Workers at Lidl have been left in “shock” following the devastating news that 130 jobs are to be put at risk as part of nationwide cuts to staffing in its recruitment and HR departments
Workers at Lidl have been left in “shock” following the devastating news that 130 jobs are to be put at risk just weeks before Christmas.
The discount retailer has revealed that it is planning to make nationwide cuts to staffing in its recruitment and HR departments in an effort to boost efficiency in its UK operations.
The roles under threat are currently based at the supermarket’s regional distribution centres, and the cuts are part of an effort to move these jobs into a centralised team at Lidl’s headquarters in Tolworth, south west London.
The move will also see 100 new HR roles created by the retailer in its head office. Staff learned of the decision on Friday, October 10 and will now go through a 90-day consultation period, The Sun reports.
One worker said they were in “shock” at the news, in a post on LinkedIn.
A spokesperson for Lidl said: “As a fast-growing business with strong momentum, we’ve undertaken a strategic review of our operations to ensure we’re built on the right foundations to support our ambitious expansion plans now and in the future.
“We are proposing to bring some of our Regional HR Departments together into one centralised location at Lidl House. This means some HR roles based at our Regional Distribution Centres may be affected.
“These proposals are designed to improve the efficiency of our operations, and strengthen our business model.
“The proposals are about simplifying how we work and enhancing support for colleagues as we continue to grow.
“We know this will be an unsettling time for some, and we are committed to supporting affected colleagues, including exploring alternative roles wherever possible.”
In a separate announcement the retailer said earlier this year that it planned to cut 70 roles from its head office as part of a restructure.