Here’s a good news story to show your boss.

Lidl has announced a €10 million investment in pay increases for its workforce of 6,100 across Ireland, with €721,000 allocated to its Cork-based employees.

Cork workers across Lidl’s 22 local stores and its regional distribution centre in Charleville will benefit from the pay increase from March 1st, 2022.

This increase is in addition to the retailer’s commitment to paying the new Living Wage rate of €12.90, as recommended by the Living Wage Technical Group, the first nationwide retailer in Ireland to introduce this back in 2015.

Lidl says its benefit packages and development programmes are designed with employee’s life cycle in mind. As well as being the only food retailer to offer paid maternity and paternity leave and health insurance to all salaried employees, Lidl’s Management Degree Programme offers a blended approach to earning a degree.

The company recently entered a partnership with The Menopause Hub in a bid to offer increased support for their female employees who may be entering this phase of life. A menopause awareness guide has been created showcasing generous supports such as paid sick leave and expert advice to anyone who might be struggling.

If all that sounds like your cup of tea then there’s also a chance to join their ranks; the supermarket has also announced plans to recruit more than 750 new employees to its Irish operations this year in a variety of operational and office-based roles.