Warehouse pickers
Discussion
Just wondering if anyone on here either runs a warehouse or employs people for warehousing.
So far this year our order demand has generally (except for August which was abysmal) outstripped our capability to employ warehouse pick/pack staff. We’ve used indeed but to no avail and also had to turn to agency who just send people who are completely incapable.
This week we’ve taken the decision to pay £11.50 after a good customer of the business told me what Amazon were paying an hour which has meant a rise for all the existing people in the warehouse but that is a needs must for the situation.
How are you finding recruiting at the moment?
So far this year our order demand has generally (except for August which was abysmal) outstripped our capability to employ warehouse pick/pack staff. We’ve used indeed but to no avail and also had to turn to agency who just send people who are completely incapable.
This week we’ve taken the decision to pay £11.50 after a good customer of the business told me what Amazon were paying an hour which has meant a rise for all the existing people in the warehouse but that is a needs must for the situation.
How are you finding recruiting at the moment?
Not in warehousing, but cleaning, and we have never experienced anything like it.
We need around 20 operatives as a minimum, and current.y need more due to larger contracts coming on board.
Like you we use indeed. It kills me.
People arrange interviews and confirm then don’t show.
They come to interviews, accept the offer, don’t turn up.
In the last week alone we have had 6 no shows for interviews and 4 non-starters after accepting the role.
Now, cleaning, cleaners, low level, etc. we pay £12 to £15 an hour, in the hope to attract a better calibre, and retain them.
I have no idea what’s behind it all, but it’s hugely restricting our growth.
We need around 20 operatives as a minimum, and current.y need more due to larger contracts coming on board.
Like you we use indeed. It kills me.
People arrange interviews and confirm then don’t show.
They come to interviews, accept the offer, don’t turn up.
In the last week alone we have had 6 no shows for interviews and 4 non-starters after accepting the role.
Now, cleaning, cleaners, low level, etc. we pay £12 to £15 an hour, in the hope to attract a better calibre, and retain them.
I have no idea what’s behind it all, but it’s hugely restricting our growth.
Voldemort said:
Do you expect the people you employ to rent their own place, pay for food, energy, phone, broadband, own and insure a vehicle, have a decent two week holiday every year or are you seeking to simply exploit people who will have no chance at any of this?
£26,312 plus overtime a year isn’t exploitation. rufmeister said:
Not in warehousing, but cleaning, and we have never experienced anything like it.
We need around 20 operatives as a minimum, and current.y need more due to larger contracts coming on board.
Like you we use indeed. It kills me.
People arrange interviews and confirm then don’t show.
They come to interviews, accept the offer, don’t turn up.
In the last week alone we have had 6 no shows for interviews and 4 non-starters after accepting the role.
Now, cleaning, cleaners, low level, etc. we pay £12 to £15 an hour, in the hope to attract a better calibre, and retain them.
I have no idea what’s behind it all, but it’s hugely restricting our growth.
Thanks for your response. It’s certainly very tough at the moment. We need around 20 operatives as a minimum, and current.y need more due to larger contracts coming on board.
Like you we use indeed. It kills me.
People arrange interviews and confirm then don’t show.
They come to interviews, accept the offer, don’t turn up.
In the last week alone we have had 6 no shows for interviews and 4 non-starters after accepting the role.
Now, cleaning, cleaners, low level, etc. we pay £12 to £15 an hour, in the hope to attract a better calibre, and retain them.
I have no idea what’s behind it all, but it’s hugely restricting our growth.
rufmeister said:
WokkaWokka said:
£26,312 plus overtime a year isn’t exploitation.
I would agree with that, but maybe we are out of touch. Depending where you are you can get £11.50 an hour sat on a till in a supermarket.
Someone I know runs a pub and is complaining he cant get staff, but its minimum wage and late finishes, a few weeks ago there was just him so on a sunny Sunday evening he was forced to close at 6pm and turn away customers.
TheK1981 said:
£26,312 - is that before or after the payrise? And what hours and shifts are expected?
Depending where you are you can get £11.50 an hour sat on a till in a supermarket.
Someone I know runs a pub and is complaining he cant get staff, but its minimum wage and late finishes, a few weeks ago there was just him so on a sunny Sunday evening he was forced to close at 6pm and turn away customers.
