Case
Teaching Notes
Abstract
Despite its economic success, ALDI has always been criticised for how the company treats its employees. In 2012, criticism reached a new peak in Germany, triggered by a book of a former ALDI manager. His detailed description of the working conditions in ALDI South sparked a widespread interest in the media. Drawing on the book and other published sources, this case incident details some of the working conditions and management practices at ALDI. The text sheds particular light on practices and techniques to control ALDI employees, both in the shops and middle management. On the one hand, it paints a picture of ALDI's determined strive towards keeping costs low and employee performance high, hence, being able to offer low-priced products to its customers. On the other hand, however, the various examples from this case illuminate how ALDI regulates employee behaviour. Some may argue that these arrangements form a rather rigorous control regime.
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