WHY INVESTING IN EMPLOYEES IS A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Dollar General’s dedication to serving others goes beyond its customers.
Today, many employees expect their companies to do more than provide a paycheck. They imagine a place where they can grow, feel fulfilled, and make a difference in the world around them. As a purpose-driven company for more than 80 years, Dollar General supports this way of thinking. The national retailer with more than 17,600 stores across the country naturally focuses on its customers. But DG knows that to create a great customer experience, a company must also commit to investing in and championing its employees.
“From the beginning, we have always believed that taking care of our employees first is what drives our success,” says Kathy Reardon, executive vice president and chief people officer for Dollar General. “That belief is baked into our 82-year-old mission of serving others, which forms the foundation of a culture that celebrates diversity, empowers team members and respects the dignity and differences of others. Improving the lives of our team members, customers and communities is at the core of every decision we make.”
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DEMONSTRATING COMMITMENT DAILY
As with its customers, Dollar General is committed to listening to its employees. The retailer uses a survey tool called DG Voice to gauge how team members feel about their careers and the company.
But listening is just the start, Reardon says. “Because of DG Voice and the feedback we have received, we have launched several new key development programs to continue investment in our teams.” These include the Emerging Leaders Program, Advanced Leadership Program, Senior Executive Leadership Forum, sponsorship and mentorship programs, store manager development, extensive district manager trainings, and distribution leadership development programs, among others. The company also launched several employee resource groups, each of which is organized around a shared characteristic or interest.
Dollar General employees seem to appreciate the company’s efforts to support their professional growth and well-being.
“We are invested in each other,” says Katy Knecht, regional director at Dollar General, Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville in Alabama. “We thrive when everybody thrives. It’s really exciting when you’re part of a team that’s really, truly a family.”
We are invested in each other. We thrive when everybody thrives. It’s really exciting when you’re part of a team that’s really, truly a family.”
“
—Katy Knecht, Regional Director at Dollar General,
Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville in Alabama
GROWTH FOR THE COMPANY = GROWTH FOR EMPLOYEES
Dollar General is a mature company in growth mode. Throughout a challenging 2020, DG opened 1,000 new stores and remodeled more than 1,600. And as it continues to grow, DG seeks to provide opportunities for employees to start and develop their careers.
Individuals sometimes join Dollar General thinking it will be a short-term or part-time job, only to discover a myriad of career opportunities. Lori Blackburn, Mentone, Ala. store manager, started with DG in a part-time, entry-level role and was encouraged by her manager to take on more responsibilities. Now she’s a training store manager. “Never in a million years did I think that I would make a career out of Dollar General, but I have been with the company for 14 years now,” she says.
Her colleague Ashley Simpson can relate. Six years ago, she applied to DG to earn extra money before the holidays. Today, she’s a district manager and responsible for operational excellence in 21 stores. Along the way, and with help from Dollar General’s employee tuition reimbursement programs, she earned her associate’s degree and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree. It wasn’t always an easy path, but Simpson was determined. She credits DG for supporting her growth through educational benefits, career opportunities, and encouragement and mentoring from her manager. “I never imagined that this company or this career would take me this far,” she says. “The opportunities at Dollar General are endless.”
PATHWAYS TO PROMOTIONS
Simpson and Blackburn’s stories represent the kind of employee satisfaction and growth opportunities the company leadership strives to deliver. “Growth and development at Dollar General are part of our core values,” Reardon says. “We want to provide employees career opportunities in a friendly and fun environment.”
DG does just that by offering numerous ways to augment professional growth at all career points. For example, the DG University Alliance is a university partnership and scholarship program that helps employees and their family members access higher education. Participating colleges and universities across the country provide tuition benefits, including discounts, fee waivers, and deferred billing to full and part-time employees. Some extend those benefits to immediate family members. A scholarship program is also available to full-time employees who meet applicable criteria.
Dollar General’s internal Store Manager Training program enables employees to receive up to nine college credit hours toward an undergraduate degree, after an evaluation and recommendation by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®). ACE CREDIT helps adults gain academic credit for courses and exams taken outside traditional degree programs. Currently, 75% of store managers are internally promoted through the Store Manager Training program.
For any employee interested in driving for the DG private fleet, on-the-job training is available. After completing a training class to earn their commercial driver’s license, employees are eligible to join the fleet and hit the road for Dollar General.
DG’s expertise in providing training is being recognized across the industry. In 2021, Dollar General was inducted into Training magazine’s Top 100 Hall of Fame following two years of being named the magazine’s top training and development program and 10 years of being listed on its Top 125.
“We see the impact of investing in the careers and well-being of our employees firsthand,” Reardon says. “Not only are our employees able to better serve our communities, but they can also build lifelong careers at our organization.”
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Dollar General Store Growth in 2020
1,000
new stores
opened
1,670
stores
remodeled
+
growth in
net sales
growth in
same-store
sales
15%
+
20%
Source: Dollar General
Dollar General Store Growth in 2020
1,000
new stores
opened
1,670
stores
remodeled
growth in
net sales
growth in
same-store
sales
15%
+
20%
Source: Dollar General
+