Dollar General workers cite scheduling, management and understaffing problems

Current and former Dollar General employees used a Reddit thread to outline why they are leaving or considering departure, naming inconsistent hours, understaffing and poor management as the key drivers. The discussion, posted Jan 11-12, 2026, included frontline associates, store managers and one contributor with HR and talent acquisition experience, offering a wide set of perspectives on morale and day-to-day operations.

Posts from associates described erratic scheduling and cuts to hours as a recurring source of stress. Several contributors said limited hiring and weak coverage when coworkers called out left remaining staff scrambling to cover registers, stock shelves and handle customer complaints. Managers who commented acknowledged the operational strains at the store level that follow from frequent call outs and thin shift rosters.

The thread highlights how scheduling instability cascades into other workplace problems. When hours fluctuate week to week, employees lose predictable income and have a harder time managing second jobs, child care and transportation. Persistent understaffing increases on-shift workloads, heightens safety and compliance risks and can accelerate burnout among both frontline workers and midlevel supervisors.

Discussion from the HR and talent acquisition perspective flagged that these store-level pain points make recruiting and retention more difficult. Turnover at the register or on the sales floor raises training costs and leaves remaining staff to absorb extra tasks, creating a feedback loop that can worsen staffing gaps. Managers who must do more with fewer people face morale and capacity challenges of their own, reducing time for coaching and oversight.

For workers, the thread served as both a venting space and an informal barometer of conditions across stores. For managers and district leaders, it provides a snapshot of common complaints that could be used to prioritize scheduling, hiring and coverage policies. The mix of voices in the thread also underscored that the problem is not limited to a single role: frontline associates, assistant managers and store leads all reported consequences from unstable schedules and insufficient staffing.

The Reddit discussion signals that scheduling practices and staffing investments are central issues for Dollar General at the store level. For employees, the conversation offers validation of shared frustrations and a reminder to document scheduling patterns and staffing shortfalls. For leaders, it points to immediate areas to address if the company hopes to reduce churn and stabilize operations: predictable hours, reliable coverage when staff call out and supportive management practices. How corporate and district teams respond to those pressures will shape store-level morale and recruiting in the months ahead.