£11.50 as a cashier? Really? Then yeah, I am way out of touch if that is correct.Depending where you are you can get £11.50 an hour sat on a till in a supermarket.
Someone I know runs a pub and is complaining he cant get staff, but its minimum wage and late finishes, a few weeks ago there was just him so on a sunny Sunday evening he was forced to close at 6pm and turn away customers.
TheK1981 said:
rufmeister said:
WokkaWokka said:
£26,312 plus overtime a year isn’t exploitation.
I would agree with that, but maybe we are out of touch. Depending where you are you can get £11.50 an hour sat on a till in a supermarket.
Someone I know runs a pub and is complaining he cant get staff, but its minimum wage and late finishes, a few weeks ago there was just him so on a sunny Sunday evening he was forced to close at 6pm and turn away customers.
I get your point about the supermarket but what I would say is this isn’t customer facing which is a big benefit to a lot of people.
We’re 8 - 5.30 with early finish on Friday. No silly hours at night or anything like that.
Where are you?
One of my teams runs our Warehouse, 35-40 people, 24/7.
Pay rates are between £11.80 (days / associate), to around £21 (team lead / 12hr shifts). The manager is staff / salaried.
£11.80 is probationary starting rate.
I think it’s around £12.80 normally.
This is in the SW, relatively out of the way location so recruitment can be a challenge, not for pay reasons though, we have a lot of people join from other local businesses as we pay more.
One of my teams runs our Warehouse, 35-40 people, 24/7.
Pay rates are between £11.80 (days / associate), to around £21 (team lead / 12hr shifts). The manager is staff / salaried.
£11.80 is probationary starting rate.
I think it’s around £12.80 normally.
This is in the SW, relatively out of the way location so recruitment can be a challenge, not for pay reasons though, we have a lot of people join from other local businesses as we pay more.
Han Solo said:
Where are you?
One of my teams runs our Warehouse, 35-40 people, 24/7.
Pay rates are between £11.80 (days / associate), to around £20 (team lead / 12hr shifts). The manager is staff / salaried.
£11.80 is probationary starting rate.
I think it’s around £12.80 normally.
This is in the SW, relatively out of the way location so recruitment can be a challenge, not for pay reasons though, we have a lot of people join from other local businesses as we pay more.
We're in the North. One of my teams runs our Warehouse, 35-40 people, 24/7.
Pay rates are between £11.80 (days / associate), to around £20 (team lead / 12hr shifts). The manager is staff / salaried.
£11.80 is probationary starting rate.
I think it’s around £12.80 normally.
This is in the SW, relatively out of the way location so recruitment can be a challenge, not for pay reasons though, we have a lot of people join from other local businesses as we pay more.
I have a 1 day a week part time job in Tesco to help pay the mortgage off quicker, I just checked and I get £11.45 an hour so not quite £11.50 an hour but close enough,
Everywhere seems to be struggling, but then for some its easier to not work and have the council pay the rent than work and pay for childcare, which round here there isnt any childcare as they cant get staff,
Everywhere seems to be struggling, but then for some its easier to not work and have the council pay the rent than work and pay for childcare, which round here there isnt any childcare as they cant get staff,
WokkaWokka said:
Voldemort said:
Do you expect the people you employ to rent their own place, pay for food, energy, phone, broadband, own and insure a vehicle, have a decent two week holiday every year or are you seeking to simply exploit people who will have no chance at any of this?
£26,312 plus overtime a year isn’t exploitation. What do you think food and energy cost/month?
Do you think an employee should be able to afford 2 weeks on the costa del whatever each year?
WokkaWokka said:
Voldemort said:
Do you expect the people you employ to rent their own place, pay for food, energy, phone, broadband, own and insure a vehicle, have a decent two week holiday every year or are you seeking to simply exploit people who will have no chance at any of this?
£26,312 plus overtime a year isn’t exploitation. You're on Mars.
WokkaWokka said:
TheK1981 said:
rufmeister said:
WokkaWokka said:
£26,312 plus overtime a year isn’t exploitation.
I would agree with that, but maybe we are out of touch. Depending where you are you can get £11.50 an hour sat on a till in a supermarket.
