Holiday Jobs Will Look Different in 2020

• Author: Jessica Williams
• Posted: 2023-12-06

Many people look for part-time and full-time holiday work. Seasonal hiring is a big deal as many people begin their shopping for the holiday season. Companies plan to do some hiring this year, but the jobs and their numbers will not be the same as they were in previous years. Read on to learn about how this year's holiday jobs will be different, what employers expect and what types of jobs will be available.

How COVID-19 Job Losses Affected Workers

Many retail workers lost their jobs when businesses had to shut down under mayors' and governors' orders. Restaurant and bar workers were also furloughed. Many people who work in manufacturing and other sectors of the economy were also furloughed, laid off or lost their jobs when their employers had to close their businesses.

Changes in Consumer Behavior

The COVID-19 pandemic did not only alter retailer behavior. It also caused a lot of changes for consumers. Even if a person could go to a store to make a purchase, many decided not to. Instead, they decided to order items online and have the products shipped to their homes. People wanted to avoid crowds in stores. Early in the pandemic, there were also concerns that items could be contaminated with the SARS covariant-2 virus and infect people who touched the product. People were already doing a lot of online shopping, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased online shopping by more than 50% in certain sectors. People are doing more grocery, personal, hygiene and pet supply shopping online than they did before the pandemic. Sales of arts and crafts, repair parts and home supplies have also increased.

Which Types of Employers Are Hiring Workers

Many types of businesses are hiring seasonal workers for the holiday season. One restaurant that has a big to-go business of prepared holiday dinners expects to be as busy this year as they were last year. They noted that they expect smaller orders because family gatherings may not be as large. People who are used to just bringing a dish to share at a large family meal might not want to deal with cooking the whole meal on their own. Retailers are also hiring workers. They will need people to do online order fulfillment. There will also be a need for remote customer service for online retailers. Companies that sell consumer goods ranging from clothes to toys and crafts to treadmills expect to do brisk business.

What Types of Jobs Will Be Available for the 2020 Holiday Season

People who are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and those who prefer a seasonal job will find the same types of options as during other years, but there will be a few exceptions. There may be fewer jobs for in-person services, such as cashiers in stores. On the other hand, brick-and-mortar stores are hiring people to fulfill the online orders placed for curbside pickup and local delivery. Stores are also hiring for warehouse workers. Large retailers, such as Amazon and Macy's, are hiring people to pick items, pack and ship them. Stocking jobs in brick-and-mortar stores are also available. This includes stocking fresh produce and other types of groceries. Delivery drivers will also be in high demand throughout the 2020 holiday season.

How Those Jobs Will Be Different

Jobs will be somewhat different this year. Workers can expect to work in a socially distant environment rather than shoulder-to-shoulder. Workers will also be provided with personal protective equipment, including face masks and gloves. Some will need to wear goggles and aprons. Instead of having everyone in the store or facility at the same time, shifts may be more staggered. Start and end times for the work day may be varied. Rather than an 8:00 am until 5:00 pm shift, some workers might arrive at 7:00. There could be 15-minute increments for arrival and departure times. Break areas will also be different, with tables and chairs spread out to accommodate social distancing guidelines.

What Workers Can Expect in the Workplace

Workers can also expect some other changes for the 2020 holiday season in light of COVID-19. They may be working behind a plexiglass barrier. Communication with customers may be more of a challenge due to masks. The masks may muffle a person's voice, making it more difficult to hear what a person says. Workers can also expect to do more cleaning during their shifts in brick-and-mortar stores.