The U.S. Postal Service said it is well positioned to handle a blitz of mail and packages ahead of the holiday season, though it will confront its busiest time of the year after once again hiring fewer seasonal employees.
USPS will bring on just 7,500 temporary workers to help the agency complete processing and delivery efforts, with employees having started as early as October and staying on as late as mid-January. That is down slightly from its target of 10,000 hires last year and precipitously from 45,000 in 2021. Postal management has maintained that its efforts to convert nearly 200,000 part-time staff to full-time, career employees over the last several years has mitigated its need to onboard seasonal workers.
Joshua Colin, USPS’ chief retail and delivery officer, said changes the agency is implementing as part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s plan to overhaul its operations and stabilize its finances have also put the Postal Service in a better position this holiday season. USPS has stood up 83 sorting and delivery centers, which consolidate final preparations before mail and packages are delivered, which Colin said has increased capacity.
