Lidl has announced new entry-level hourly pay rates, and stolen Aldi’s thunder in the process.
From 1 March, Lidl’s national rate is set to rise from £13 to £13.45 – 10p more than Aldi’s already announced rate from the same date.
Inside the M25, Lidl’s rate is set to rise from £14.35 to £14.80 – 9p more than Aldi’s new London rate.
Aldi announced its new rates last month, boasting it “would never be beaten on pay for our colleagues”.
But Lidl has noted its £29m investment, including rises for salaried workers, will “once again make it the highest-paying UK supermarket”.
The two discounters have a twice-yearly battle to offer the highest entry-level rate, each time they announce rises effective from March and September. At times it has led to a number of announcements from each as they raise their offers to outdo the other by as little as 2p.
This time, Aldi played its hand early and Lidl has waited a number of weeks to hit back hard.
Both offer higher rates after a minimum length of service. From 1 March, Lidl’s national rate with a minimum three years’ service will be £14.45 an hour. For Lidl workers inside the M25 with a minimum two years’ service, it will be £15.30 an hour.
Lidl is also doubling fully paid paternity leave from two weeks to four. Employees who have served a minimum five years will be entitled to eight weeks. Lidl said the move built on its credentials as the first supermarket to introduce 28 weeks’ fully paid maternity and adoption leave. It also offers paid leave for those undergoing fertility treatment and those affected by pregnancy loss.
“We believe that a longer period of paid paternity leave is a vital step on our journey towards gender equality in the workplace,” said Lidl GB chief people officer Stephanie Rogers. “We are seeking to challenge the social norms that often see mothers disproportionately put their careers on hold to raise a family.
“By encouraging the taking of paternity leave, particularly by our more senior male colleagues, stretch and development opportunities will be opened up for others.
“We are confident that this change, whilst fostering a more equitable workplace, will positively impact progression opportunities for women at Lidl, provide a greater male presence in young lives and, slowly but surely, begin to shift social norms.”
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