Amazon offering £1000 “golden hello” to new hires as it becomes latest to face staff shortage crisis

24th August 2021
Ben Stevens

Amazon is offering new warehouse workers a £1000 joining bonus as it becomes the latest retailer to grapple with a staff shortage crisis.

Amazon is advertising for a range of full-time and part-time warehouse staff across the UK, with pickers and packers capable of lifting up to 50lbs reportedly “urgently needed”.

According to the Evening Standard, job adverts posted on Indeed are aiming to entice new hires by offering “golden hellos” of £1000 to anyone joining between now and September 18.

Staff are not required to have any previous training, can start immediately, and will be offered flexible hours at up to £11.10 and hour, rising to £22.20 for overtime.

READ MORE: 1 in every 153 US workers now works for Amazon

The online giant, which has already hired around 20,000 new UK employees since the start of the pandemic, I understood to be looking for new staff in Croydon, Erith, Enfield, Hemel Hempstead, Luton and further outside of London in Redruth, Hull, Exeter, Bristol, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Southampton and Liverpool.

While Amazon has not commented on why it has begun offering the new bonuses, it comes as the retail industry continues to face major staff shortages both on the shop floor and in their supply chains.

However, aside from the ‘pingdemic’ crisis and other pressures on retail staff due to Brexit, a recent New York Times article revealed that Amazon has a staff turnover rate in the US of 150 per cent.

The rate of staff turnover is so severe, that some executives are reportedly concerned Amazon will run out of eligible workers.