Pros
In today's economy, the best pro for working at Dollar General is the fact that it is close to home not requiring a lot of gas or time to commute. For people with outgoing personalities is offers a huge potential for social interaction with people from your hometown community.
Cons
Initially, I was excited when I received the call that I had been hired for a postition at my neighborhood store but that quickly changed within my first few days of working. During my interview process I heard a lot of positive things about the company, advancement opportunities and benefits. But, there were a lot of things that were not explained until after I accepted the position. Only then was it explained to me that store managers do not get to set the schedules for their employees. Scheduling is all done through computer software at the corporate office and that I may only expect to have 5 hours a week until I "prove" myself. "Proving" myself was to be determined by the software according to how well I did on the cash register, (i.e., number of voids, returns, and cash volume). Training has been poor and nearly non-existent. The only real training has been done on the use of the cash register, however when you are only scheduled to work 4-10 hours a week, it is more challenging to accurately retain that information efficiently. Often times the first thing you hear from a customer when they enter the store is "Where can I find...." or "Do you carry......" honestly, I have no idea on most of the things customers ask for. There has been no store orientation as to what type of items kind be found in different areas in the store or where those areas even are. The majority of the time I have worked, there have only been 2 employees in store, one to run the register, greet customers, keep the shelves and aisles around the register clean and faced as well as returning items customers say they don't want back to their proper places on the shelves. The other employee is usually somewhere in the back portion of the store replacing items customers have left lying around the store, facing shelves, folding clothes, etc. Once the store closes 1 employee is left to sweep, mop and return misplaced item throughout the entire store while the other person closes out the cash registers. This all must be completed within 30 minutes with only 2 employees. While there are employee benefits for part-time people, no one can afford them only working 4-10 hours per week. Personally, I don't usually ask for time off but there are times when I would like to attend events and be supportive for my grandchildren but I am quite afraid to do so. While you have right to request time off I would not suggest that you do so as the scheduling software will reduce the number of hours you are given if you do not work when the software tells you too. While I was told I could not start work until I had a yellow shirt and black pants I have worked with others who have come in with dirty or stained and even ripped clothing. Unless you are scheduled for a meal break there are no breaks given. As I was checking out a customer the other day, he said to me, "I haven't seen you in here before." Politely I replied, "Yes Sir. I am new." His next response was, "Boy, you have a high turn over here." From my experience so far, it seems as though Dollar General is not really interested in hiring or retaining professional minded, quality employees.
