John Lewis, the popular high street retailer, has revealed its plan to hire an all-time high of 13,700 seasonal workers for the upcoming festive period. The recruitment drive, considered the largest in the company’s history, is part of the John Lewis Partnership’s strategy to bolster its workforce for the busy holiday shopping season. The seasonal positions will be spread across various locations, including 3,000 roles in John Lewis stores, 8,500 in Waitrose shops, and nearly 2,200 in warehouses and the supply chain network.
Traditionally, retailers ramp up their temporary workforce to manage the surge in sales during the final quarter of the year, known as the “golden quarter.” John Lewis Partnership anticipates welcoming around 30 million visitors to its stores during this period, with warehouses expected to handle more than two deliveries per second.
Despite challenging market conditions due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, John Lewis’s recruitment push reflects its commitment to providing excellent service to customers. This move is likely to be followed by other retailers, including major supermarkets, who are also gearing up for the holiday season by offering thousands of job opportunities.
Jo Rackham, Chief People Officer at John Lewis Partnership, emphasized the importance of having dedicated staff to deliver exceptional service during the festive season. The roles are described as rewarding and offer a chance to be part of the retail industry during one of the most exciting times of the year.
The busy period kicks off with the introduction of new seasonal collections, leading up to events like Black Friday in November, Christmas, and the renowned January Winter Sale at John Lewis. The retailer’s workforce will receive competitive pay, training, and flexible working options. Interested candidates can apply for these seasonal roles on the company’s website at jlpjobs.com/Christmas.
John Lewis Partnership, with its unique employee-owned structure, refers to its workforce of approximately 70,000 as “partners.” While employees have missed out on annual bonuses for the past three years, Chairman Jason Tarry expressed determination to reinstate these payments once the business is in a position to do so.
