Fix the check-out process at your company; it is the root of so many unnecessary problems!
Unfortunately, several negatives come to mind about working for this company. Virtually all of them center around Aldi's one biggest weakness as a company which it has failed to address.... for years and years: its highly stressful and just downright silly checkout process. As an employee, working on the cash register at Aldi is a monstrosity of a nightmare! It's dumb, it's inefficient, and just downright ridiculous if you want my brutally honest assessment of the situation. Because when you are assigned 'main cashier' duty at Aldi, you are basically required (and expected) to chuck, toss, slam, throw.... any way you can do it, other people's groceries.... which they just bought with their own money...... into the next shopping cart. Management doesn't care if you break or damage items in the process, as long as you keep that line moving at all costs! I literally have had customers scream at me in one ear for scanning way too fast during the checkout process and accidentally damaging their stuff as a result, simply because I'm literally scanning as fast as I can, only for management to then scream in my other ear (literally) about not ringing fast enough and not moving the line along fast enough. This "speedy" check-out process has been a systemic problem at this company for years, yet nothing is ever done to address the situation!! I've worked for this company for a very long time, and have worked in enough of their stores to tell you firsthand that it's a systemic problem e
ConsThe check-out process at this company is unnecessarily stressful.
Quit after 3rd day, they treat workers like robots
Seriously, I would not recommend working here unless you are a robot or absolutely desperate and can't find another job. Don't let the hourly rate and ok benefits rope you in. They are not transparent, not understanding, and expect too much. What should be a red flag is that this company is always hiring which means people are always leaving. The amount of pressure they put on you for what the job actually is and how much you are paid is unrealistic. You might apply for the associate, cashier or stock position but you will do literally every position in the store and then some. You will be stocking shelves doing register stocking the freezer and cooler doing the curbside orders and cleaning the entire store, constantly back and forth all in one shift. If only they had actual assigned positions like other companies the job wouldn't be so stressful. But they want 1 person to do the job of about 5 people, in order to "save money". This is how they're able to have such low prices on products. At the expense of their employees They seemed to be understaffed, and you will quickly understand why. Every single thing is timed from how much items you can scan in an hour or how quickly you can find and pack orders for the curbside pick up. How fast you clean the store and how fast you restock or box the shelves. If you're not fast enough they would constantly threaten you. They do not fully explain what the job actually is because they know it will turn people away. They didnt even trai
ProsNone
ConsEverything I would not recommend you working here unless you are a robot, bodybuilder, or have no life outside a job or super desperate for a job
Aldi presents themselves as a company that cares about their employees and efficiency but in reality all they care about is the efficiency and money. They treat you like robots and record your every move as a cashier from how many items per minute, how long it takes to scan each customers order, how long it takes in BETWEEN customers orders (when customer walks away and u start scanning the next one, how long it takes to complete Instacart orders, time it takes you to find each individual item, how long THE CUSTOMER takes to pay. Why are you being penalized for how slow the customer is? A Great question that they don’t have an answer to. And if your statistics aren’t up to their standards, even if it’s just slightly off, they will let you know that and keep pressing you about working more and faster. As if you’re a computer and not a human being.
Feeling sick? Need to care for a family member? Possibly have covid? Doesn’t matter, because if you’re not able to find someone to cover your shift they’re gonna force you to come into work anyways. Yes, illness and all. The most they’ll offer to do is let you go home early but that’s maybe 1 to 2 hours before your shift ends, which is basically nothing. They also require you to call out 4 hours before your shift starts in order to not get written up, so if your shift starts at 6 am? You will somehow get in trouble for not calling out 4 hours before that…at 2 am…when the store is closed and literally no one is there. And they also
ProsPay higher than other companies in the area
ConsPay still trash because you barely get hours, Terrible management
1.0
Retail Sales Associate | Chicago, IL | Jul 18, 2019
Understaffed, too physical & stressful (UNBIASED REVIEW)
THE SECRET:
The secret for the company to keep prices so low is because is understaffed all the time, and if one person call-off, everyone is screw because the company keeps a tight schedule so everyone has to work even faster than what we already have to, the company pay above minimum wage, but you have to work for 2 persons.
NO 3RD PARTY COMPANIES:
Inventory is every 3 months, so we stay between 12 am to 2 am and we usually never get off on time. The company doesn't hire 3rd party companies to do the cleaning neither, so we have to do ALL cleaning too (cleaning washrooms, scrubbing, edging the areas that the scrubber machine doesn't reach, map, sweep, etc.).
