Lidl Ireland has partnered with Family Carers Ireland, the national charity dedicated to supporting Ireland’s family carers.
The partnership will provide practical supports and resources to Lidl employees who are balancing their work commitments with caring responsibilities at home, through Family Carers Ireland’s ‘Caring Employers’ programme.
This new partnership includes tailored activities and policy guidance, to ensure that Lidl employees who are in caring roles at home are recognised, supported and accommodated in their careers.
According to the discounter, the partnership builds on Lidl’s ‘Carer’s Leave’ policy, which allows employees to take time off work to care for a family member in need of full-time care.
As part of the programme, Lidl employees will be offered a range of supports, such as:
- access to professional guidance on employee rights and entitlements;
- dedicated training for line managers, designed to help managers support carers in the best way possible;
- webinars with trained practitioners on topics such as how to care for an elderly parent or cope with behaviours that challenge; and
- one-to-one clinics for family carers who feel that they are struggling to balance caring responsibilities and work commitments.
Commenting on the importance of the partnership, Maeve McCleane, chief people officer at Lidl Ireland, said, “At Lidl Ireland, our employees are at the heart of everything we do, and their well-being is a top priority.
“We are delighted to work with Family Carers Ireland to forge this meaningful partnership, which reflects our commitment to supporting our caring colleagues as they navigate the demands of both their work and caregiving roles.
“This partnership will empower our employees to work and care safely, with carer-friendly supports and flexibility in the workplace. From interactive online workshops to educational sessions for managers and professional support, this partnership ensures our employees’ mental health and well-being continues to be a top priority for us at Lidl.”
Anne Hennessy, senior employee relations manager at Lidl Ireland and carer, expressed how this partnership has supported her and her family by saying, “Thanks to this amazing partnership with Lidl Ireland and Family Carers Ireland, I’m able to navigate both my work and my caring commitments at home through the various supports available to me.
“These fantastic services that have been put in place for Lidl employees who are also carers make employees feel seen and supported, creating a healthy and more positive workplace culture.”
