Everything Dollar General Employees Should Know About Termination and Quitting in 2024
With over 18,000 stores and 160,000 employees nationwide, Dollar General dominates the discount retail sector. But with below-average compensation and a high-pressure environment, turning over staff has become a routine HR challenge.
An Inside Look at Dollar General‘s Employee Relations Policies
Corporate sets centralized protocols for disciplinary action, discharge, resignations, rehiring and more that aim for consistency across regions. However franchise-owned stores can still make independent calls on employment status. Key aspects include:
Termination Policy
- 7 step progressive discipline policy for performance
- Immediate firing permitted for policy violations
- Managers have authority to terminate without HR approval
Rehire Eligibility
- Most fired employees can reapply after 6-12 months
- Those blacklisted for theft/fraud may be permanently prohibited
Advance Notice Standards
- Employees expected to provide 2 weeks notice before quitting
- Exceptions made for family/medical emergencies
Understanding these broader employment guidelines provides helpful context when faced with job loss or deciding to leave Dollar General behind.
By the Numbers: Dollar General‘s Struggle With Turnover
Staffing turnover has long plagued Dollar General – often exceeding 50% annually across their network. Some key metrics:
- 25% Overall Retail Employee Turnover Rate in 2022
- 37% Dollar General‘s Turnover Rate in 2022
- Up to 75% Turnover at Individual Store Locations
High turnover drives recruitment, hiring and onboarding costs over $100 million yearly for Dollar General. Their retention struggles exceed competitors like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. Clearly DG has room for improvement engaging and retaining talent through workplace culture and compensation policy reform.
Why Do Employees Continue Leaving Dollar General?
With turnover nearly doubling industry averages, what causes the revolving door of staff exiting Dollar General locations? Surveys of former retail employees reveal the most common factors are:
- Low pay – Base wages rarely rise above minimum without promotion
- Few advancement opportunities – Positions like store manager cap earning potential
- Poor culture/treatment – Long hours in a rigid corporate environment
- Health toll – Physical and mental fatigue is immense
Pay fails to compete with less intensive big box and grocery options. And the rigid corporate structure leaves little control or autonomy for store associates.
Expert Advice: Navigating Dollar General Termination and Resignation
For employees new to retail or considering working for Dollar General, having an exit strategy before you even start can pay dividends. Here is insider guidance on best practices around job loss or quitting:
If Fired:
- Clarify if eligible for rehire during offboarding
- Consider appeal if policy breach unclear
- Ensure final pay includes any owed wages
If Quitting:
- Give longer than 2 week notice if possible
- Line up other work prior to resigning
- Forfeited vacation pay still better than immediate exit
While some turnover factors are ingrained in the Dollar General environment, being informed on employment policies allows workers to depart on their own terms instead of the company‘s.
Key Takeaways
With a mostly decentralized and autonomous store management structure, individual Dollar General locations still operate under broader corporate guidance around terminations, resignations, and rehiring. Understanding these standards provides reassuring clarity for employees during any transition while highlighting some glaring retention issues to improve upon.
