JOIN THE BOOMING
DOLLAR-STORE ECONOMY!
tor of employee morale.
One day in 2010, Sheneman
woke up with a wrenched back,
nearly unable to get out of bed.
She was all but certain the injury
was due to moving the store’s
“rolltainers” — massive cages
that hold hundreds of pounds of
products. She went to the doctor
and ultimately worked despite the
pain, but she filed a workers’ compensation claim to help cover her
copays and medicines.
The company challenged the
claim, arguing that Sheneman’s
injury wasn’t due to work. Once
Sheneman fought back, she said
the company’s lawyers quickly capitulated in a conference call with
her and her lawyer. According to
workers’ comp records, Sheneman
got a check for $250 to cover her
out-of-pocket costs, but she said
the experience was dispiriting.
Then, last September, Sheneman
broke her left arm in a motorcycle
accident. She claimed she was soon
taken off the schedule.
“If they said I could come back, I
would probably swallow my pride
and go back, just to have some income coming in,” Sheneman said.
Dollar General disputed her
unemployment claim, according
to records with Michigan’s un-
HUFFINGTON
10.06.13
employment agency. Sheneman
said she was fired; her employer
questioned her ability to work.
The state’s unemployment agency
sided with Sheneman.
Dawn Hughey, the Dollar General manager from Michigan who
hurt her neck, agreed to a preliminary settlement with the company
for an undisclosed sum in August.
Hughey’s unemployment insurance ran out a few months ago, and
she’s been relying on food stamps
to get by. She even looked into selling blood. She was recently evicted
from her apartment and moved in
with a cousin.
“Sometimes my neck is in a lot
of pain, and I have to lay down and
get the pillows just right to get it to
stop,” she said.
While she had viewed her job
at Dollar General four years ago
as the start of a new life, Hughey
said she’s now hoping the workers’ compensation settlement will
help her get back on her feet and
settle some debts. When she finally ran out of money, the minister
at her church helped her make the
final payments on her car so that
it wouldn’t be repossessed.
“I’m going to pay her back when
it’s all said and done,”
Hughey said.
Dave Jamieson is The Huffington
Post’s labor reporter.