Macy's, Inc. is planning to hire approximately 85,000 seasonal associates for the upcoming holiday season at its Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores, call centers, distribution centers, online fulfillment centers nationwide, according to a press release issued by Macy's.
The number of seasonal associates to be hired for the 2015 Christmas and holiday season is lower compared to last year.
Macy's said in the press release that their seasonal employees at Macy's and Bloomingdale would serve customers on the selling floor, work in store operations, and interact with customers via call center operations.
They would also be manning the distribution and fulfillment centers, where they will coordinate the shipments of the customers, who buy online via mobile, directly to the stores.
The company said that their plan for the hiring of seasonal employees includes putting 12,000 of the 85,000 in positions that will be based in direct-to-customer fulfillment facilities, according to the press release.
Positions that interact with customers via telephone, email and online chat at customer service will be filled up with 1,600 new hires, and another 1,000 will be hired across the country to support Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, Santalands, and other iconic holiday events.
Terry J. Lundgren, chairman and CEO of Macy's, said in the press release that the additional staffing allows them to provide extra "help to customers."
"We first offer our current associates the opportunity to work extra hours over the holidays, and then supplement our ongoing workforce with seasonal hires," he said.
Fortune adds that the number of seasonal hires that Macy's will have this year is less than its seasonal hires last year.
The company hired about 86,000 seasonal employees in 2014.
Fortune adds that the announcement of the seasonal hires follows Macy's lowering of its full-year forecast due to the poor start of the year.
The company reported a 2.6 percent decrease in sales two weeks ago and announced that it will be closing down 40 stores.
Macy's has been struggling, as customers are shifting their focus away from apparel, according to Fortune.
Customers are now focusing more on home repairs, electronics, and autos.
Macy's currently employs about 166,900 associates on a year-round basis, according to the press release.
