Sydney McDonald’s gives $1k sign-on bonus to staff, Grill’d offers $10k for managers
Kids landing their first job at Macca’s can get $1k for signing up at one store, while Grill’d is offering $10k for managers amid a fight for workers.
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Australian employers are going to great lengths to lure in workers as they struggle to fill jobs.
Job ads on Seek have been at an all-time high eight out of the past 12 months, while applications per job ad are at the lowest observed level in the last decade – consistent with the current low unemployment rate.
A McDonald’s store in Sydney has been one those employers desperate to find workers.
Chatswood store manager Rhys Taylor told Financial Review at least a dozen new staff had scored a $1000 sign-on bonus.
The sign-on bonuses along with a refer-a-friend incentive scheme and a national job advertising drive helped land 50 new workers.
“We had lots of people asking about the sign-on bonuses when they saw the posters,” Mr Taylor said.
The poster encouraged people to apply, even if it was their first job.
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McDonald’s told news.com.au franchisees, as individual business owners, could offer different incentives to recruit people. Across the country, more than 8000 jobs are available.
“Our restaurants are actively hiring and looking for people of all ages and experience levels to embark on a career with McDonald’s,” a spokeswoman said.
“McDonald’s offers flexible working hours and outstanding training and development initiatives, including the opportunity for employees to pursue externally recognised qualifications in the retail, hospitality and food service industries.”
Chatswood McDonald’s is no longer offering the sign-on bonus.
Employment marketplace Seek told news.com.au some of the benefits it had noticed being offered by employers included additional leave entitlements, discounted gym membership, childcare, four-day work weeks and increased referral bonuses to employees who identify a new candidate.
As for sign-on bonuses, Grill’d is offering $10,000 for assistant managers at multiple Melbourne restaurants.
The same amount is being offered for truck and excavator operators at Peak Downs Mine in Queensland, as well as a “refer a mate program” where workers can pocket $5000 for a referral.
Paul Wakeling Motor Group in Sydney is offering a $6000 sing-on bonus for a Volkswagen mechanic.
The same amount is being offered for a nurse unit manager at St John of God Bunbury Hospital and a registered midwife at St John of God Subiaco Hospital in Western Australia. There is also up to $10,000 in financial assistance to relocate.
A Sydney support worker can get $5000 at Cerebral Palsy Alliance, as well as a $2000 professional development allowance.
Bupa Aged Care Australia is offering sign-on bonuses across multiple job ads, including $5000 for registered nurses.
There are many job ads for plumbers and mechanics offering the same amount.
Other jobs advertising sign-on bonuses include a pet groomer, baker, childcare centre director, bus driver, personal trainer and hairdresser.
Speaking at a presentation last week, Seek managing director Kendra Banks said employers were strongly advised to explain in their ads what made a job stand out from the rest, whether that was salary, flexibility or career development.
She said if a job was offering a salary above average it should be listed to attract candidates, but the majority of employers were still choosing not to allow the salary bracket to be publicly visible.
This is despite all job ads requiring a salary bracket when submitted to the site to be sorted.
Ms Banks said some employers were worried current employees would find out they were offering better pay to a new hire and other times it was unintentional.
“It’s not always intentional, maybe they’re using a template from three years ago for that ad,” she said, explaining that with staff shortages companies often had limited time to spend on recruiting.
She said quite often employers would edit their ad to include a salary if it didn’t go well initially.
Originally published as Sydney McDonald’s gives $1k sign-on bonus to staff, Grill’d offers $10k for managers
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