Work hard, get paid well, then quit or be pushed out - Senior Manager Lidl Employee Review

2.0
11 Mar 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pay, car, reasonable benefits. You will be challenged and will learn how to work in a fast-paced environment. If you are lucky enough to be selected for career development the rewards are even better. Excellent pay-offs when they decide they no longer see you as a fit for the company (a cull of managers usually follows the appointment of a new board director). Many organisations see Lidl on a CV and know that the applicant for their role truly understands hard work and coping with pressure.

Cons

A very military-influenced corporate structure based on unquestioning obedience and a hierarchical management structure. Micro-management is the key driver in the business, therefore although Lidl likes to think of itself as a company that makes informed, swift decisions the opposite is in fact the case as managers are given full accountability with zero responsibility - every decision is made at Director level. If the desired outcome is not achieved the blame is placed on lower tiers, even if the decision itself was wrong. Any department head worth his salt quickly works out that the way to avoid being blamed (and sacked) for his director's mistake is to find someone else to throw under the bus. Marriage is just about allowed, but woe betide anyone who starts a family as their loyalty to the company will be called into question when they start trying to leave the office before 7.00pm. In Lidl its all about the optics - more effort is put into making it look like they care for their staff than it would take to actually do so. Note that Lidl on a CV can also cause problems in the job market later, as some firms see ex-Lidl management as damaged goods, since the corporate culture is so at odds with the progressive practices of modern companies.

Explore other reviews about Lidl

5.0
27 Oct 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible schedule and good pay for the work

Cons

Hard labor that involves being fit

3.0
1 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits are excellent, most people at the peer level are great. Clear performance expectations. Decent cross functional communication

Cons

Company leadership very European and doesn't quite understand the American consumer even after being in the US so long. Unreasonable expectations are the norm. No upward mobility unless you are European or speak fluent German.

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