Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Georgia church leaders called for a Home Depot boycott
Public backlash
In April 2021, Black religious leaders in Georgia called for a boycott of Home Depot. They criticized the company for not speaking out against recently passed voting restriction laws in the state. The call for a boycott was reported as a controversy involving the retailer, centered on the company's lack of public opposition to the voting laws.
Company response
Clarification — Home Depot
their official statement is that they believe “all elections should be accessible, fair and secure and support broad voter participation”
Source excerpt
Home Depot is in the line of fire after church leaders in Georgia reprimanded the large corporation for not standing up against the new voting restriction laws that were recently passed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
Black religious leaders who are said to have started this boycott represent more than 1,000 churches around the Peach State, Reuters explained.
As for the Georgia-based home improvement retail company, their official statement is that they believe “all elections should be accessible, fair and secure and support broad voter participation” and stated that it would “continue to work to ensure our associates in Georgia and across the country have the information and resources to vote.”
2021
Home Depot faces union protest over out-of-state contractors
Public backlash
Painters union representatives protested the Southtown Home Depot in St. Louis over its hiring of out-of-state contractors for store renovations. A Home Depot manager said she could not comment and added that corporate hires everyone.
Company response
Clarification — Home Depot
A Home Depot manager told Patch she could not comment on the situation, but added, "We don't hire anyone, corporate hires everyone."
Source excerpt
The Southtown Home Depot on Kingshighway Boulevard in St. Louis is under fire from a local painters union for hiring out-of-state contractors.
A Home Depot manager told Patch she could not comment on the situation, but added, "We don't hire anyone, corporate hires everyone."
Union representatives Otto Schoenberg and Wendell Harris, both of St. Louis, stood watch on Kingshighway with a sign and snare drum Wednesday afternoon to protest the outsourcing of jobs from the area.
2020
The Home Depot reaches multistate data breach settlement
Settlement
The Home Depot agreed to a $17.5 million multistate settlement resolving an investigation into its 2014 data breach, which exposed payment card information of approximately 40 million consumers. It also agreed to implement and maintain specified data security practices.
Stated objective. Strengthen its information security program and safeguard consumers’ personal information.
Company response
Remediation — The Home Depot
The Home Depot has agreed to implement and maintain a series of data security practices designed to strengthen its information security program and safeguard the personal information of consumers.
Source excerpt
Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday that Delaware has joined a total $17.5 million settlement against Georgia-based retailer The Home Depot, resolving a multistate investigation of a 2014 data breach which exposed the payment card information of approximately 40 million Home Depot consumers nationwide.
The breach occurred when hackers gained access to The Home Depot’s network and deployed malware on The Home Depot’s self-checkout point-of-sale system.
The Home Depot has agreed to implement and maintain a series of data security practices designed to strengthen its information security program and safeguard the personal information of consumers.
2020
Home Depot agrees to proposed settlement over lead-paint rule violations
Settlement
Home Depot agreed to a proposed nationwide settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice, under which it would pay a $20.75 million penalty. The settlement addresses alleged violations of lead-safe renovation rules by contractors working on Home Depot renovations. The source reports allegations only and does not state that any determination of guilt has been made.
Home Depot agreed to pay a $20.75 million penalty in a proposed nationwide settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice. The settlement resolves alleged violations of lead-safe renovation rules by contractors working on Home Depot renovations; the source reports allegations, not a determination of guilt.
Stated objective. The settlement is expected to significantly reduce children's exposure to lead paint hazards.
Company response
Remediation — Home Depot
Under the settlement, Home Depot is required to implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide program to ensure that the firms and contractors it hires for work are certified and trained to use lead-safe work practices.
Source excerpt
Home improvement retailer Home Depot has agreed to pay $20.75 million penalty in a proposed nationwide settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA and the Department of Justice.
The settlement resolves alleged violations of the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting or RRP Rule for conducting home renovations involving lead paint performed by Home Depot's contractors across the country.
2020
Home Depot temporarily changes rope sales after nooses found in stores
Company response
After nooses were found in several stores, Home Depot temporarily removed spooled rope from its aisles and said it would sell rope only in pre-cut lengths. The company said spooled rope had been used to create hate symbols and that it would not tolerate this.
Company response
Remediation — Home Depot
Home Depot is now removing the giant spools of rope used to make the nooses and will only sell rope in pre-cut lengths at this time.
Source excerpt
Home Depot is temporarily changing the way it sells rope.
The company says the changes are coming after nooses were found inside several stores.
"Unfortunately, we’ve had some instances where spooled rope was used to create hate symbols and we’re not going to tolerate it," a Home Depot spokesperson told FOX Business.
2020
Home Depot penalized over Worcester soil contamination
Fine or penalty
Massachusetts' Department of Environmental Protection penalized Home Depot $22,000 after it failed to promptly report metals released to soil at its Worcester store. The DEP said Home Depot later conducted additional excavation and disposed of soil without proper state approval.
Source excerpt
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is fining Home Depot $22,000 for failing to report lead and arsenic-contaminated soil during a 2017 excavation at the hardware store’s 130 Gold Star Blvd. location in Worcester, MassDEP announced on Friday.
According to MassDEP, Home Depot disposed of 280 cubic yards of the contaminated soil before notifying the state in June 2018.
The company excavated and disposed of approximately 280 cubic yards of lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil before notifying DEP in June 2018.
2014
Payment-card data breach
A breach exposed payment-card information associated with Home Depot transactions. Investigations identified weaknesses in the handling of card data at service desks and specialty departments. Home Depot discontinued the relevant manual-entry practice and offered credit monitoring to customers who requested it.