And it can also be earned well with it. According to media reports, hourly wages for professional Santa Clauses have in some cases more than tripled. The reason: The Santas are missing. On the job site Indeed, for example, there are hundreds of vacancies these weeks. We are looking for people who are ready to throw themselves into Christmas costumes for a day or by the hour and take on all those tasks that are expected of Santa Clauses – or, in rarer cases, Santa Clauses.
It is by no means the first profession to be severely deficient in the UK this year. In late summer, empty supermarket shelves and dried-out gas stations hit the headlines when truck drivers were unable to get fuel and goods from A to B. Pubs and farmers also complain about a lack of staff.
Daily wages up to £ 800
And now the Santa Clauses. “Santa and his aides are not immune to seasonal labor shortages,” Indeed’s Jack Kennedy recently told the Daily Star. In some cases, daily wages of up to 800 pounds (around 936 euros) are offered.
The unusual Santa bottleneck is closely related to the pandemic. In the past, it was often somewhat older men who took on the role – today they are among the greatest risk groups in the event of a corona infection. Since the Santa Claus job in most cases involves a lot of contacts, many people are likely to decide against it.
Job expert Kennedy also sees less demand for seasonal jobs overall. Since there are currently job offers in many industries, the occasional assignment is not one of the most attractive options for making money.
The Nextdoor network, which connects people online with neighbors, has taken a closer look at the problem. An online poll of 2,000 British adults conducted by polling firm Opinium in November found that more than three-quarters of respondents (78 percent) don’t expect to see Santa Claus anywhere this year. At least for some, something is missing: Almost a third (31 percent) said they would be disappointed if their Christmas season had to do without Santa at all.
Reason enough for the network to take remedial action: those responsible organized Santa training courses in several cities, as Nextdoor’s community manager Roisin O’Neill reported. “In it, our Santa helpers learn everything they need, from the correct” Ho, Ho, Ho “to reindeer names, how to dress up and make-up, what words to use, how to greet children, to festive quizzes. Play.” In London, Manchester, but also Wales and Scotland, up to 100 volunteers are being trained in these weeks. “The response has been incredible,” said O’Neill.
After all: those professional Santas who do the Christmas work this year seem to be satisfied despite all the hurdles. When asked, the Rent-A-Santa press office only said: “Greetings from the North Pole headquarters – there is only one Santa and everything is wonderful and very busy.”
Source: Nachrichten
