Entire workforce quits at same time after being forced to work all week

A Dollar General store has been forced to close after its entire workforce quit at the same time.

On the morning of 9 March, nobody showed up to open the store in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, after all six staff members, including manager Trina Tribolet, resigned due to being overworked and underpaid.

The night before, they'd left a handmade sign in the window of the store saying they quit.

The sign read: "We quit! Thank you to our amazing customers. We love and will miss you!"

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Another sign elsewhere in the store explained that the 'whole team has walked away due to a lack of appreciation, being overworked and being underpaid.'

According to Economic Policy Institute's Company Wage Tracker, 92 percent of employees at Dollar General are paid less than $15 (£11.72) per hour.

On top of low wages, staff were often forced to work seven days a week with Tribolet telling 9News that this past weekend since she quit was her 'first time off since Christmas.'

She also noted that Dollar General's food donation policy was another factor in the mass walkout, saying she was 'disturbed' by the amount of food that was thrown away due to strict company guidelines.

"There have been tears that have been shed over the fact that we're throwing away coffee that is not expired, but it's close," Tribolet explained.

"Or you're throwing out a box of Lucky Charms that you know there's a whole bunch of kids that would love to eat those, but you can't donate them out because you're supposed to throw them away."

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Alongside being forced to throw away products that were almost out of date, she claims they were also required to get rid of any items the store no longer sold.

Tribolet says having to throw out perfectly good food that could have gone to families in need was the 'last straw' for herself and her colleagues.

In a statement released after the walkout, Dollar General confirmed that the Mineral Point store was closed for three hours after the walkout.

They have since hired new staff.

"Additionally, we are proud to serve local Wisconsin communities with donations through our Feeding America partnership at 21 stores across the state," the statement read.

"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."

Topics: News, US News, Food And Drink, Business, Cost of Living, Money

Bec Oakes