Lidl must realise that the morale and happiness of employees is DIRECTLY related to good customer service. Treat the front-line staff well and they’ll treat customers well- simple! One-to-one interviews should be to HELP and support staff with any problems, not just criticise sales figures. After all, only those on the front-line know what the customer needs and the business needs. The front-line is where a company stands or falls, so these staff should be the most respected and valued in the company.

 However, this is not the situation. In the 21st century, in a developed country, employers of this company are being left without a break for more than 6 hours, sometimes even 8, regardless of them being sick or pregnant. This happens almost everyday all over LIDL stores. The 11 hours rest between shifts is not respected at all, with staff closing the store at 10pm or 11pm and opening next day at 6am. Cashiers are pressured to scan an average of 35 items per minute; now do you customers understand why staff rushes you out? Lidl employees are not supposed to have a private life. They never know what time they will finish; the time given on the rota is simply an estimate (and usually a very bad one) and only indicates until which time they'll get paid. Employees are told not to make any plans or arrangements for the time after work. Sick days are many times not paid ; the employee’s rota is simply changed, making the sick days as days off. The hours recorded are changed in the system and people are not always paid what they should leaving staff with no means to prove it. Managers are working extra 2 hours almost everyday which are not even paid for, this is to reach the unrealistic goals that are set to each store. Staff can be called 24/7, yes that means being called at 3am in the morning and being told off if they do not pick up the calls. Pregnant women are forced to carry weights, be in the freezer for many minutes, and work 50 hours if needed. There is no work safety as the freezers are disorganized with boxes falling over, there is no lockers for all staff and the welfare areas are really dirty. Staff is shouted at and treated wrongly everyday. There is always less staff than it should be, for instance there is usually 3 or 4 people closing the store, 1 is in bakery, other 2 working stock and one on the checkouts. Now you know why there is always long queues!! Result of this is a bakery being cleaned with a spray and paper only! And most of time there is no time to clean all of the trays and oven, yes this is where your lovely cheap bread is made. When someone tries to find help from ACAS and Citizen Advisor they are told they need to solve with the company first and if nothing changes they need to quit the job and say that they left because of the work conditions, however it is a very hard case to win in court. The government is allowing this to happen and there are many laws but nothing happens when the companies do not respect them.

 

As a prove that these situations do happen please read the workers reviews in the following links:

http://franklludwig.com/lidl.html

https://misebogland.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/extracts-from-a-diary-of-a-lidl-supermarket-worker/comment-page-1/

 

For more links please type lidl work conditions in google search.

 

You may ask yourself how Lidl are able to hold on to their staff under these conditions. The answer is simple: they don't! Most employees leave after a few weeks, either because they found decent employment, decided not to give up their dignity for a few extra money or are sacked under some unfair reason because they lack tractability or quickness.
Since the tasks performed by the majority of the staff don't require a lot of training, they are easily replaced - preferably with foreign nationals since they tend to fuss less about rights and minimum requirements.

 

I don't blame anyone who shops in Lidl because he has no other choice. But every time you pass the checkout, think of the money you have saved by shopping in Lidl, and remember that all these savings come out of their employees' pockets and slavery.

I guess by now you understand why staff is always unhappy and stressed whenever you shop there. Who would smile and be nice when sleeping 3 hours between shifts and left hours 6 or 8 without even a cup of water ?

 

Please sign this petition, whether you are a worker, ex worker or a customer, this is what is behind the cheap products you buy in this store. Help us stop this company of treating their staff like machines.

 Thank you for your support !