Sainsbury's and Argos hiring 20,000 staff for Christmas - how to apply and how much it pays

Sainsbury's and Argos have announced plans to hire thousands of temporary workers for the busy Christmas period

Sainsbury's is set to recruit an additional 20,000 employees for the impending festive rush, with 18,000 of these positions poised at Sainsbury's and a further 2,000 at Argos. Prospective staff members are being offered fixed-term contracts, which may vary between three weeks to three months in duration, to fill roles that include retail associates, warehouse operatives, and delivery drivers.

Remuneration is competitive, with in-store and storage workers anticipated to earn from £12 up to £13.50 per hour; whereas drivers can expect an hourly rate ranging from £13 to £14.65. Additional benefits for the Christmas staff encompass complimentary meals throughout shifts and a discount starting at 10%, escalating to 15% on Fridays and Saturdays at Sainsbury's, and on payday at Argos.

The company has opened its application process for these seasonal jobs. Prerana Issar, the Chief People Officer at the retailer, said: "As the festive season draws near, we're getting ready to create a memorable Christmas for our customers – and 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."

Marks and Spencer has announced plans to recruit 11,000 staff members for the Christmas period. The retail giant is looking for new customer assistants who will be responsible for serving customers on the shop floor and restocking shelves.

Interested individuals can apply for these supermarket roles from October 9, with work expected to commence from mid-November. Sacha Berendji, M&S operations director, said: "Our fantastic store colleagues play such a big part in delivering the magic of MandS at Christmas to our customers. And this year we're recruiting even more colleagues to ensure we're closer to customers."

He added: "The Christmas period is a busy but exciting time for MandS and no two days are the same – in fact, many colleagues started their MandS careers at Christmas and after the festive period were invited to go onto our Stepping Into Team Manager programme. With a range of roles and flexible working patterns available, anyone who is interested in being part of something special this Christmas should visit our careers website to apply."

In addition, Amazon has also announced plans to hire over 15,000 staff to cater to customers during the busy festive season. According to Amazon, pay rates will start at a minimum of £13.50 an hour, rising to £14.50 depending on location, reports the Mirror.

Anil Verma, Operations Director, stated: "We prepare year-round for the festive season, and we're excited to have more than 15,000 positions available this year in the UK. Our seasonal colleagues play an integral role in helping us deliver an exceptional experience for our customers. We look forward to welcoming back seasonal workers who return year after year to Amazon, and to welcoming new faces to the team."