Someone I know runs a pub and is complaining he cant get staff, but its minimum wage and late finishes, a few weeks ago there was just him so on a sunny Sunday evening he was forced to close at 6pm and turn away customers.
I get your point about the supermarket but what I would say is this isn’t customer facing which is a big benefit to a lot of people.
We’re 8 - 5.30 with early finish on Friday. No silly hours at night or anything like that.
to the OP - you are merely reflecting the issues with the current economy and jobs market.
Essentially the shift to digitalisation and increasing jobs being completed by computing power means that we are in the middle of a structural change in how the economy operates. Job creation as at a low skill level, or a high skill level with very little in between.
But more an more of the low level jobs are being replaced by software. I gather amazon have their workers wear ear pieces to listen to the software tell them what to pick and where it is....
So how does that relate.
Well if you don't have the skills for a high end job, then you are stuck with a low end job.
Yes it pays £25k a year, but you can't buy a house or raise a family on that money. so you are left with young single men/women to do the job. And then they get stuck in the poverty trap.
You might get a better response if you can highlight some career progression, may be you have shift managers, or section managers, outline what they pay how quickly you could get there.
What about training (other than on the job) is there an opportunity there as well, to entice people in.
Essentially this kind of role, is offered to the unskilled, who may currently be sat on a sofa earning nearly as much in benefits.
You might get some response if you offer part time, retirement friendly or family friendly roles for that kind of money. For people who just want to top up the pension, but don't want to work 40 hours a week to do it.
Essentially the shift to digitalisation and increasing jobs being completed by computing power means that we are in the middle of a structural change in how the economy operates. Job creation as at a low skill level, or a high skill level with very little in between.
But more an more of the low level jobs are being replaced by software. I gather amazon have their workers wear ear pieces to listen to the software tell them what to pick and where it is....
So how does that relate.
Well if you don't have the skills for a high end job, then you are stuck with a low end job.
Yes it pays £25k a year, but you can't buy a house or raise a family on that money. so you are left with young single men/women to do the job. And then they get stuck in the poverty trap.
You might get a better response if you can highlight some career progression, may be you have shift managers, or section managers, outline what they pay how quickly you could get there.
What about training (other than on the job) is there an opportunity there as well, to entice people in.
Essentially this kind of role, is offered to the unskilled, who may currently be sat on a sofa earning nearly as much in benefits.
You might get some response if you offer part time, retirement friendly or family friendly roles for that kind of money. For people who just want to top up the pension, but don't want to work 40 hours a week to do it.
Out of it these days but in the past I managed multi site teams of pickers in the 80-200 range of people for national chains, so on the significant scale side of things. The fundamentals are warehouse work is a tough living. Physical, repetitive, unengaging. A core set of contented people were a given but a constant staff turnover was an ever present problem & that was in the days long before the workforce was undercut by everything that's gone on in the ast six years.
In the end, you have to balance the realities of a comparatively low skilled job against the demand for staff. We would benchmark against local competition & add a sweetener or two, prodictivity bonuses, hourly rates, holiday etc. along with pumping local agencies for a labour pipeline.
You can be creative too, once created shifts that worked around people's needs, like 9am-3pm brought in mums who could fit in around school runs etc.
Mixed results in truth but at that level, you take what you can get. Can only inagine it's much harder now.
In the end, you have to balance the realities of a comparatively low skilled job against the demand for staff. We would benchmark against local competition & add a sweetener or two, prodictivity bonuses, hourly rates, holiday etc. along with pumping local agencies for a labour pipeline.
You can be creative too, once created shifts that worked around people's needs, like 9am-3pm brought in mums who could fit in around school runs etc.
Mixed results in truth but at that level, you take what you can get. Can only inagine it's much harder now.
Edited by President Merkin on Friday 30th September 09:24
im no business man , but can people apply and just start there , or lots of hoops to jump through?
family member has been after some lower end jobs , sounds okay then enquire about it and 2 weeks training miles away , pass this course , pass that , all for not alot of money or perks
id say you just have to offer a better deal than the others in the area , tesco box stacker prob gets xx% off their shopping too
family member has been after some lower end jobs , sounds okay then enquire about it and 2 weeks training miles away , pass this course , pass that , all for not alot of money or perks
id say you just have to offer a better deal than the others in the area , tesco box stacker prob gets xx% off their shopping too
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