Chicken Processing plant (Dirty Work)

1. CASE STUDY
“ Doing the Dirty Work”
Chicken Processing Industry
By:
Sapan
Gupta

2. Introduction
• The current case study discusses the nature of
work in the United States.

3. Facts in the Case Study
• The number of poultry workers has
almost doubled since 1980 and
today constitute a workforce of
around 250,000 people.
• Chicken processing industry has
become a major component of the
state economies of Georgia, North
Carolina,Mississipi,Arkansas and
Alabama

4. Problem identification
• Bad working environment:
 Health and sanitation problems
 Tight work space
 Safety issues
• Lack of back up of human
resource

5. Alternative solutions
• Improve working conditions by:
 Providing large working space
 Scheduling regular breaks during the work
 Providing health insurance schemes
 Establishment of shift system
 Recruitment of more competent workers
 Providing appropriate uniforms and equipments,
such as gloves, masks, light helmets, etc.

6. 5. SWOT ANALYSIS
• Strengths:
The chicken processing unit provides huge employment
opportunities.
The chicken processing plant generates large revenue for the
economy.
• Weaknesses:
Inefficient supply chain due to a large no of intermediaries.
Health and sanitation issues.
Congested working space.
Greater risk involved while using the instruments.
• Opportunities:
The growth of the industry ensures to minimize the consumer
price gap, so that the poultry products reach the customers at a
comparatively lesser price.
• Threats:
Risk of disease outbreak(e.g. bird flu)
Huge price volatility, lack of institutional markets.
Protection to domestic poultry markets withdrawn.

7. Conclusion
Doing the Dirty Work makes visible the invisible lives
and work of domestic workers throughout the world.
It shows how many people work in dirty, grimy and
unsafe working environment. Some of the major
problems in this case are bad working environment
like tight working space, health and safety issues and
these problems can be solved by the establishment of
a human resource department in the organization.
The department can then address various issues on
workers safety, incentives etc which will not only
enhance the profitability of the firm but also create
happy employees.

8. Answers to questions in the case
study
• Q.1:- How relevant are the concept of
competencies to the job in a chicken-
processing plant?

9. ANSWER TO Q: 1
• Competency is basically the skills, knowledge and ability that an employee should posses to
do the particular task successfully. Working in a chicken processing plant is not an easy task.
Not everyone will be willing and competent to work in a dirty, gleaming and unsafe setting
because of the working environment, health issues and dangers associated with it. The
workers need to be an expert to use the knives, cutters, scissors and other machinery
instruments they use to perform their job. On an average the chain moves ninety chickens
per minutes for nine hours, so they should be efficient in managing time and be alert during
the whole process as they work for a continuous pace. This job requires experienced and
patience labors who are willing to risk their life to dangerous working environment. For
instance, a vegetarian will not be competent enough to perform this job. Therefore, the
employees in a chicken processing plant should be very competent and most importantly
willing to do the job.

10. Q.2:- How might you try to improve the jobs in
a chicken processing plant?

11. ANSWER
• Establishment of Human Resource
Department
• Job rotation and shifts
• Hire or recruit those people more competent
people
• Provide guidelines for using the instruments
such as scissors, knives etc.

12. Q.3:- Are dirty, dangerous, and unpleasant jobs
an inevitable part of any economy?

13. ANSWER
• Yes, because this job provides employment opportunities to those who
have less academic qualification. It constitutes a work force of around a
quarter of a million people in USA. Chicken processing industry has
became a major component of the many state economies like Georgia,
Mississippi, North Carolina, and Alabama etc and jobs such as these on the
chicken processing are actually becoming increasingly common.
• And there is a huge demand for the chicken not only in USA but in the
global market. The hotel industry contributes a huge chunk of revenue to
the economy.