Lidl has rolled out a significant pay rise for all its UK employees, with entry-level wages increasing to £13.45 per hour. The change, announced earlier this year, took effect from March 1 and represents the supermarket's seventh wage increase in three years.
Pay Rise Details
The discount supermarket has raised its entry-level wage to £13.45, with the rate climbing to £14.45 based on length of service. Lidl has committed £29 million to staff wages, supporting both salaried and hourly-paid workers. This adjustment positions Lidl as the highest-paying supermarket in the UK once again.
Impact on Employees
All 35,000 employees have received the pay increase. Those in London saw their hourly rate rise from £14.35 to £14.80, with the potential to reach £15.30 based on service length. Lidl stated that its employees are the only ones in the sector to receive the Real Living Wage nationwide and the London Living Wage.
Additional Benefits
Workers also receive enhanced benefits, including doubled paternity leave from two weeks to four on full pay. After five years of service, employees qualify for eight weeks' full pay. Lidl GB chief people officer Stephanie Rogers said: 'We're delighted to offer these family leave enhancements for new parents. These improvements build on our extension of paid maternity leave and further demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing competitive and meaningful benefits to our colleagues.'
Ms Rogers added: 'We believe that a longer period of paid paternity leave is a vital step on our journey towards gender equality in the workplace. By encouraging the taking of paternity leave, particularly by our more senior male colleagues, stretch and development opportunities will be opened up for others.'
