Health and Safety -
Customers and Colleagues alike come second to health and safety in any Lidl store. All fire exits will be blocks and not seen as a major issue due to size of delivery justifying a heavy pallet covering the doors and walkways needed to escape a fire.
Having a security guard is not only for the prevention of theft in most companies but the safety of both colleagues and customers. They are employed to act as a deterrent. However, Lidl only employ a contractor security guard if they record a poor inventory result, the percentage of shrink or unknown loss is higher than planned. You can forget about the armed robbery that happened two doors away or the irate customers who verbally and sometimes physically attack store staff. None of these reasons justify spending in security. Even if the cost of hiring a security guard would be covered by a guard catching a couple of thefts a day, thus reducing Inventory problems.
Working Life Balance -
WLB is non existent at Lidl and that isn't an exaggeration by any stretch of the imagination. Expect 50,60 or even 70/80 hour weeks, regularly. This is pushed on managers due to 'poor closes' or 'unexpected deliveries' or a famous one... 'International Visits from Senior directors' which simply never happen. These excuses are to keep managers in particular and staff however, on their toes. As threats and verbal abuse is a major technique in the Lidl environment. (As a manager I was being threatened of my job, even though I was hitting all my targets and deadlines'
Physical Pay worked out -
When you actually work out how much you earn after a 60 hour week. It's 9 times out of 10. The same as a customer assistant, per hour. Even if you do run the store. You will never see Lidl cut manager hours as they get paid the same no matter what. They will cut how's of the staff and extend the hours of managers. This sickening technique really has no winners. Staff aren't able to pay bills, managers aren't able to have a day off.