- The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Tennessee’s largest pork producer.
- Tosh Polk LLC is accused of retaliating against workers who asked questions about wages.
- It also said a pig’s head was found at the workplace after a worker discussed wages with a manager.
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The U.S. Department of Labor filed charges and a motion for a temporary restraining order. Tennessee’s largest pork producerand accused the company of retaliating against workers who asked questions about wages.
In one incident, The DOL stated in a press release: An employee of Tosh Pork LLC discovered a severed pig’s head at work after meeting with management about wages. It is not clear who put it there.
The Department of Labor also claims that employees were threatened with termination during the meeting.
The DOL’s complaint states that Tosh Polk violated a section of the code. Fair Labor Standards ActThis protects workers’ ability to ask questions about their wages.
The law also prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who file complaints with the Wage and Hour Division.
The department alleged that another worker, who was also caring for pigs at the farm, faced retaliation for asking questions about wages.
In this case, the employee was assigned tasks unrelated to his regular job duties, including cleaning offices, toilets and pig waste, police said.
According to the Department of Labor, Tosh Polk learned that the employee may have filed a complaint and tried to get her to sign a document prohibiting her from discussing pay issues with co-workers.
“Tosh Polk’s horrific actions and apparent attempts to intimidate and retaliate against our employees will not be tolerated,” Tremell Howard, DOL regional attorney in Atlanta, said in a news release.
Seth Krantz, Tosh Pork’s veterinarian, refuted the allegations in an email to Business Insider.
He said Tosh Polk is committed to following the FLSA and treating employees “with dignity and respect.”
Krantz added that the company intends to “defend itself in court.”
The DOL investigation also found that the company owes five employees $39,375 in unpaid wages and $36,731 in penalties.