WHEREAS: Dollar General operates more than 18,000 stores in 47 states and employs over 140,000 people,[1] providing access to affordable products in rural and remote areas across the United States.
Since 2017, Dollar General has received $12.3 million in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties for numerous willful, repeated, and serious workplace safety violations.[2] OSHA designated Dollar General as a “severe violator” in 2022, issuing citations for blocked safety exits and unsafe storage areas, inaccessible fire extinguishers, storage of boxes in front of electrical panels, exposure of workers to electrocution risks, and failure to provide exit signs and required stair handrails.[3] Regulators and employment experts state that the company “choos[es] to place  profits over their employees’ safety and well-being”[4] and that its business model leads to disregarding the law and “cutting corners when it comes to basic worker safety.”[5]
As supply chain disruptions, increasing freight costs, and shipping delays impact dollar stores nationwide, it is not evident that there are adequate systems in place to address these dynamics and mitigate potential impacts on workers. Staffing levels appear to be insufficient to manage the workload, especially as it relates to unpredictable shipments and influxes of inventory, which may lead to blocked exits or increased fire hazards.[6] Staffing shortages and high turnover contribute to fatigue, high workload, and further exacerbate safety issues. This may also contribute to loss of new store development opportunities or poor worker retention.[7] In the midst of high economic inequality, Dollar General employees are among the most vulnerable workers, with 92 percent of Dollar General’s hourly workers making less than $15 per hour.  While the company states it engages employees through town hall meetings, DG voice, and “pulse” surveys to understand employee sentiment,[8] there is no disclosure on how this feedback informs actions to address workers’ concerns and priorities.
Understaffing and poor security measures at Dollar General stores may also contribute to increased risk of gun violence to staff and communities. Dollar stores have become vulnerable targets for robberies, causing employees to lose their lives, according to past reports.[9]