms, have the power to enact great change.

The National Chicken Council released a joint statement with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association that said:

“We’re troubled by these claims, but also question this group’s efforts to paint the whole industry with a broad brush based on a handful of anonymous claims. We believe such instances are extremely rare and that U.S. poultry companies work hard to prevent them.”

The four largest companies released similar statements stating that they will look into the matter. This isn’t the type of response that will give these workers hope. Action needs to be taken.

This isn’t the first time that the poultry industry has been in the spotlight for bad working conditions. The industry has come under fire numerous times over the years for workplace condition issues.

Featured image via Flickr by David Shankbone and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.o Generic license.