// Tesco to hire 20,000 temporary workers to cope with soaring demand due to the coronavirus crisis
// They would be hired to work for at least the next 12 weeks
// This marks the biggest recruitment drive so far from a single British supermarket chain
Tesco has become the latest supermarket to announce plans to recruit new staff to cope with the coronavirus outbreak overwhelming stores.
The UK’s biggest grocer said it would recruit 20,000 temporary workers for at least the next 12 weeks.
Tesco’s recruitment drive was first launched on Wednesday, although the full details of it have only just emerged.
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The Big 4 grocer said that “since then we have already been overwhelmed by support from the public and thank everyone who has applied to work with us in stores”.
Some staff are being interviewed, processed and working within the same day, Tesco added.
It is not clear if Tesco’s job vacancies were targeted towards individuals or local residents whose jobs have been affected by the pandemic, as has been done by some competitors.
“I’m so proud to be welcoming thousands of new colleagues to Tesco,” Tesco HR chief Natasha Adams said.
“Thank you to everyone offering to help as we work day and night to keep our shelves full for customers.
“The community spirit at Tesco is fantastic and together, we can do this.”
The news from Tesco makes it the biggest recruitment drive so far from a single British supermarket chain, as the grocery sector finds ways to cope with soaring demand as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Yesterday, 16,500 jobs were announced in combined recruitment drives from Lidl, Asda and and Aldi.
This followed similar moves by Morrison’s and Co-op earlier in the week – their combined total amounts to 7500 new jobs.
Meanwhile, non-food and office staff from John Lewis have been encouraged to help their shop floor colleagues at stablemate Waitrose, as have M&S clothing and home staff for their M&S food colleagues.
Supermarkets across the country have been struggling with overwhelming demand, and are expected to see an increase in shoppers over the weekend after the government’s decree to shut down all restaurants, bars and leisure centres.
with PA Wires
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