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I have middle-aged female family members who work in a major UK supermarket, and I can tell you that conditions have deteriorated dramatically. The supermarket

by nly 11y ago

I have middle-aged female family members who work in a major UK supermarket, and I can tell you that conditions have deteriorated dramatically. The supermarket in question (it starts with a W) is no longer giving full-time (39 hour) staff regular contracted hours, switching to a system where their hours changes day by day, week by week. This wreaks havoc with family life. Furthermore staff who have been there long enough to get 1.5x or double pay on Sundays are no longer being given those hours. Overtime is also now non-existent. W is even hiring and training new 17 year staff for administrative roles because it's cheaper than paying older, more experienced, already trained, staff, who are contracted at a higher rate, for the hours they need them to do. The general feeling is people who have been there for 20-30 years are simply no longer wanted and seen as cost burdens. The supermarket industry is in a race to the bottom brought on by the likes of Lidl and Aldi

oliwarner 11y ago
There is an argument that if you can train a 17 year old in a couple of weeks to do the job of somebody who's been there 20 years, perhaps the experience shouldn't earn them more money. Just existing for a long time doesn't add value. You have to do more or do it better. I'm not for a minute suggesting that these lifers aren't performing their roles better, but when you can pay 4× 17 year olds on zero-hours contracts for the price of one long-term manager, the sums become hard to ignore. I don't think it has very much to do with Lidl and Aldi at all. Supermarkets have sucked every corner of their supply chain and workforce dry to get the most profit and biggest market share. That level of competition is going to take its toll. It's a shame W is the one you mention though. I always thought they were more expensive because they were better to their staff.

by nly 11y ago

oliwarner 11y ago

There is an argument that if you can train a 17 year old in a couple of weeks to do the job of somebody who's been there 20 years, perhaps the experience shouldn't earn them more money. Just existing for a long time doesn't add value. You have to do more or do it better. I'm not for a minute suggesting that these lifers aren't performing their roles better, but when you can pay 4× 17 year olds on zero-hours contracts for the price of one long-term manager, the sums become hard to ignore. I don't think it has very much to do with Lidl and Aldi at all. Supermarkets have sucked every corner of their supply chain and workforce dry to get the most profit and biggest market share. That level of competition is going to take its toll. It's a shame W is the one you mention though. I always thought they were more expensive because they were better to their staff.