News Reporter Perspective:
In a major settlement with the Department of Labor, Dollar General has agreed to improve safety protocols in its stores and pay $12 million in penalties due to the discount chain’s history of subjecting low-wage employees to dangerous working conditions.
Over the past decade, dozens of Dollar General workers and customers have lost their lives at stores, leading to worker protests and millions in fines for unsafe store environments.
The Labor Department announced that Dollar General will hire new safety managers, provide safety and health training to workers, and establish a safety and health committee. Additionally, the company will reduce merchandise levels in stores to prevent blocked fire exits.
Under the agreement, Dollar General must address any safety violations related to blocked exits or access to fire extinguishers and electrical panels within 48 hours, facing fines of up to $500,000 per violation.
Douglas Parker, head of the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health division, stated, “These changes help give peace of mind to thousands of workers, knowing that they are not risking their safety in their workplaces and that they will come home healthy at the end of each day.”
This settlement resolves existing contested inspections and open federal inspections related to alleged violations.
Dollar General did not respond immediately to CNN’s request for comment on the matter.
Last year, the Labor Department reached a settlement with Dollar Tree to enhance worker safety in stores, highlighting the ongoing efforts within the discount retail industry to address safety concerns.
Both Dollar General and Dollar Tree operate on a low-cost business model, enabling them to offer competitive prices and reach underserved areas that larger retailers like Walmart and Target may overlook.
However, this business model often results in store operations with minimal staffing, making it challenging for employees to effectively stock shelves and maintain store cleanliness.
Dollar General has rapidly grown to become the fastest-growing retailer in the United States, boasting over 19,000 small stores. The company’s expansion is attributed to its presence in small towns and the economic realities of a shrinking middle class and income inequality in the country.
