Sainsbury’s is now hiring 20,000 temporary Christmas staff across the UK

Sainsbury’s has launched a festive recruitment drive, and wants to hire thousands of temporary staff to help “deliver an exceptional Christmas for customers” this year.

With the festive season fast approaching, and most British supermarkets having already unveiled their Christmas food and drink ranges for 2024, Sainsbury’s is gearing up for what is always one of the busiest times for the retail industry by launching a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drive.

The supermarket says its stores and warehouses have already started to prepare themselves for the festive season, and is now looking for an army of temporary workers to join teams across the country to help along the way.

20,000 temporary Christmas staff will be hired in total – with 18,000 of those at the supermarket itself and 2,000 being at Argos outlets housed within selected Sainsbury’s stores.

With a wide range of roles available, the tens of thousands of temporary staff across the UK will be tasked with serving customers, restocking shelves, and fulfilling online orders by picking, packing, and delivering.

Then, in the supermarket’s depots and fulfilment centres, colleagues will work in warehouses to ensure products reach homes and stores nationwide ready for customers to enjoy.

All seasonal staff will be employed on fixed-term contracts that range from three to 12 weeks.

The roles also come with a number of staff perks too, as in a bid to “further support and reward colleagues with festive season expenses”, Sainsbury’s has made the decision to bump its 10% colleague discount offer up to 15% every Friday and Saturday, with an additional 15% off at Argos every payday Friday.

Temporary Christmas staff also get free food during their shifts too.

“As the festive season draws near, we’re getting ready to create a memorable Christmas for our customers,” explained Prerana Issar, who is the Chief People Officer at Sainsbury’s.

“Our brilliant colleagues play a central role in bringing this to life.

“Joining us during this busy time is a fantastic opportunity to meet great people and acquire skills that will stay with you long after the festive season. Our amazing store colleagues play a huge role in making Sainsbury’s the first choice for our customers, ensuring that good food is joyful, accessible, and affordable however households choose to celebrate.”

Fancy it then? If you’re keen to join the Sainsbury’s or Argos teams across the UK this Christmas, then head on over to the Sainsbury’s recruitment website here to apply, or pop into your nearby store for more information.

Featured Image – Sainsbury’s