Lidl ahead of the curve on “living wage”
Following the latest recommendations of the Living Wage Technical Group, Lidl has become the first Irish supermarket brand to commit to paying all employees the living wage of €12.30ph.
Print18 November 2019
Lidl has committed to pay its workers a minimum of €12.30 per hour, in line with the latest recommendations of the Living Wage Technical Group.
Assessed by this group of researchers and academics, the Living Wage is a recommended rate of income considered necessary to have a “socially acceptable standard of living”. The commitment means that a pay increase is on the way for 15% of Lidl employees, while all others are already earning in excess of the new rate.
Lidl has more than 4,000 employees across Ireland, and uses some fairly progressive methods in order to create what it calls “an environment where colleagues’ holistic needs are prioritised, including their overall sense of wellbeing”. These include paid maternity and paternity leave, a free counselling service, pension contributions, paid volunteering and more.
Meanwhile, a similar commitment has been announced by Lidl in Northern Ireland, where employees will benefit from the recommended living wage of £9.30ph (€10.90).
Maeve McCleane, Lidl Ireland’s HR director, said that Lidl’s people are central to its success over the years. “By continually investing in our team,” McCleane said, “we attract and retain the best employees and, in turn, continue to serve our 1.5 million-plus weekly customers the highest quality products cheaper than any of our competitors.
“Already,” she continued, “85% of our team earns in excess of the Living Wage, however it is important for us to ensure that those whose hourly pay is below €12.30 benefit from this increase. This will bring them to a level that is more reflective of enjoying a better standard of living.”
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