REGISTER:
We work the backstock and have to jump to the register quickly and go back to our project stacking up the floor and jump back to the register again and so on. We have to ring at least 40 items per minute, which is also very fast peace even in the register.
MORNING SHIFT:
The morning shift is the most physical and painful shift because some stores open at 5 am and others at 6 am, so we only have 3 to 4 hours to finish ALL pallets IN LESS than 30 minutes each pallet. So, if you are in charge of groceries, for example, you have to do an average of 7 to 12 PALLETS BY YOURSELF or in some rare cases you and another person. If pallets are not done before the store opens, you will STILL have to work the pallets AND the register BACK AND FORWARD until is fully done, otherwise you will n
Here is what they won't tell you in the interview:
Here's everything you need to know before applying here. Enter at your own risk. First off all you are timed on everything. If you cannot stock huge pallets of food into the loading shelves in 25 minutes or under you are subject to immediate discipline including termination. The same thing with ringing. If you cannot ring at least 2000 food items per hour you could also get written up or fired. This is what happened to me. I was written up so many times for basically refusing to throw and smash customers groceries into their shopping carts. Management didn't care though. They told me: ring faster or you are fired. So I just decided to quit instead of having this extra pressure. Plus it didn't seem right just throwing and smashing customers groceries around which is very rude. However if you don't ring this way you will be written up time after time then eventually fired. You also get injured a lot here. Every day huge pallets of food products are left on the floor for customers and workers to trip and fall over. Again this also happened to me at least a couple times. You think the company did the right legal thing by complying with workers compensation laws? Nope! Think again. The next thing you should know is the company won't follow labor laws either. For example they force you to skip your mandatory 15 minute rest breaks. Same thing with meal periods. There just won't be enough time in the day to take them. So management makes you forego them. Also your timecards get fudge
Prossome customers, some coworkers
Conseverything else: awful management, work injuries, no work/life balance, impossible job metrics
2.0
Customer Service Representative | Fenton, MO | Oct 1, 2019
My Experience as a Store Associate
I worked for Aldi's for over three years. I was happy working there for the first year. The benefits are very good at Aldi's and the raises are nice. You do work very hard and the work load was manageable in the beginning. When I started, I was happy with the District Manager and the Store Manager that I worked with. Unfortunately, the management staff gets moved around a lot within the company and we received a new Store Manager and District Manager. This, along with the store receiving a huge increase in the number of customers (Save-A-Lot closing), created a not so pleasant work experience.
I will start with the fact that the new store manager was not as committed in his concern and regard for the company. I went to him on a few occasions requesting different shifts because I was always closing, he did not take my concern seriously and never made any changes or effort in compromising with me in regards to the schedule. I am a single parent of three children and working nights and weekends all the time is very difficult. I also later asked the manager and district manager for a store transfer, and I was told they couldn't approve the transfer unless we were fully staffed at our store.
When the manager first started working at our store, he would close once a week. After a couple months he changed his hours to only working day shifts. Nearly every day he left early. For example, if he was scheduled till 5pm, he would usually leave by 2:00 or 3:00pm.
Also, rec
ProsGood benefits, nice raises the first two years
ConsExtremely overwhelming and chaotic work environment
I worked with Aldi's for a few months and it was terrible. You go in blind expected to know where everything is immediately. Was never told during the interview that I would be required to purchase steel toe shoes/boots. The "reimbursement" for purchasing the shoes/boots is a joke, you get an extra three dollars in your paycheck, pay is bi-weekly and it's spread out over the year.
Very fast pace as a cashier, they expect you to be fast. I've always been one of the fastest cashiers at any other grocery stores as I typically ring a minimum of 25-30 items per minute. Aldi's expects you to ring a minimum of 40-42 items per minute. The register is very sensitive and items would double scan pretty quickly and I would end up with a higher void count, especially when items would fall across the scanner. Not to mention when a customer needs to take an item off because of lack of funds whether it be because they are paying with cash or they have a limited amount on their food stamps card. Another problem with the food stamps card is that when the customer pays with the card and they only have a certain dollar amount on the card, for example if their total comes to eighty-five dollars and the ebt card only has forty dollars, the register will decline the card due to "Insufficient funds" and you'd have to pull up the receipt, find out how much is on the card, inform the customer and type in the amount on the card and then have the customer slide the card again. Very time consuming. Ald
ProsGood coworkers.
ConsShort breaks, lack of help. Expected to do the work of two to three people. Lack of communication.
2.0
Retail Sales Associate | Chicago, IL | Feb 4, 2019
Very demanding, labor intense, no change to grow, not worth the pay.
