Aldi has quietly ended its policy requiring employees to carry out mandatory bag checks, removing a controversial part of the checkout process.
A social media user shared what appeared to be an internal Aldi notice announcing the change, adding that staff were “as happy as you’d be” about the decision.
The notice, issued to employees last month, confirmed that the nationwide policy change was already in effect and was designed to make the checkout experience smoother.
“Mandatory customer bag checks will no longer be required from today, Wednesday 30 September,” the message stated.
It acknowledged that difficult encounters with shoppers could take a toll on employees and that staff had raised concerns about the challenges involved in checking customers’ bags.
“We’ve listened to that feedback, reviewed the data and are taking action,” the notice continued.
“By making this change, we’re reducing unnecessary friction at the checkout and helping create a more positive experience for both employees and customers.”
However, an Aldi spokesman told Daily Mail that the end of compulsory checks does not prevent employees from inspecting bags in specific circumstances.
Aldi employees will no longer have to carry out mandatory bag checks in stores, in a move intended to improve interactions with customers
“Aldi reserves the right to request inspection of bags, parcels and containers at the checkout in accordance with its Conditions of Entry,” he said.
“We are committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for everyone.
“Harassment, discrimination, abuse or aggressive behaviour towards our employees or customers will not be tolerated.”
Aldi’s notice also made clear that its efforts to tackle theft would continue despite the policy change.
“While mandatory bag checks are changing, our focus on reducing theft and inventory loss remains the same,” it said.
“Existing inventory controls remain essential and will continue to support effective loss prevention across our stores.”
Australian Bureau of Statistics crime figures show recorded theft victims increased by six per cent to 595,660 in 2024—the highest total since 2003. Retail theft accounted for 45.1 per cent of that figure.
Research from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association found that 88 per cent of retail, fast-food and warehouse workers experienced verbal abuse during a 12-month period. One in four also reported physical violence, twice the previously recorded rate.
A worker posted the notice sent by the German supermarket chain to employees on social media, writing that “staff are as happy as you’d be”
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Should supermarket employees put their safety at risk to prevent theft, or should delivering a better customer experience take priority?
Several social media users claiming to be Aldi employees welcomed the change and said they had never wanted to check customers’ bags.
‘As an employee who has worked for the company for almost three years, I can confirm that we never wanted to do it,’ one said.
‘I quit Aldi a few years ago but the abuse I was given when asking to check bags was ridiculous,’ a second said.
‘I didn’t have a choice and I most certainly wasn’t going to stop someone from stealing and put myself at risk.’
Others felt there were more pressing issues.
‘The bag checks don’t bother me. If you really want to reduce ‘unnecessary friction’, open the f***ing self-service checkouts,’ one wrote.
The removal of mandatory bag checks comes after a person claiming to be an Aldi manager said staff had faced complaints and abuse from customers over empty shelves and unmanned checkouts.
‘A lot of our customers are growing increasingly unhappy,’ they said.
‘We deal with upset, frustrated and sometimes angry and abusive customers regularly.’
The person also claimed cost-cutting measures and staff shortages had left workers overwhelmed, with some stores struggling to keep shelves stocked as employees rushed between checkouts and other duties.
‘Over the past year or two, stores have been put through a lot of changes coming from higher up,’ they said.
‘None of us in stores, whether staff or management, are happy about it.
‘Most of us are burnt out and hating our jobs.’
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