UK supermarket Asda said this morning that it plans to create 7,000 temporary jobs over the festive period.
The company has said the vacancies will form part of a £5m investment in customer service ahead of one of its busiest periods of the year. The new positions will include roles on the shop floor, in Asda's home delivery arm and in its customer service teams. New starters will start work from September and will be tasked with helping shoppers find the items they're searching for and offering advice on everything from electronics to clothing.
In addition, the company has said it plans to make 750,000 hours of overtime available to current staff to help them cover the cost of Christmas.
Andy Clarke, Asda chief executive said: "Our customers love Christmas – and they want everything to be just right – that's why we're bringing in 7,000 extra pairs of hands to make sure it goes without a hitch.
Mr Clarke said the decision would mean "extra help for customers when they need it most and much needed job opportunities in local communities".
