It is the season before the season when retailer revelations about plans to hire temporary workers offer insight into holiday expectations. One of the best indicators of what to expect this Christmas comes courtesy of UPS.
UPS said it plans to hire between 90,000 and 95,000 seasonal employees (about the same as last year) to support the anticipated increase in package volume that will begin in November and continue through January 2016.
"We have initial volume forecasts from our customers and are starting the hiring process for our temporary holiday season jobs," said Myron Gray, president, U.S. Operations for UPS. "We have needs for various positions on all shifts at UPS locations throughout the United States."
UPS touts the fact that the full- and part-time seasonal positions - primarily package handlers, drivers and driver-helpers - have long been an entry point for permanent employment at UPS. Many senior UPS executives, including CEO David Abney and three other members of the company's management committee, started their UPS careers as part-time employees, according to the company.
"It was a way to pay my way through college," said Abney, who started loading trucks at night in March, 1974 while studying business. "At the time, I had no idea then that I'd be leading the company someday, but I could tell UPS was a place where a solid work ethic was appreciated and there were great opportunities for advancement."