WASHINGTON — The staff at a Dollar General store in southwestern Wisconsin walked off the job recently because of a dispute over the company's donation policy and what employees called "a lack of appreciation."
A large handwritten sign posted over the weekend on the front door of the Mineral Point store declared "We quit!" Another sign explained "the whole team has walked away due to a lack of appreciation, being overworked, and being underpaid."
Six employees, including the Dollar General store manager and assistant manager, quit at the same time, according to WKOW.
Trina Tribolet, the former store manager, told the Wisconsin TV station understaffing and excessive work hours factored into the employees' decision to quit but ultimately it was a disagreement on what they could or couldn't donate that prompted the mass walkout.
According to Tribolet, the Dollar General donation policy required workers to throw out items that were getting near the expiration date or that the store no longer sold. She told WKOW to get around the policy they would label items as damaged and donated the products anyway. She said when corporate found out and told them to stop, the workers decided to quit.
In a statement, Dollar General confirmed the store was closed for three hours Saturday morning before reopening.
"Additionally, we are proud to serve local Wisconsin communities with donations through our Feeding America partnership at 21 stores across the state," the company said in its statement. "The Mineral Point Dollar General store has donated nearly 7,500 pounds of food to local food banks such as Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin over the past twelve months. Food safety is a top priority for Dollar General and Feeding America members, therefore, DG stores are required to follow Feeding America donation policies."
Last year, a Dollar General store in Michigan closed after every employee quit because of understaffing, safety concerns and low pay.
Ninety-two percent of Dollar General workers make less than $15 an hour, according to a wage tracker from the Economic Policy Institute. That's compared to 80% at Big Lots, 51% at Walmart and 3% at Target making under $15.