Sainsbury’s is to create 22,000 seasonal jobs across the UK as part of its Christmas recruitment drive.
The retailer is hiring 14,500 colleagues for both the Sainsbury’s and Argos brands (including 500 customer and trading manager positions), 3,000 in online delivery driver roles and 4,500 in warehouse and logistics.
Sainsbury’s said the jobs will be available from today (1 October) as a way to “help colleagues settle in and give customers the best Christmas shopping experience”.
The company is offering temporary staff fixed-term contracts of between three and 12 weeks until 8 January 2022.
“We’re going all-out to help our customers celebrate and make sure they have a great Christmas this year,” said Sainsbury’s retail and digital director Clo Moriarty.
“Christmas is a fun time to work in retail for anyone who enjoys helping customers and thrives on working in an inclusive team environment.”
The British grocer is also offering a new incentive payment to attract more Argos and online delivery drivers for the peak holiday season.
Both new and existing drivers could earn up to an additional £500 when picking up shifts over the Christmas period.
Sainsbury’s is also offering existing colleagues the chance to work extra hours in the coming weeks.
“By recruiting 22,000 temporary Sainsbury’s and Argos colleagues on an attractive pay package, incentivising online drivers and offering additional hours to existing colleagues over the festive season, we will deliver what our customers want – great food and fantastic service,” Moriarty added.
This is Sainsbury’s biggest-ever Christmas recruitment drive.
Other retailers have also kicked off their seasonal hiring schemes.
Waitrose is currently hiring around 4,700 extra members of temporary staff to help existing teams during the holiday period.
Business minister Paul Scully said it was “great to see” Sainsbury’s launching its Christmas recruitment programme.
“These 22,000 jobs being created across the country mean more opportunities for workers and even better service for customers.”
Scully added the government was also “protecting, supporting and creating jobs across the UK through our Plan for Jobs”, an initiative launched by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to support the country’s employment infrastructure.
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