Working at Lidl?

DocBrowne

Hi

Looking for some advice here... I want to relocate from the West to the South, and need a job (obviously!). So, I applied to Lidl as an assistant store manager, as the pay seems good and they also have tonnes of jobs. However they are getting very bad press in terms of working hours, employee conditions, etc. I'd love to hear some genuine first-hand experience from employees/ex employees of what they're like, especially:

Working hours - they say 48 hours a week, 11 hour rest periods and 36 hours consecutively off (minimum) in any week. General consensus is 60 hours is the minimum you can expect, and you can be called in as little as five hours after finishing your previous shift. :eek: True?

They say you'll be a max of 35 miles from where you live, however I hear tales of being asked to drive 2, maybe 3 hours to cover shifts at other stores.

The phrases "burn out" and "exhaustion" crop up a lot... Can anyone offer first hand experience of what it's really like? I'm considering just forgetting about it, but there's not so many jobs out there - however as I'm recently married and hope to have a family soon, a 60 hour week just isn't where I want to be heading, no matter what the cash on offer is.

ITDept

I worked for them as a district manager a few years ago and it had its ups and downs.

On the upside: Excellent salary, expenses etc. Good social life with co-workers.

On the downside: Yes, you will work an unbelievable number of hours. I sometimes had to sleep in the store knowing I wouldn't make it home in the car. It's hard, physical work too.

It was the hardest I've ever worked, but also one of the best paid jobs I'm ever likely to have. Most people do it for about a year to pay off debts / get some savings in the bank - and then move on before it turns you into a complete zombie. Burnout does happen, but all that means is that you stop caring about what you're doing and start trying to cut corners... and that never works out.

In short, if you need the money then go for it but be prepared to work hard.

wmpdd3

If your newly married and thinking about a family I wouldn't risk it. Get your priorities right.

Sure you need a job but thrust me I have been at the receiving end of a:

'It's the job or me' argument.

I can't speak for someone working for Lidl or Aldi but I work long hours in a similar role. Couldn't imagine doing these hours and having a family.

DocBrowne

Interesting. Hard work I can handle, I've had hard work before, but it seems Lidl are in a different league in terms of expectations. I'm going to go along to the interview anyway and see what happens, if nothing else it will be useful practice.