It might have seemed like common sense. It might have seemed like the right thing to do.
But, far too often, common sense and the right thing are rarely found in the world of business and capitalism.
That is what makes Tyson’s decision to continue to pay employees while the Vicksburg plant is shut down following a Friday night fire so out of the ordinary.
When an explosion ripped through the plant’s boiler room, employees fled to safety. Immediately, you would not have faulted those employees, for wondering about their jobs and their livelihoods.
Through no fault of their own, the plant was shut down, so the decision by plant and company officials to continue to pay employees while the plant is off line is something we applaud.
It is admirable that a company the size of Tyson would go to the lengths, to not only ensure employees are kept safe, but their earnings and lives outside of the plant are also safe and secure.
Capitalism is designed for the strong to survive. It is a battlefield for market share, profits and investor earnings.
It is a type of economy that has worked for our country for more than two centuries and has proven the most successful in the world. It is also one where employees are at times left out in the race for better margins and lower costs.
Today, we applaud the decision by Tyson to take care of their employees.
In a world where compassion is often times a liability, it is nice to see a corporate citizen of Warren County understand their employees are an invaluable asset.