Dollar General, the retail franchise with the highest quantity of establishments in the United States, has been under investigation by safety regulators from the government in recent times due to numerous infractions and penalties related to “systemic dangers” at the discounted merchant.
In 47 states, the franchise has expanded from over 18,000 establishments today in 2008 to over 8,000 shops. Harmed employees and patrons have encountered legal actions and millions of dollars in fines for safety infractions accompanying that excessive expansion.
General Dollar stores have received fines of more than $21 million since 2017 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as the chain has been found to be a severe violator of the safety rules set by the US Department of Labor. Inspectors have discovered boxes of merchandise stacked unsafely, blocked electrical panels, and fire extinguishers obstructed by merchandise. Additionally, emergency exits and aisles have been found to be blocked.
Doug Parker, the assistant secretary for occupational safety and health, stated in Osha’s most recent press release regarding Dollar General violations that Dollar General persists in subjecting its employees to hazardous conditions at its stores throughout the country. The company should prioritize addressing these concerns and implementing company-wide reforms to safeguard the welfare and security of their workforce, given its status as one of the largest retailers in the nation.
Dollar General has also encountered multiple legal actions regarding injuries experienced by employees and patrons at their retail locations.
In January 2018, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a verdict of $1.7 million for a woman who slipped and fell in a Dollar General store.
In April 2021, a jury granted more than $350,000 to a shopper who slipped and tumbled on detergent in a shop located in Lee county, Florida.
In March, a delivery driver was injured while making a delivery to a Dollar General store in Mobile, Alabama, due to the absence of a loading ramp. Consequently, the delivery driver was granted $1.9m by a jury in Alabama in their lawsuit against Dollar General.
Every year, the middle employee earned under $20,000 while the compensation of its CEO, Todd Vasos, exceeded $16.6 million. Dollar General recorded a profit of $3.3 billion in 2022, and employees claim that the safety problems at Dollar General extend beyond the Osha citations and indicate low salaries and generally unfavorable working conditions.
Expressed Kenya Slaughter, a previous employee of Dollar General and an organizer in Louisiana, “It’s highly perilous. They generate sufficient funds that it could’ve been rectified, so why is it not being rectified?” Each day, codes are violated as boxes are piled up to the ceiling and roofs are leaking. Moreover, there are problems concerning Osha regulations, running water, workers being abandoned in the store, and air conditioning. Additionally, there are incidents of robberies.
A South Carolina General Dollar worker, who was included in a broader civil rights complaint accusing state agency Osha of improperly dismissing her complaint to Osha over issues in the store, has accused the state agency of ignoring industries that disproportionately staff black workers.
TyBrianna Shaw filed a complaint with Osha in January 2023, alleging that the store she previously worked at, General Dollar, dismissed her without speaking to her about the undated photos sent to the agency from a different store location. Shaw stated that the store had various issues, including a broken air conditioning unit that exposed workers to extreme heat, blocked exits that posed safety risks, a lack of proper inventory equipment and chemicals storage, and improper stacking of items leading to animal droppings and mold.
Shaw, who previously served as an assistant manager at Dollar General until April 2023, expressed, “The matter is settled, it was fair. No further action was taken. Osha never contacted me after that.” “Obstructing the exits and fire suppressants, we encountered an abundance of roll trainers [carts for restocking shelves] in the aisles. Our supervisors, the challenges we confronted, were never taken seriously by them, despite our efforts to explain.”
In January 2023, Shaw, a full-time co-worker at General Dollar store in Irmo, South Carolina, went on strike. The strike was a result of various concerns, such as safety problems, inadequate staffing, and a lack of security.
Shaw stated, “Everyone deserves to work in a safe environment.” “General Dollar should give their workers more and take their concerns seriously.” “We, as the employees who contribute to the company’s success, deserve more money and recognition, and we are the ones who bring back loyal customers.”
At the annual shareholder meeting of Dollar General on 31 May, during which the union is urging the approval of a shareholder proposal for an autonomous examination on worker safety and welfare, she persistently supports the interests of Dollar General employees as a representative of the Union of Southern Service Workers.
David Williams, a worker at a General Dollar store in New Orleans, Louisiana, has participated in numerous actions to improve working conditions, safety, and wages. He has been a member of the community organization Louisiana Up Step for three years.
Williams stated, “there is an abundance of it because there is no designated area for it since you have to display the additional merchandise when the primary section in the store is fully stocked. There is an excessive amount of product, which is unnecessary.” Williams added, “You require the merchandise that you are attempting to access, aiming to reach the roll trainer, so that you don’t injure yourself while attempting to reach the needed product.” Williams further explained, “At times, it is not possible to access the desired roll trainer, and the store warehouse is already filled to capacity. I usually visit during truck days.”
The corporate placed orders for products without considering the store’s capacity, resulting in overstock issues, accidents, and injuries. He explained that he had encountered various problems due to having an excess of stocked products.
He remarked, “These corporations that couldn’t care less about us, we invest our utmost efforts and dedication.” He went on, “They claim to prioritize our well-being like no one else. Demonstrate the financial support, provide us with security, ensure our safety, and enhance the working conditions in every aspect of our work if they genuinely value our welfare.”
The department of labor, licensing, and regulation in South Carolina declined to provide a comment.
Dollar General did not provide any comments regarding particular Osha citations or safety complaints made by employees.
The spokesperson of General Dollar, in an email, stated that as a growing retailer serving thousands of communities across the country, the company is committed to providing a safe work environment for its associates and a safe shopping experience for its customers. We learn from situations where we have failed to live up to our commitment, and we reinforce them through ongoing communication, training, and regularly reviewing and refining our safety programs to address any issues and ensure the expectations regarding safety are implemented and understood.
