Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200068
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CLAUDINE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Mary Myers already has a full-time job as an interior decorator, but on Wednesday she was filling out an employment application. She wants to work the Christmas season at Brendle's.
Myers was at a job fair sponsored by Tanglewood Mall merchants trying to fill their demand for temporary holiday workers.
Most retailers make as much as half of their annual sales during the holiday season, said Bill Grady, senior vice president at the Brendle's Inc. store at the mall.
That means good seasonal help is crucial.
Stores try to hire people with experience who can learn quickly and work flexible hours. But with demand for workers at its peak during the holiday season, retailers say, it can be difficult to find experienced people to fill temporary cashier, stock and customer service positions.
"We have a small group of people we see every year," said Byron Paddock, a merchandising manager for J.C .Penney Co.'s store at Tanglewood Mall. "We have a few college students and retirees who come back, but over half of our seasonal workers are new faces."
Most positions pay slightly more than minimum wage. J.C. Penney is offering its seasonal workers $4.70 an hour. Wages vary according to experience, Paddock said.
"This is about the time of year to start hiring people," he said. "We will start them to work about the first or second week in November."
The retail sales work force in general expands at year end, said Margaret East, supervisor in the Roanoke office of the Virginia Employment Commission. The Christmas season also brings additional demand for delivery drivers and warehouse workers.
"We place more people for jobs during the seasonal period," East said. "The unemployment rate is also lower during this time of the year."
Job hunters say that the holiday season is the best time to find work, as well as when it's desired most.
"Through the holidays, money demands get higher," Myers said. "It is good to get a second job working evenings and weekends to pay bills. I just want to get some extra work just to keep from over-crediting myself."
Retailers say the increase in temporary workers will not diminish customer service.
"There are twice as many workers, but training is focused on specific job duties," Paddock said. The seasonal employees are paired with seasoned workers to answer questions.
Most department stores opt to hire seasonal workers themselves rather than pay employment agencies, Paddock said.
"We have a human resources department open seven days a week," he said. "They are always working to bring in new people."
Department stores do not want to pay service charges to staffing agencies handling the paperwork associated with new employees, said Tanya Williams with AmeriStaff Cos. Inc., a Roanoke temporary help service.
But large merchants also believe they are the best decision makers in hiring new employees, said Pat Right, director of human resources for Hecht's department stores in Washington, D.C. "We know what type of person we want to hire, so we want to keep that decision in our hands."
Every year, people say Christmas is coming sooner, said Grady of Brendle's. What's changed is the time stores begin preparing for the season.
Although Christmas sales traditionally don't begin until after Halloween, a few customers are doing holiday shopping as early as September, Grady said. This has led gradually to a change in when stores begin preparing for the holidays.
Brendle's already has begun decorating its stores with Christmas trees and stockings.
by CNB