As the coronavirus outbreak continues to massively disrupt lives and operations worldwide, various organizations are enacting measures to help bring those impacted some relief. That includes Morrisons, the longtime Yorkshire-based supermarket retailer that serves millions of UK customers at hundreds of stores and with online home-delivery service. On 17 March, the family-owned business announced plans to create 3,500 extra jobs to “protect and help colleagues and expand home delivery to many more households at a time of national need.”
This follows a 13 March announcement that Morrisons would immediately implement payments to its smaller suppliers to support their cash flows as the coronavirus continues to hit the British economy.
Drivers, Pickers & Distribution
Key points of the latest plan include a colleague hardship fund that will help support Morrisons colleagues facing financial stress due to the virus.
Morrisons is also providing sick pay for sick colleagues, whether they would have normally qualified for it or not. Additionally, those in self-isolation or providing assistance to sick family or community members are also eligible for sick pay, alternative shifts, or holiday pay.
To support an expanded home-delivery plan Morrisons is launching to make more delivery slots available on Morrisons.com and at the Morrisons Store on the Amazon Prime Now platform, Morrisons will recruit about 2,500 pickers and drivers and roughly 1,000 people to work at its distribution centres. Vacancies will be promoted via radio and social media campaigns and at the Morrisons.jobs website. A customer call centre to take orders via the phone is also planned.
Aiding Those Affected
Chief Executive David Potts says Morrisons expects the days, weeks, and months ahead will be trying, but “we are determined to do our bit. These measures will support our very hard-working colleagues, enable us to provide more food to more people in their homes, and create opportunities for people whose jobs are affected by the coronavirus.”