Temporary roles will be employed on fixed-term contracts ranging from three to 12 weeks. Credit: Serge Cornu via Shutterstock.

In preparation for the festive season, Sainsbury’s is recruiting 22,000 seasonal staff across the UK, with 2,000 at Argos staff.

This recruitment drive is aimed at ensuring customers have the best possible shopping experience and that store shelves remain fully stocked.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Sainsbury’s chief people officer said Prerana Issar: “⁠This is the busiest time in the retail calendar and we are looking for people with a passion for good food who can thrive in a fast-paced environment and are committed to providing brilliant customer service.”

Early start for festive helpers

Temporary colleagues will be onboarded earlier than usual, starting this week, to ensure that all staff are prepared for the holiday rush.

The available roles will encompass customer service, restocking and fulfilling online orders, including picking, packing and delivery. Warehouse teams will work to facilitate product distribution.

See Also:

Competitive pay and benefits

To recognise seasonal staff, Sainsbury’s has adjusted its colleague discount offer, providing 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every payday Friday.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Temporary colleagues will also receive an extra discount card for a family member or friend at the same address and complimentary food during shifts.

Temporary roles will be employed on fixed-term contracts ranging from three to 12 weeks.

Sainsbury’s said it emphasises fair compensation, paying colleagues above the National Living Wage. Temporary roles offer competitive pay rates: £11 – £11.95 p/h for in-store jobs, £11 – £11.95 ($13.36-$14.51) per hour for warehouse fulfilment jobs and £12 – £13.45 per hour for driver jobs.

Christmas competition

As confirmed by former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King in June 2023, competition is fierce among UK supermarket chains.

Sainsbury’s announcement follows rival Aldi. The discount supermarket chain said earlier this week it is gearing up for the festive rush by hiring 3,000 new employees across its stores in the UK.