A typical day as a store assoiciate at Aldi is very hectic.
This is a labor intense position.
The day starts with a 6 am shift that ends at 2:00pm, and usually 2 associates and an opening manager. Working the morning shift means that you "throw the load", which is stocking store shelves with the products that have been delivered to the store. On average there are anywhere from 6-12 palletes each morning. Aldi expects each pallet to take anywhere from 10 minutes (for a "light pallet-chips" to 45 minutes max ( for a heavy pallet, cans) but all pallet must be done before the store opens!
The morning shift "throws the load" until about 8:45, by this time, the load should have been thrown, which includes the store floor, cooler, and freezer (managers are incharge of the produce section, and associates do not usually help with that part of the load). Then associates are expected to start cleaning up at 8:45am, right before the store opens at 9:00 am
Once the store opens, if everything goes according to how Aldi wants it to go, you either sit and ring or take a break.
The cashier is expected to scan close to 40 items per minute after their 3rd month as an associate. Also they are expected to keep the lines down, no more than 3 people should be in your line, other wise you open up another cashier to start ringing with you. You are timed, to see how long you take to take cash/ give change and how long you take between customers.
The closing shift is usually from 2:00pm- 10
Prospaid lunch, 401K
Consincredibly demanding, does not show appreciation towards employees, labor intense, average of 32 hours a week
ALDI isn't really better than any other retail location. They start at a higher rate than most places (my store in NJ starts at $13.90, with a yearly raise) but hours are wildly inconsistent, especially if you are part-time. I was told to expect ~20 hours/week if hired when I applied. After I was hired, at the beginning of the pandemic, I was schedule more than 30 hours each week and had to make it clear to my manager that I couldn't work more than 30 hours because I was also in school. I was then scheduled for "only" 30-32 hours each week. Summer came and business slowed, and suddenly I found myself with only 12 or sometimes 8 hours each week, as did all the other part timers. This continued for months. I would sometimes be scheduled for only one shift in a week and then be asked to leave early if the store wasn't busy enough. What good is making a couple bucks above minimum if I'm barely working? Hours picked up again around the holidays and slowed back down again in January. The schedule is revised almost every week, last minute changes happen all the time and you're expected to just roll with it. You will also regularly be asked to come early/stay late/work an extra shift, and because the hours are so inconsistent I felt that I had to come into work at the drop of a hat whenever asked just to make a decent paycheck. They make hours scarce and then offer you shifts at the last minute so you feel like you can't say no.
The store is chronically understaffed, not because ther
ProsBetter than average base pay, yearly raises
ConsInconsistent hours, constant schedule changes, doctor's note required for call out
The philosophy statement 'we value employees they are the focus of our company' is not truly consistent with the actual treatment workers receive. During training - what little there is - and also during orientation, the company wants you to believe that you will be a valued member of their workforce. However, none of this is really true based upon what I have endured and experienced, while working for ALDI. The metrics and deadlines are impossible, the management is inconsiderate and downright disrespectful. Those same 'competitive benefits' package we were promised during orientation haven't really panned out either. For example, we haven't received any raises in a very long time, plus the health insurance isn't all that it's cracked up to be. It's a very basic plan with lots of limitations of coverage, including several basic medically necessary types of procedures which don't seem to be covered. The worst part of the employment experience for me so far, is how rigid the upper management is. They rarely have nice or complimentary things to say during their visits. I feel like no matter how hard I/we try to do our best at this job, the executives still seem to find something to gripe about or complain. That is a real morale crusher. It doesn't seem to matter that we try our best with so few resources and so few staff to get all tasks and projects completed. Upper management still, seems to be oblivious to that fact and still often finds nit-picky stuff to complain about. Th
Prosenhancement of my professional skills: budgeting, managing, analytics
Consthe culture of ALDI has deteriorated so much in just the past few years
An sich scheint die Stelle bei Aldi besonders als Student attraktiv da der Lohn recht hoch ist. Aber die Firma nutzt diesen hohen Lohn als Ausrede für kompletten Terror. Schon von dem Anfang an wird sehr viel von einem erwartet, und man wird enorm gestresst. Man wird konstant unter Druck gesetzt und alles muss schnell gehen. Fehler dürfen nicht passieren, und wenn man mal einen Fehler macht, wird man zusammengeschrien. Keiner hatte so richtig Lust mir was beizubringen, und stattdessen wurden mir alte Videos gezeigt, die veraltet waren und wo viele Sachen gar nicht mehr so gemacht werden. Wenn ich dann etwas falsch gemacht hab, weil es mir im Video so erklärt wurde, war die Leitung dann direkt sauer. Aber wie schon gesagt, es wollte mir auch keiner so richtig helfen. Als es zur Kasse kam, hatte ich zwei Tage wo mir die Kasse "beigebracht wurde". Danach durfte ich nie wieder an die Kasse, und man hat mich immer die harte Arbeit machen lassen.
