Dollar General

Tennessee
Retailing

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Dollar General vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination, but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. An employee of Dollar General alleged he was fired for religious beliefs in 2013, though the employee did not win the lawsuit. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. Dollar General supports multiple organizations promoting abortion and pledged $5 million to BLM and related causes. However, it does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Dollar General receives a Medium Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

In 2013, a man alleged he was fired from Dollar General for not working Saturdays due to his Seventh-Day Adventist beliefs. The court case was settled in 2016 in favor of Dollar General (1)(2). Dollar General has not been accused of terminating business relationships with employees or clients based on beliefs since 2013. Dollar General has received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index. Among other commitments, the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (3)(4).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Dollar General and its primary foundation, the DG Literacy Foundation, do not discriminate against religious groups in their charitable giving (1)(2)(3).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Dollar General does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Dollar General sponsored the 2020 Pride at Home Festival in Nashville, Tennessee (1).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Dollar General’s HRC CEI profile indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). Dollar General supports both the YWCA and Girl’s Inc., both pro-abortion organizations (3). Dollar General also pledged $5 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (4)(5). The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (6).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Dollar General does not operate a PAC at this time (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 23, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/31/23SocialDomini Social InvestmentsWorker Safety and Well-Being AuditFor66.20%
5/31/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenRemove the One-Year Holding Period to Call a Special Shareholder MeetingAgainst12.60%
5/31/23EnvironmentalHumane Society of the U.S.Report on Cage-Free EggsAgainst36.10%
5/25/22SocialJohn CheveddenReport on Political Contributions and ExpedituresAgainst56.99%
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