Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Aldi manager says staff shortages are driving queues and empty shelves
An Aldi manager in Australia says staff are overwhelmed by changes made over the past year or two.
The manager links long queues and closed self-checkouts to a lack of staff hours to keep the machines open.
They say stores are also carrying fewer product lines and more stock of core items.
Some empty shelves reflect unavailable products, but the manager says other items are waiting in storerooms because there are too few workers to put them out.
At some times, they say, only two to four staff are working, and all may be assigned to checkouts.
The manager urged customers to complain about the changes rather than abuse workers.
The account comes from an employee speaking on social media, and no response from Aldi is included.
An Aldi manager says staff shortages and cost-cutting measures are contributing to long checkout queues and empty shelves.
The employee says some products are in storerooms because there are not enough workers to put them on shelves.
The manager also claims Aldi is reducing its product range and prioritising larger stocks of fewer items.
The employee says workers are overwhelmed and urged customers not to take their anger out on supermarket staff.
- Who
- An Aldi manager who has worked for the company for more than five years made the claims.
- What
- The manager says staff shortages and cost-cutting measures are contributing to queues, empty shelves and fewer products.
- When
- The manager says stores have faced changes over the past year or two. The article was published on 2026-10-22.
- Where
- Aldi stores in Australia, according to the article.
- Why
- The manager says stores are not allocated enough staff hours, leaving workers unable to keep checkouts open and shelves stocked.
Frustrated shoppers
Aldi workers
Checkouts and shelves
Frustrated shoppers
Shoppers complain about long queues and empty shelves.
Aldi workers
The manager says stores lack enough staff hours to keep checkouts open and stock shelves.
Product availability
Frustrated shoppers
Shoppers are frustrated by products disappearing from shelves.
Aldi workers
The manager says Aldi is reducing its range and that some empty spaces result from stock not being put out.
The manager says stores have faced significant changes from higher up.
The Daily Mail published the manager’s claims.
- Staffing
- Two to four staff are on duty at certain times of day, according to the manager.
- Checkout hours
- The manager says stores lack enough hours to keep self-checkouts open from opening to closing.
- Product range
- The manager says Aldi is removing products and increasing stocks of fewer core items.
- Staff experience
- The manager says conditions have deteriorated over the past two years.
- Publication date
- 2026-10-22
What people are saying
Most of us are burnt out and hating our jobs.
Sadly we are not given enough hours in store to man the self checkout from open to close.
Quite often now, there's only two to four staff on at certain times of day and it's not uncommon for all of them to be on the registers and self-checkout.