SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Like almost all food processors, Smithfield bars journalists from its plants. Reporter McKenzie Huber of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader penetrated the wall of secrecy at Smthfield’s COVID-19 infected Sioux City plant by interviewing workers off premises. McKenzie spoke with more than a dozen employees of the plants 3,500, promising, not to identify them in print because they feared for their job security. One thread that McKenize found was hesitancy about a $500 “responsibility bonus” for not missing work. “I’m not a fool,” said one employee. The hazard pay would be put earnings at about 1-1/2 or two times normal pay for a week
Earlier: Cynicism among Smithfield workers