Instacart to hire 300,000 additional workers amid coronavirus demand

Instacart, the grocery delivery and pickup company, is looking to hire 300,000 workers across North America to meet surging demand for grocery deliveries, as millions of people are urged to stay home to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The company plans to bring on these “full-service shoppers” over the next three months. Instacart lets users shop from grocery stores like Whole Foods, Costco, Safeway, among others, to be delivered to their homes.

“As more people look for immediate, flexible earnings opportunities during this time, we hope that Instacart can be an additional source of income for those looking to earn while also delivering for the communities in which they live,” said Instacart Founder and CEO Apoorva Mehta in a statement on Monday.

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As for its current workers, Mehta confirmed in the release that the company is also offering additional support for workers who may be affected by COVID-19.

“All in-store shoppers nationwide now have access to sick pay, an accrued benefit that can be used as paid time off if you’re absent from work due to illness or injury. Additionally, any full-service or in-store shopper can receive up to 14 days of extended pay if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in individual mandatory isolation or quarantine.”