Lidl

Source: Lidl

Lidl is to give frontline store and warehouse staff a one-off £200 bonus in thanks for their ongoing work through the pandemic.

The payment recognises their “tireless efforts to keep the nation fed and provide a safe shopping experience for customers up and down the country”, Lidl said. Customer assistants, warehouse operatives and cleaners across 800 stores and 13 distribution centres will be among those to receive it.

A further 1,800 office-based staff will be paid a £100 bonus recognising their “efforts in supporting the business”.

In total over 25,000 Lidl staff will benefit from the payments, amounting to in excess of £5.5m, Lidl said. The bonuses are to be included in February’s pay packet.

“Everyone in the food retail sector has been in the privileged position of being able to continue operating throughout this pandemic,” said Lidl GB CEO Christian Härtnagel.

“However, it has been an extremely challenging period and our teams have done a phenomenal job in helping to keep the nation fed.

“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and commitment our colleagues have shown and continue to show and this payment is about recognising their unrelenting hard work and thanking each individual for the important part they’ve played in the year like no other.”

In March last year, the discounter gave all staff a £150 voucher in recognition of their work during the country’s initial coronavirus lockdown period. It was among a number of moves by supermarkets to reward staff at the time, with Tesco announcing a 10% bonus and Asda giving shop floor workers an extra week’s pay.

From March this year, Lidl is also raising minimum hourly wages from £9.30 to £9.50 nationally and from £10.75 to £10.85 within the M25.