Dollar General will pay $12 million in fines over workplace safety violations

 July 16, 2024 6:01 AM

By:

• Jonathan Franklin
• 
  

Caption

Dollar General has agreed to pay a $12 million fine and improve conditions at its thousands of retail stores nationwide to make them safer for workers, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Here, a Dollar General store is seen on August 2017, in Luther, Okla. / AP

Dollar General has agreed to pay $12 million in penalties and improve safety at its nearly 20,000 stores across the U.S. after claims that the discount retailer put its employees in danger with its practices, the Labor Department said.

In a news release last week announcing the settlement, the Labor Department said that Dollar General will have to significantly reduce its store inventory and hire new safety managers, provide health and safety training, and develop a safety and health committee for employees.

The agreement also outlines that Dollar General must correct any future safety violations regarding blocked exits or access to fire extinguishers and electrical panels within 48 hours — or face fines of up to $500,000 per violation.