What’s it like to work at Lidl? Staff reveal long hours, depressing work but…good pay
The budget store is quickly becoming the supermarket of choice for Brits in search of a bargain but its aggressive expansion might come at a price
LIDL has come under fire from staff claiming they were overworked, undervalued and stressed to the point of endangering their health and going into “depression”.
The budget store is quickly becoming the supermarket of choice for Brits in search of a bargain but its aggressive expansion might come at a price.
In more than 1,000 reviews from Lidl staff across the globe on , employees have lifted the lid on the secrets behind the supermarket’s expansion.
The terms “work-life balance” as well as “long hours” and “working hours” were mentioned among the disadvantages of working for Lidl in more than 150 employee reviews worldwide.
A former employee who claims he used to work as a customer service assistant in London said Lidl was the “worst company to work for.”
“Long hours, no breaks, depressing work environment, heavy lifting even for women, understaffed, rude colleagues and managers, bullying, no health and safety at work, no social life and the lists goes on,” he said.
He advised future candidates to avoid the company if they don’t want to go into “depression”.
“There is nothing good about this company. Please avoid it or you will kill yourself,” he added.
Insufficient health and safety was flagged up by another employee, who allegedly worked as a store assistant in Pinner.
He said one of his former colleagues lost an eye because the method for using the baler wasn't safe.
"Instead of revising that method the manager 'showed' everyone how to use and made everyone sign a form stating they had been trained and the company wasn't liable for compensation," he explained.
The lack of care towards staff was also mentioned by an employee who claims he used to work as a store assistant for the budget store in Royal Leamington Spa.
He said Lidl “treated people like numbers” and would get annoyed if staff need to use the toilet.
“Hours are long and the allocated break times are Dickensian but time flies and so you rarely notice”, another employee who claims to be currently working as an assistant team manager for Lidl in Lutterworth, said.
In one of the most recent reviews an employee who claims to be currently working for the company in London said training was hap-hazard and stressful.
He concluded “The company seems to be expanding too quickly.”
Despite the many negative reviews many employees praised Lidl for its “market leading salary” and easy career progression.
An employee, who claims to work as a team leader in London, said: “The pay is good and you will get a lot of responsibility. If you can move into a good department then your career will progress well.”
While another member who appears to be working as a consultant for the company in London said the salary is very competitive and it’s easy to progress with “the right attitude.”
A spokesperson for Lidl told The Sun Online that the company is committed to ensuring that their employees receive a high level of internal support and industry-leading terms and conditions.
Employee satisfaction surveys are conducted, and all employees have open lines of communication with their line managers and dedicated Personnel Welfare Consultants to ensure that any concerns are addressed and ongoing feedback is taken on board, according to Lidl.
"We also actively encourage a healthy work-life balance for all our employees through flexible rotas and working hours, as well as enhanced holiday allowance," the spokesperson said.
How to tackle problems at work
THERE are a few steps you can take if you're facing issues at work.
- First of all, keep evidence – keep hold of letters, payslips, emails and texts, and note down a record of conversations you’ve had which could be used to support your case.
Talk to your boss – problems may arise from honest mistakes or misunderstanding the law.
If you don’t feel confident having a conversation one-to-one, ask a colleague or Union rep to join you.Have a more formal discussion – if the issue isn’t resolved with an informal conversation, the next step is to raise a written grievance which should give you the chance to discuss your issue formally.
Get advice – if you’re still not getting anywhere, speak to Citizens Advice, your Trade Union or to ACAS.
Options might include using dispute resolution to liaise with your employer, or going to an employment tribunal.
"We place our employees at the heart of what we do and remain committed to providing them with the practical and personal support they need to continue their journey with the company," he added.
Lidl last year announced it will adopt the new Living Wage Foundation rate in a pay boost for 5,500 of its workers, making it the first supermarket in Britain to do so in 2016.
The German discounter a quarter of his employee would benefit from March 1 which puts them on a minimum of £8.45 an hour, or £9.75 an hour in London.
Today Citizens Advice warned employers are misleading their workers about their rights when it comes to sick pay, minimum wage and dismissal processes.
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