Retailers Macy’s, Target, and More Aim To Attract Seasonal Workers With This One Thing
Flexibility.
As retailers kick off their holiday season hiring, many are placing bets that this is what will set them apart in a tight labor market.
It’s the number one reason U.S. frontline retail workers are considering leaving their jobs (“Not enough workplace flexibility”), according to McKinsey & Company, which defines a lack of flexibility as unpredictable schedules, inflexible start/stop times, and lack of control over how work gets done.
Tapping into this desire for more flexibility, retailers are adding technologies that promote these capabilities into their hiring plans. Macy’s is offering instant access to earned wages and access to flexible scheduling that allows workers to choose regular and optional overtime shifts that meet their availability. Likewise, Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering associates optional DailyPay, while Target said its employees, including seasonal hires, all will have access to flexible scheduling. Walmart touted that part-time associates can pick up extra shifts and “build their own schedules with the flexibility they want” in its hiring announcement.
The retailers will need an edge, as they compete to fill thousands of seasonal positions. Macy’s is looking to fill more than 41,000 full- and part-time seasonal positions for the upcoming holiday season at its Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury stores, supply chain locations and call centers. Dick’s announced it will hire up to 9,000 seasonal associates for the season. Target expects to hire up to 100,000 seasonal team members in stores and supply chain facilities nationwide this year and Walmart aims to hire around 40,000 additional associates in a variety of seasonal and full-time roles across the business.
How to Apply
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Interested applicants should first apply online at dicks.com/jobs and then visit their local store or distribution center on National Signing Day to be interviewed. Holiday hiring will continue beyond National Signing Day until all positions are filled.
Target
Interested candidates can visit TargetSeasonalJobs.com.
Macy’s
Candidates are encouraged to apply online or join Macy’s in person for an on-the-spot interview during monthly hiring events at stores and supply chain locations across the country. Candidates can learn about the upcoming October 6 holiday hiring event and explore career opportunities today at macysJOBS.com,
bloomingdalesJOBS.com
and bluemercury.com.
Walmart
Interested candidates can visit careers.walmart.com.
Retailers Hiring for the Holiday Season
Macy’s is offering pay starting at $15 an hour and colleagues also receive a merchandise discount and may be eligible to earn unlimited referral bonuses of up to $500 for every person they recruit to join Macy’s. Colleagues have an opportunity to earn additional income through various programs, e.g., Path to Growth Incentive, a quarterly bonus offered to qualifying colleagues.
Macy’s said the number of seasonal opportunities is “relatively consistent” with the number of open positions in prior years. The department store retailer said applications take as little as five minutes and majority of job offers made within 48 hours.
Seasonal colleagues will also have access to new opportunities, as colleagues are actively converted to permanent roles. In 2021, more than 10,300 seasonal colleagues earned permanent positions throughout the holiday season. “Our enhanced, centralized hiring process allowed us to hire fewer colleagues of higher talent levels with more competitive pay who stayed on, resulting in a 40% reduction in turnover,” the retailer said.
Earlier this year, Target announced a new starting wage range of $15-$24 an hour — which it said makes it a wage leader in every market where the retailer has stores or facilities. Employees have access to flexible scheduling, well-being benefits, team member discounts and more. As in previous years, Target will continue to first work with current associates to provide their desired hours and schedules throughout the holidays. On average, more than 30% of Target employees who are hired as seasonal workers stay on after the holiday season, it said.
Dick’s hosts its fifth-annual “National Signing Day” on September 28 to start holiday recruiting efforts for positions at DICK’S Sporting Goods, Public Lands, Field & Stream and Going, Going, Gone! Stores. To attract workers, the sporting goods retailer noted all store locations and distribution centers will be closed on Thanksgiving Day so associates can spend the holiday with their families. In addition to optional DailyPay, the retailer gives an associate discount of up to 25% off.
Walmart’s hiring plans this season include picking up store associates; customer care associates for its customer call centers; and full-time, permanent truck drivers. The retailer will begin by offering additional hours to current associates who want them and then it will offer the opportunity for those who want to earn extra money working on a temporary basis.