|
|
Lidl wrote to UNI about
headbands scandal, denies media reports: Such behaviour would have been appalling, yes, but it never happened Lidl, the German hard discounter, has responded to UNI's request that the company apologize to its Czech and Polish workers. In their letter to UNI, the Lidl management says that they share UNI's view that asking women workers to wear special headbands to be able to go to the toilet during working hours would be appalling. But, says the company, "there was absolutely no sign which would suggest that any of the described behaviour took place in any way". The news about the headbands first broke out in Czech media, who did not, however, identify the company. This was soon done by Lebensmittelzeitung, Germany's largest retail magazine, who pointed at Lidl as the culprit. The magazine also reported that other German retailers present in these countries were upset about this behaviour, which in their view brought shame on the whole industry. Now Lidl denies that their women workers were ever required to wear headbands during their monthly period. "...we have seen no reason in apologising for something that has not taken place", the company tells UNI. "In addition we would like to point out that we take the responsibilities for our employees very seriously and have had standards regarding these embodied in our company principles right from the start", the Lidl management adds in their letter to UNI. UNI Commerce and its affiliates, and above all Lidl's own workers, would warmly welcome a development like this. Lidl has been known for its bad employer behaviour particularly at home, in Germany, and there are no signs that this would have improved. On the other hand, trade union relations in Finland, Sweden and Norway are rather correct, as well as in some of the other European countries where the German hard discounter is present. However, a culture of mistrust and exaggerated control instead of normal confidence still prevails at the workplaces. This management by fear cannot be particularly good for long-term productivity or competitiveness. UNI Commerce will be prepared to open up an honest and straight-forward social dialogue with Lidl, a dialogue that works very well with most other leading European multinational retailers. The recently signed Joint Statement on Corporate Social Responsibility, from the European social dialogue for commerce, will provide a solid basis for a mutually fruitful cooperation. As an expansive multinational, Lidl has much to gain from developing its employer performance and improving its union relations.
|
