LOCKDOWN LEADER: Aldi and Tesco

 
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The supermarket giant Aldi is to pay its staff a 10 percent bonus for all their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic. And the extra pay is to be backdated to 9 March, 2020.

Both store and distribution staff are to benefit from the pay rise, effective for the hours worked from 9 March to the end of April. It will then be reviewed on a monthly basis.

In a statement on its website, the supermarket giant said it wanted to reward its "amazing colleagues who have been working tirelessly throughout this extremely busy time".

“Our store and logistics colleagues have shown amazing commitment and have worked incredibly hard over these past weeks,” said Giles Hurley, chief executive at Aldi UK and Ireland. “They are on the front line of a vital national effort to ensure that everyone has access to food and other essentials, which is why we have recognised their hard work with a 10% bonus on all hours worked during this extremely challenging period.”

The store has also set aside dedicated shopping times for key workers from the NHS, police and fire service. The emergency workers, who will need to show their ID to gain entry, will have access to the supermarket between 9.30am and 10am on Sundays. They will also be given priority when the checkouts open at 10am.

Aldi has also attempted to curb panic buying by restricting nappies and all paper products, such as kitchen and toilet roll, to two items per customer. With the exception of fresh flowers and Easter products, all other items are restricted to four per shopper. The store also introduced social distancing measures on 24 March 24 to protect customers and colleagues. While all stores’ opening hours have been shortened slightly to close at 8pm, instead of 10pm, “to give our colleagues some additional rest and allow the stores to be restocked at their best every day,” it said.

Meanwhile, the supermarket has hired 9,000 more employees, and also reduced payment terms to small suppliers. Any supplier with a turnover of less than £1m is to be paid immediately. It has also made financial commitments to partners such as Teenage Cancer Trust, Age UK, and Neighbourly, which donates surplus food to those in need.

“We ask that you continue to be patient and bear with us,” said Hurley. “These times are unprecedented and we cannot promise to get everything right the first time.”

Tesco has also offered staff a 10 percent bonus. “It’s been an extraordinary couple of weeks and despite the enormous challenges, it’s been incredible to see how colleagues have stepped up and responded, doing an outstanding job during this uncertain and difficult time,” said Jason Tarry, UK and ROI chief executive at Tesco. “This pay bonus is just one way we are saying thank you to our colleagues and recognising that they are on the front line, helping to feed the nation.”