Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are two well-known value-based retail companies. These brands currently have over 16,000 stores throughout Canada and the U.S. As the prices of nearly everything continue increasing, many Minnesota adults seek out local Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores to save money on grocery and household items. However, shoppers might not know the safety issues happening in these stores.
The Department of Labor’s recent ruling
According to a report from Scripps News, Dollar Tree and its child company, Family Dollar, recently settled with the U.S. Department of Labor. Family Dollar must also pay $1.35 in penalties from previously uncovered violations.
In addition, both companies have two years to identify and correct workplace safety issues that include:
- Keeping emergency exits clear
- Having access to fire extinguishers
- Storing various materials properly
The Department of Labor isn’t waiting long for these retail companies to fix their many safety issues. This company’s stores have 48 hours to resolve specific issues or face fines costing as much as $100,000 per day.
The work that remains
Family Dollar and Dollar Tree developed and began implementing a team within the past year to address workplace safety. This team focuses on implementing changes to keep employees safe, including following daily safety checklists. Dollar Tree must also keep an active hotline available 24 hours for employees to report workplace safety issues.
This could only be the beginning of Family Dollar’s legal problems. As more evidence unfolds showing prominent safety issues, this company may also face workers’ compensation claims from injured employees. Currently, Family Dollar and its child company employ over 200,000 people.
Unsafe retail stores don’t only create dangerous situations for employees. Wet floors, crowded spaces and similar hazards can also cause injuries to business partners and customers.
