JACKSON, TENN. — Tyson Foods Inc. reached a settlement with a Newbern, Tenn., meatpacking worker who filed a complaint against the company for allegedly discriminating against her on the basis of her religion, according to Bloomberg Law.

Redina Hayslett filed a complaint against Tyson and its Hillshire Brands subsidiary after being placed on unpaid leave for not complying with the company’s COVID-19 vaccination policy. Hayslett alleged that the company violated Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by “by discriminating against her on the basis of her religion,” court documents said.

Hayslett invoked the Tennessee statutory protection for individuals who harbor an objection to taking a COVID-19 vaccine. The statute prohibits a private business from “compel[ling] or otherwise tak[ing] an adverse action against a person to compel the person to provide proof of vaccination if the person objects to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine for any reason.”

Hayslett voiced a religious objection to the vaccination. Tyson took disciplinary action by placing her on one year of unpaid administrative leave for failing to provide proof of vaccination, according to the court documents.

The US District Court for the Western District of Tennessee ruled that Hayslett’s complaint stated a plausible claim.

Tyson argued that Hayslett could not prove disparate treatment under her Title II or Tennessee statute claim. The company noted that the vaccine mandate applied to all employees regardless of their religious beliefs or lack of religious beliefs.

The terms of the two parties’ recent agreement have not been disclosed.