Morrisons will 'feed the nation' as it recruits 25,000 extra staff

Supermarket Morrisons has pledged to “feed the nation” during the COVID-19 pandemic, recruiting tens of thousands of extra staff and expanding online delivery as more people stay at home.
The supermarket giant has recruited more staff and increased on-line deliveriesThe supermarket giant has recruited more staff and increased on-line deliveries
The supermarket giant has recruited more staff and increased on-line deliveries

Morrisons, which has stores in Scarborough and Bridlington, has put in place a range of new measures including expanding an online delivery partnership with Amazon, launching a new quick delivery service with Deliveroo, and introducing food boxes of essentials for those self-isolating.

“We are facing into the unprecedented current challenges and are playing our full part to help feed the nation: working with determination, creativity and pace to serve customers as well as we possibly can,” chief executive Dave Potts said in a statement.

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It came as Morrisons reported a 5.7% rise in first quarter sales, excluding fuel. Sales have surged by 10.8% in the weeks since the lockdown was introduced.

Morrisons has recruited 25,000 extra staff to deal with the surge and has also put in place extra measures to protect them while at work. These include protective screens at checkouts, social distancing measure in-store, and hand sanitiser, masks, and gloves for staff.

Employees are also being given a guaranteed 6% annual bonus, paid quarterly, to say thank you and are entitled to access a hardship fund if needed. No staff have been furloughed and Morrisons is offering enhanced sick pay for those affected by the virus.