Jacksonville is keen on seeing its tourism industry surge, and the city is changing its budget to make it happen. Growth in tourism, and growth in general, means many other industries are headed up, and new jobs you might be interested in could appear.
A Jacksonville City Council committee recently voted 5-0 to update the city’s tourism allocations, according to Florida Politics. The new portions aren’t expected to go into effect until late November, but the changes would emphasize more modern approaches to tourism promotion.
Jacksonville is seeing growth in a wider range than just tourism. Here are some other jobs in high-profile companies that are growing in the city, and what they might mean for you and your wallet.
Delivery Drivers
A big growth area is delivery. UPS and Domino’s both use delivery drivers, and are expanding their operations. UPS is spending $190 million in Jacksonville, according to the Florida Times-Union, and Domino’s is looking for 200 new delivery drivers, plus other positions from a WJXT report.
UPS already has a sizable operation in the city, and won’t be adding too many jobs, but Domino’s is looking to improve the quality of their service in Northeast Florida, according to reports. Delivery drivers get customers their products as the front line for consumer interaction. There are more than a dozen Domino’s in Jacksonville, so be on the lookout for opportunities.
Tipping varies for pizza delivery drivers, but Glassdoor reports they usually only make a little over minimum wage nationally. Keep in mind the state’s minimum wage is higher at $8.05/hour, so make sure you’re keeping track.
Delivery drivers are the final step in a long process of getting goods to your door. The interaction often means wearing a uniform, and dealing with tips. Some companies require you to pay for your uniforms, but those payments can’t take you under the minimum wage, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Above your wage are tips, and tip are the sole property of the employee, according to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. This isn’t true of required charges like delivery fees, but employers can still use them to meet the minimum wage.
Delivery drivers are just one of Jacksonville’s growth areas. Many behind the scenes jobs are coming to the city as well.
Supply Chains
Several employers use Jacksonville as a jumping off point to Florida and the rest of the East Coast. UPS is a big one, but Amazon has a fulfillment center opening Winter 2017 expected to host 1,500 employees, according to News4Jax.
Supply chain jobs like Amazon’s fulfillment center see associates picking out, packing, and labelling products before shipping. The work can be exhausting. Hourly pay is pegged at a little more than $12, according to Glassdoor, but the Amazon facility is expecting at least 500 of its new employees will make $50,000 a year at its Pecan Park Road site, according to News4Jax.
Fulfillment employees usually face a full workday, but the holidays are approaching and you might have to work longer than intended. Keep track of your hours, and if you go over 40, make sure you’re getting paid overtime if you’re eligible.
Retail Employees
One move proceeding with fanfare is the city’s new IKEA, slated to open next year at I-295 and Gate Parkway. The closest IKEA had previously been in Orlando. Now, residents won’t have to hoof it four hours just to get some affordable, highly sought-after furniture or delicious Swedish meatballs. Other retail jobs exist in the city, of course, but workers report IKEA pays around $11 an hour.
Retail work is especially vulnerable to violations, and during the holidays the DOL finds register prep and closing, break violations, and the always-relevant overtime mixups to be the biggest ways employees lose out on wages.
Your job might misclassify you, skimp you on overtime, or other practices. It’s our job to help you out.
Our labor and employment attorneys can investigate if your company is adhering to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which lays out important wage and overtime standards, or if it’s adhering to relevant Florida law. An attorney representing your best interests is a powerful ally when you’re trying to get what you’re owed. If you’re ready today, fill out our no-risk, no-cost case evaluation.
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