"Real life Shawshank Redemption" - Deputy Manager ALDI Employee Review

1.0
Aug 28, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Only pro is the extra pound an hour

Cons

Theres never enough time to complete tasks and no room for any curve balls. Work scehdule is unbelievable, one week it's 6am starts and the next it's evening starts and this rotates weekly. Work life balance is destroyed, it's bad enough the place is under staff, you're expected to do the work of two. You're having to come into work sleep deprieved aswell, this takes it's toll. Expect wrinkles fast if that's not off putting then also a lower life expectency. Management is full of bitter aggressers, bit like the guards in Shawshank. Feel as if the title gives them license to do and say whatever to those without. And that there are superior to those below them and it's stems from the top. But this is odd as it's a job that requires little to no education to enter, hard to understand where the superiority comes from even Area managers simply need a undergrade degree of any discipline to enter. Perhaps it's the lack of knowledge that creates this higher status mentality within management steming from the top. Area managers are younglings straight out of Uni with no life experience, this is again to get the most out of them working 60-100 hours weekly, as they don't know any better and have no other commitments at that age. Bit like the stock trading sector in London however the ones Aldi employ tend to be entitled narcissists with type A personalities, that only require a degree in any profession to enter the position and it's as they tend blame their "training" for any and all errors and mistreatment of stuff and their own personalities. So they tend to struggle to relate to staff members of any age and also behave in sicklical ways. Much like children, they will engage in wars with individuals whether it be store assistants or managers. This stems from the belief that I have this title so you must see as this way and act this way, my behaviour may resemble that of a 12 year old and I may seem 300 miles away from what an area manager should be but you must act as if I am warden and address me as such. The worst of it is nothing can be disputed, their word is law these kids are not watched but left alone with thier magnifying glass. It's deeply demoralizing for the people working around them, recieving constant feedback on trivial matters, passive aggressive tactics and no oppurtunity to explain yourself as anything like that is viewed as back chat and the penality is cold shoulders and a loss in the oppertunity to progress in the company. To top it off there is no way to change this as these kids are the way makers and get away with acting like Jeff Bezos from his early days at Amazon and are more obtuse than the Warden out of Shawshank, the staff have no option but to take it on the chin like a man(because thats how men should be) and quickly lose their mental state for an extra pound over other retailers. There are no possible ways to speak to someone to solve this problem even the area managers themselves can't be reasoned with, you are classed as nothing but low income earning trash by a Sports Science graduate recovering from his 21st. Look for something else unless you are don't want to deal with all that, not an isolated incident happening in many of these stores. Have worked with company for 4 years been in 9 stores in 4 regions, it's same everywhere. But if you wanna feel anxious at work everyday maybe it's for you, I was gonna call this WORST RETAIL JOB OUT THERE but I think "Real life Shawshank redemption" is more fitting, creates a more fitting portrayal of Aldi life.

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5.0
Feb 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Hours are pretty good as full time great team to work with Room for growth

Cons

A lot of physical work

5.0
Oct 5, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

+ industry leading wages Associates - $12/hr, Shift Mgr - $16/hr, SMT - $23/hr, Store Manager - $75,000+/yr + great work environment + excellent training + health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k + 40-50 hr/wk with paid overtime Very fast paced so work hours fly by. I loved working at Aldi. The pay was great! Benefits great! Was training to be a store manager so a lot was expected of me but I was totally up for it. My store manager loved my work, associates loved my fairness, customers loved me.

Cons

+ work/life balance + walked 28,000 steps/day!!! Never thought I would be fired for clocking in only minutes late!!

890
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