// Sainsbury’s is ramping up its seasonal recruitment drive, with the aim of bringing on board 18,000 temporary workers for Christmas
// Group HR director: “This investment in service will ensure customers can find whatever they need to celebrate this year easily and conveniently”
Sainsbury’s is creating 18,000 additional seasonal jobs to help meet extra demand this Christmas.
15,000 roles have been created at the supermarket chain, 2,000 roles at Argos and 1,000 in logistics.
The new temporary colleagues will help throughout Sainsbury’s and Argos stores, serving customers, keeping shelves stocked and picking, packing and delivering online orders.
Logistics colleagues will be working in warehouses and ensuring product arrives at stores across the country, ready for customers to enjoy.
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Sainsbury’s group HR director Angie Risley said: “We are really excited to be able to welcome an additional 18,000 colleagues to our team to ensure we deliver the best possible service to our customers this Christmas. It is a special time of year but it’s also busy, and with more customers returning to do more of their shopping in-store, this investment in service will ensure customers can find whatever they need to celebrate this year easily and conveniently.
“We know how tough it is for households right now and as well as excellent value for customers we are committed to leading colleague pay. Our new higher base rate, colleague discount and free food during shifts ensures colleagues will be well-rewarded for their hard work.”
Temporary colleagues will work up until 7th January 2023 on fixed term contracts of between three and 12 weeks.
As the cost of living crisis continues, Sainsbury’s said is committed to offering leading rates of colleague pay.
Back in September, it announced a second pay rise and a total yearly investment of £150 million.
“Every day, I am hearing from colleagues who are really feeling the pressures of the rising cost of living,” Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts said.
“That’s why we are doing everything we can to help our colleagues as they face rising bills and living costs this autumn by investing £25 million into a package of support, including an early pay increase. This is the first time we have given two pay rises in the same year.”
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