Whenever you think of Tyson Foods, you might think of chicken tenders, Any’tizers, or even breakfast sandwiches. Tyson Foods accounts for 20% of the beef, pork, and chicken sales in the United States with a total of $43.2 billion in sales. Something that is often overlooked, however, is their strong Christian values. John Tyson, founder, is very open about his faith and includes in the company’s core values that they should “strive to honor God” and “be a faith-friendly company.” Continue reading to learn about how companies can include faith in the workplace.
In 2000, Tyson Foods decided to incorporate a new type of job within the company. This role is company chaplains. The focus of the chaplains is to provide compassion and care to employees and their families even if the employee (and family) are not Christians. The chaplains are there for the team to provide an ear to listen, encourage, and even pray with people if they want to pray.
While there is strong Christian roots in the Tyson Foods company, they have made it clear that employees from all walks of life are welcome and they respect their beliefs. This is a very good thought process and other companies or founders need to consider. There is often the opinion that Christians are judgmental and that turns people away from faith. However, this method of having religious roots and being open about faith but not forcing it on others show respect to unbelievers. It allows the unbelievers to be in a Christian environment and start to see how God can positively impact lives. If they decide that they want to know more about God and Christianity, there are the chaplains that they know and have access to in order to learn more.
Tyson Foods believes that if beliefs and ideas are able to be freely shared and respected in the workplace, everyone benefits. Everyone has different views and opinions and if we are willing to listen, we are able to help each other grow while also being able to better serve each other and customers because we will have a greater understanding of others. The principles of respecting faith in the workplace and having chaplains are how companies can include faith in the workplace.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you say that not forcing your beliefs on non-believers shows respect for them. There are many cases in which Christians are too heavy handed with their goals to convert people and this only forces people to be adversaries of Christianity saying that Christians are judgmental, forceful, and even tyrannical. Is it not more valuable for an individual to come to faith in their own time with their own mind rather than be bullied into “belief” (would it even be belief then?).
I have been aware of Tyson foods for most of my life but never realized it was a Christian-based company! I love how they gracefully incorporate their beliefs into a faith-friendly workplace.