400 Family Dollar stores closed after a rat infestation. It’s part of a troubling pattern

“Live rodents, dead rodents in various states of decay, rodent feces and urine, evidence of gnawing, nesting and rodent odors throughout the facility, dead birds and bird droppings.” Foul A company spokesperson said it was “committed to complying with all applicable federal, state and local occupational health and safety laws and appropriate industry standards.”Some of the conditions stem from the company’s labor model, which relies on thinly staffed stores and low overhead, said Scott Mushkin, a retail analyst at R5 Capital.The company pays some of the lowest wages in the retail industry and is more vulnerable to staff turnover and hiring challenges in tight labor markets such as the current one, according to analysts.Family Dollar stores were in poor condition when Dollar Tree acquired the business in 2015, he said. Although Family Dollar has renovated thousands of stores in recent years, many stores under both banners are still poorly maintained.”The controls on the business don’t seem to be where they need to.”