Courtesy of Walmart Walmart has recalibrated its holiday strategy for a season dominated by COVID-19 fears. A surge in online demand has prompted the company to look to hire 20,000 seasonal employees. The company has also already begun to roll out in-store and e-commerce deals, as safety measures will likely prevent large Black Friday crowds. "We've heard from our customers that many plan on starting their holiday shopping well before Black Friday," Walmart US Chief Merchandising Officer Scott McCall said in a statement. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Walmart is expanding its holiday capabilities by hiring 20,000 e-commerce warehouse workers and rolling out "hot holiday deals" in September.The coronavirus pandemic has forced retailers like Walmart to reckon with unforeseen challenges.