US retailer Walmart has revealed plans to hire 60,000 seasonal associates to help run a smoothe operation on the shop floor during the busy holiday period.
While the retailer acknowledged that some of the new recruits will be looking for short-term work to earn money over the Christmas period, it also noted that this could be the start of a long-term career for others. Judith McKenna, Chief Operating Officer of Walmart US, said: "In fact we have hundreds of store managers who started with the company as a seasonal associate. Last year, more than half of our seasonal associates stayed with Walmart in a permanent role after the holidays." New sales associates will be paid at least $9 an hour.
The retailer is paying particular attention to the consumer trend for click and collection shopping. McKenna added: "More and more, customers are turning to the convenience of digital and mobile shopping and we are going to make the experience at Walmart simple and easy. We are adding department managers in more than 3,500 stores for the holidays to specifically serve customers who are coming into the store to pick up their online orders. We want to help people pick up their order and get back to the rest of their day as quickly as we can."
