Online retailer Amazon is looking to tempt potential recruits by offering a £1,000 “golden hello” to new warehouse workers.
People who join Amazon before September 18 will receive the bonus, the company says. Amazon is also offering regular hourly rates of up to £11.10, with £22.20 on offer for overtime.
The announcement comes as firms in various UK industries struggle to find new staff, amid mounting labour shortages.
Who is eligible for Amazon’s £1,000 bonus?
Any new recruits who start working at Amazon warehouses before September 18th will receive the £1,000 starting bonus.
Why is Amazon offering this bonus to new recruits?
Amazon is offering £1,000 to new warehouse workers because it’s having such difficulty in recruiting them at the moment.
It’s been widely reported that a number of industries are experiencing labour shortages, and Amazon hopes this new bonus will make it more attractive to employees.
Where is Amazon recruiting?
Amazon is recruiting at warehouses across the country, including in Swansea, Redditch, Coventry, Dartford, Redruth and Darlington, as well as in several London locations.
Why is the UK experiencing labour shortages?
There are a number of factors causing a shortage of new recruits in some UK industries.
In particular, the economy has been reopening after the worst of the pandemic, creating many new vacancies and leaving a lot of firms all looking for new recruits at the same time.
Brexit, meanwhile, has meant that it’s not so easy for employers to bring workers in from the European Union, leaving some unable to fill gaps in their workforce.
Coronavirus infection rates are also somewhat higher than they were, and despite the success of the vaccine rollout, some workers are still getting sick and having to self-isolate.
Some point to the furlough scheme as another contributing factor, though this is due to end on September 30th.
Which industries are worst affected?
The industries worst affected by the current labour shortages include hospitality, retail and logistics.
Hospitality firms - including pubs and restaurants - have reported that they have been struggling to fill vacancies as they reopen for business following lockdown.
With a shortage of lorry drivers, supermarkets have also been having a hard time keeping their shelves fully stocked as their supply chains are disrupted.
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