Dollar General has thrived during the coronavirus crisis, hiring thousands of workers to keep up with demand for its products. But at one of the company’s Georgia warehouses, employees fear these profits are coming at a dangerous price. The distribution center in Jackson, some 40 miles south of Atlanta
Dollar General has thrived during the coronavirus crisis, hiring thousands of workers to keep up with demand for its products. But at one of the company’s Georgia warehouses, employees fear these profits are coming at a dangerous price.
About two hours later, Dollar General’s morning shift began to trickle in for their routine temperature checks, conducted by nurses flanking an entrance way. Employees say one of those nurses warned workers there’d been a suspected COVID-19 case overnight—which, if confirmed, would be the second in less than a week.
On April 9, local TV station WGXA reported that the distribution center had no confirmed cases of COVID-19, but that one employee was awaiting test results. Because of the suspected case, the warehouse shut down “for an extensive cleaning by a third-party cleaning company,” Dollar General told the news outlet.
“Upon learning of the confirmed diagnosis, we took preventative measures to halt operations to conduct an extensive and thorough cleaning by a third-party cleaning company,” Colbert added. “At the conclusion of that cleaning, we resumed operations to support the essential work and services that our stores are performing for the communities we serve. All employees were paid for regularly scheduled hours during this time.
This employee said the smells from the quick cleaning were so strong, one pregnant woman who works in inventory walked out, followed by some fork-lifters and receiving checkers. And that one manager allegedly told employees, “You have two choices: you work or go home. If you go home, you will be accountable for a point on your attendance.”
The company sent employees home early on Friday, June 5, after one worker’s coronavirus test came back positive. An employee bulletin stated work and common areas including lockers and time clocks would be cleaned. The note added: “Regardless, the fact that we believe it is [a] safe environment for you to be working today, we have made the decision to cancel the remainder of your shift and will resume operations as follow[s].
While press releases indicate customer-service employees are provided with face masks and hand sanitizer, the company has not issued similar announcements about protocols being implemented within its distribution centers.
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