Hiring: Kroger adding tens of thousands of employees

Kroger’s Atlanta Division, which includes all Kroger stores in Georgia, has hired more than 1,600 people in the past two weeks, and plans to hire an additional 500 employees, according to a press release from the company.

“We especially want to thank our associates for their untiring dedication and commitment to our customers and we welcome our new associates who will help us continue to serve communities during this unprecedented crisis,” Felix Turner, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Atlanta Division, said.

Across the country, the grocery chain has hired 23,500 workers and plans to add 20,000 new employees over the next several weeks to “help maintain the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Kroger’s top priority continues to be uplifting our associates and serving our communities, whether that’s by ensuring customers always can find food and products on our shelves or by providing a nearly immediate job opportunity to help an unemployed person to begin working again,” said Tim Massa, Kroger’s senior vice president and chief people officer.

The news comes as unemployment claims across the country have reached historic levels, and claims in Georgia have outpaced those during the Great Recession of 2008-09.

Kroger is hiring and on-boarding new employees in 72 hours, on average, and forming “employment partnerships” with businesses in industries affected by COVID-19 to temporarily move employees to jobs with Kroger. Current partners include Frisch’s, Marriott International, McLane Foodservice, Shamrocks Food, Sodexo, SodexoMAGIC, Sysco, Thunderdome Restaurant Group, US Foods and VF Corporation, according to Kroger.

To apply for a job, visit jobs.kroger.com. The company said its average hourly wage is $15.