My complaint:
The date this happened was 28 May 2020 around 1130. One register was open with a long line. I was about the 8th person in line. Young man behind me was a Lidl employee with a full cart of groceries plus a long line of people behind him. He was agitated because of the long line. He looked to the front of the line and saw a female Lidl employee with a full cart of groceries getting ready to check out. He took his cart and moved up to her to the front of the line. At this point two other registers opened moving me right up to the two employees. The woman put all her groceries on the belt, then put the divider up and began loading the gentleman’s groceries on the belt. The man who had been standing directly behind me approached the two employees and told them it was not fair that the guy jumped in front of me in line. The woman employee started yelling him and being threatening to him. Then both started yelling racial comments. The Manager came over with another person. The manager told the guy who was behind me that they had been shopping together the whole time. He stated they were in the line a separate times and that the man employee jumped the line and it is not fair. The manager stated that they were both Lidl employees. The man from behind me stated is it policy that Lidl employees can go to the front of the line. During all this, the two initial employees were veritably assaulting the man and made several physical threats. I was able to move to the register next to where this was going on. The manager yelled at the man that he needed to leave the store, she was calling the police on him. More racial comments towards the man. Several people were recording this on their phones.
The man had to leave his groceries and was escorted out. Two employees still yelling at him. I came out about a minute behind the manager and man. I calmly told the manager that the customer was right, the Lidl employee jumped the line in front of me. She started yelling that she was tired of people yelling at her. I told her that everyone needed to calm down, we are all on edge. She was extremely frazzled. I walked outside the store and there was another woman customer, of color standing with the customer. She told him that he was correct and asked to get his groceries for him. He thanked her and declined her offer. I thanked him for speaking up and stated that I wanted to but was concerned about an altercation. He said it just was not right. By this point the two Lidl employees came out making comments such as we will call them Jack and Jill from now on, referring to the man and me.
Suggested solution:
1) Training to managers to deescalate disputes, not escalate.
2) Training to employees that they are not to take advantage of jumping in front of the lines. I can understand if they were getting something to eat on a breaklunch, but they were clearly shopping like the rest of us. Training to not race bait. They were clearly bringing race into the situation when they were wrong in their actions.
I am not sure if I am comfortable going back into Lidls. I love shopping there but am concerned I may be targeted.