Lidl offers 25,000 employees unlimited access to fitness facilities

Supermarket chain Lidl has introduced a fitness and wellbeing programme for its 25,000 UK employees.

Through the scheme, which is provided by Gympass, all employees across its 800 stores and 13 regional distribution centres are able to access 2,000 gym facilities across the UK, as well as online classes and personal training. In addition, Lidl is providing staff with one-to-one counselling sessions to support employee mental and financial wellbeing.

When introducing the scheme, Lidl was keen to ensure that the fitness classes and counselling sessions on offer offered sufficient flexibility to ensure that staff can use the benefits around their work shifts and external time commitments, or if they are having to shield at home during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

The organisation already provides staff with a suite of wellbeing benefits, including a wellbeing portal through which employees can access healthy recipes, mental health advice, and financial wellbeing resources.

Melanie Di Cristino, head of reward and culture at Lidl, said: “As a large multi-site organisation, it is imperative that our initiatives reach, motivate and engage all of our colleagues. We are serious about promoting the wellbeing of our colleagues and the Gympass platform enables everyone to proactively manage their physical and mental wellbeing.

“By giving our colleagues discounted access to gyms, fitness studios and wellness apps, we are providing them with a platform to enhance their wellbeing. The flexibility and wide range of gyms, fitness facilities and apps available on Gympass gives plenty of options; there really is something for everyone on the platform.”