Als Student fühlt man sich bei Aldi direkt von allen verurteilt. Meine Mitarbeiter hatten eine herabschauende Art und Weise mir gegenüber. Ich musste mir oft höhnende Kommentare anhören wie " man merkt dir an, dass du nicht viel Erfahrung hast". Anstatt wie versprochen in einer Freundlichen Umgebung seine ersten Schritte in die Arbeitswelt zu machen, wird man terrorisiert. Es ist klar, dass ich als Student nicht viel Erfahrung in der Arbeitswelt habe, aber wenn man nach Studenten werbt und bereit ist diese einzustellen, sollte man auch a
ProsKostenloses Wasser, Früchte, Kleine Snacks und hoher Lohn
ConsStress, Gigantische Erwartungen, Man darf praktisch keine Fehler machen, Alles muss schnell sein, keiner will helfen
My experience working for Aldi was at the store in musselburgh(yes the one that was on TV for terrible managment). Although I was meant to be going to the store in Tranent I never got the chance, the time limits are ridiculous, the managment is terrible whilst I was working there the other staff or atleast A large portion of them would sit on there phones in the warehouse whilst I was expected to do ridiculous amounts of work. I sometimes due to the extreme time limits (30 seconds per case) was not able to complete these so there was a time or 2 when i failed a "test" given to me on the picklist, although I have been told by 3! members off staff that the pick lists dont matter and that no one does them properly and to add to this i actually had one of the staff members infront of me speaking to a manager telling him that apprently "he dosent do picklists" in a manner that he was expecting the manager to not care. The managers literally have no idea what they are doing or how to train staff properly although I had been complimented several times on my work and received multiple good feedback forms from the store manager, I still never got kept on past my probation period( just after christmas), they used me for the extra graft that they needed and I bet they are devastated that now that im gone they are actually going to have to do some work no really that must be soul destroying. I could go on and on and on and on but the point is its not a good place to work its a graft whi
Prosgood pay(1/5 chance you get paid correct though)
ConsVERY! poor management, lazy staff and ridiculous time limits, bad shift pattern and terrible work atmosphere.
Questions And Answers about ALDI
If you were in charge, what would you do to make ALDI a better place to work?
Asked Mar 19, 2018
If there are 2 shifts. I will cut off all assignment once that shift start time began and let previous shift leave for the day unless employee request to stay later!!!
Answered Aug 13, 2021
Easy. There needs to be more checks and balances amongst store management. The success of an Aldi store is completely dependent on who takes initiative or not.
Answered Dec 9, 2020
What is the starting pay rate for cashier's?
Asked Oct 31, 2016
15.55 in some locations in PA, 2+ bonus for working during holiday
Answered Dec 16, 2021
Currently in Bloomfield, MI its around 14.30 to 14.70.
Answered Apr 23, 2021
What is the interview process like at ALDI?
Asked Jun 27, 2018
Phone Screening that was about 30 minutes.
Then a group interview with 2 HR members and some other candidates going for the same position. That lasted roughly an hour.
Answered Dec 5, 2021
Very cold. After applying online, they send you a text. You choose time to show up. That’s it, no acknowledgement. After an interview, they say they’ll contact you in a week. Instead it was 2 weeks. Same exact text. Very confusing. This time a group interview.
Answered Nov 9, 2021
What is the best part of working at ALDI?
Asked Nov 26, 2019
Brutal exercise to get in shape. After that, sad to say, not much. Co-workers can make or break the atmosphere as well. Just don't plan to be there long, because you will lose your soul after awhile.
Answered Dec 31, 2020
Benefits and hustle company culture.
Answered Nov 27, 2020
How long are the hours for managers? 8 hour shifts? 10 hour shifts? 12 hour shifts?
Asked Jun 14, 2016
Store manager has to work ten plus hours a day with no overtime. Expected to work days off also. Can not take an extra day off without using a vacation day
Answered Jan 23, 2020
Shift managers (hourly pay) average 4-9 hour days, Manager trainees (hourly/OT eligible) work minimum 9 hours a day, Store managers (salary) work minimum 10 hours up to 12 with no extra compensation past 50 hours
