AARP Hearing Center
The 2020 holiday season is shaping up to be different from any before, and that means companies are changing what they look for as they hire seasonal workers. Retailers and delivery companies are expecting large spikes in online shopping for gifts, and they are hiring thousands of workers now to help those orders get to your doorstep.
"We're preparing for a record peak holiday season,” says Charlene Thomas, chief human resources officer for UPS, which is hiring 100,000 seasonal workers. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made our services more important than ever.”
Because of the pandemic, major retailers are increasing the number of employees they have helping with pickup and delivery. Many of the workers will need to be comfortable carrying small or medium-size packages or working in distribution centers. For many job seekers, this seasonal hiring push is desperately needed. Unemployment remains high — the rate for workers age 55 and older was 6.7 percent in September. And stalled negotiations for federal assistance, such as another round of stimulus checks or increased unemployment benefits, have many families struggling to stay afloat financially.
These companies, most of which have stores and other facilities across the country, are hiring people for part-time and full-time seasonal positions now:
Amazon
In the spring, Amazon hired 175,000 workers to help with the surge of orders it was receiving as families nationwide stayed home during the pandemic's onset. For this year's holiday season, the online-shopping giant is hiring an additional 100,000 people to fill full- and part-time jobs. The company needs employees to work in its fulfillment centers, delivery stations, sorting centers and other sites. (The company also announced that it is hiring for 33,000 tech and corporate jobs.)
When looking for work, always keep your health in mind. Employers have implemented safeguards to help ensure the safety of their workers, but they cannot remove all risks that an employee might be exposed to the coronavirus. Amazon recently reported that more than 19,000 of its employees have had COVID-19 over the duration of the pandemic so far. That represents only 1.4 percent of Amazon's 1.37 million workers, but it's something you may want to consider while applying for jobs.
The minimum starting wage for the seasonal positions is $15 per hour, and some positions may be eligible for sign-on bonuses of up to $1,500.
Job seekers can click here to learn more and apply for positions with Amazon.
Best Buy
Last year, the job-search website Glassdoor analyzed the millions of reviews that workers wrote about their holiday positions to figure out which company fared the best. Their finding: Best Buy was the top holiday gig, with high marks for its culture, values and career opportunities. Many of their seasonal workers moved into regular full-time employment with the company once the holidays were over. Best Buy offers a minimum starting wage of $15 per hour along with an employee discount.
Click here to learn more about the positions and apply for a Best Buy opening.
