Discounter Lidl will pay fines totalling just under EUR1.5m (US$2.12m) after German data protection authorities investigated accusations that the retailer spied on its staff.
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In March, Lidl was accused of using private detectives and secret cameras in its German stores to spy on staff.
According to local reports, Lidl composed a dossier that included information on a variety of topics, from the frequency of toilet breaks to personal relationships between employees.
The total fine arises from individual penalties set by the data protection authorities of twelve states where Lidl was found to have spied on workers, a spokesperson for Baden-Wuerttemberg Interior Ministry’s data protection department told just-food this morning (12 September).
The Baden-Wuerttemberg data protection authority supervised the investigation because Lidl is headquartered in Neckarsulm near Heilbronn.
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By GlobalData“In the past Lidl has not realised the importance of privacy to workers rights,” the spokesperson said.
However, while Lidl has accepted the fines, the company has continued to dispute the data protection authority’s verdict. The company claims that the detectives and cameras were used to combat shoplifting, not spy on employees.
Lidl was unavailable for comment as just-food went to press.
