Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Lidl hiring 1,000, offering health care
ARLINGTON, VA » Lidl US is the latest grocer in the region to announce the need to increase staffing levels to help meet customer demand during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The grocery chain has announced it will hire up to 1,000 temporary employees across its store network and distribution centers for a minimum of two months.
The company said the hiring includes openings at the company’s three Montgomery County locations — in Upper Providence, Lower Providence and Towamencin — as well as at locations in Philadelphia and Easton.
A Lidl spokesman could not specify how many employees are needed in each of the Montgomery County locations, adding in an emailed response to questions that the company will be adding openings “on a rolling basis based on need throughout the crisis.”
The majority of the openings are for store associates, as well as warehouse support.
“We are looking to bring these temporary employees on as soon as possible and will be holding interviews in our stores,” Lidl
“We are looking to bring these temporary employees on as soon as possible and will be holding interviews in our stores.” — Chandler Ebeier, Lidl spokesman
spokesman Chandler Ebeier said in the emailed response.
A listing of all the newly available positions at Lidl US can be found at careers.lidl.com
“Every day, our number one priority is the health and safety of our customers and our team, and that is our primary focus during this public health emergency,” Lidl US Chairman Roman Heini, said in a press release. “The new positions announced today will help us better meet the unprecedented needs of our customers. We are working hard to serve them and protect the health of
our employees who are playing a critical role.”
The company also announced Thursday that newly hired employees that do not have health insurance will immediately be eligible for medical benefits covering testing and treatment related to COVID-19 at no cost to the employee. Current Lidl US employees enrolled in company insurance plans will automatically receive the enhanced medical benefits package, according to the company. The policy was designed with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and waives copayments, coinsurance and deductibles, and includes virtual visits through the CareFirst Video Visit platform.
Brian D. Pieninck, president and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, said the company was “honored” to partner with Lidl to develop the plan.
“The services that Lidl and its employees provide are essential to our communities, especially during periods of great challenge and uncertainty,” he said in the release.
Since October 2019, Lidl US has been providing medical benefits for all full and part-time employees, regardless of the number of hours they work per week.
Since rolling out the initiative, more than 1,200 employees working part-time have become eligible to buy into medical coverage through the company.
With its US headquarters in Arlington, Va., Lidl operates more than 95 stores across nine east coast states. In Montgomery County, the Lidl at 1831 E. Ridge Pike in Upper Providence opened Sept. 4, 2019; the Lidl at 2613 Ridge Pike in Lower Providence opened Sept. 18, 2019, and the Lidl at 1150 Welsh Road in Towamencin opened Jan. 29, 2020.
The company operates more than 11,000 stores in 32 countries, employing around 287,000 employees globally.