With the holiday shopping season ramping up, many customers are wondering if Amazon will continue delivering packages on Thanksgiving Day. This allows us to explore some key questions around Amazon’s operations during holidays and better understand their policies for drivers.
Does Amazon deliver on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes, Amazon does offer deliveries on Thanksgiving Day. The online retailer has made a tradition of operating on most major holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This allows customers to take advantage of deals and place orders for gifts and other items during the holiday season.
Amazon argues that its delivery operations on these holidays provides an important service to customers. Many people rely on Amazon deliveries for items they need or have forgotten during the holidays. Operating on these days allows customers to still receive orders despite the holidays.
Do Amazon drivers have to work on Thanksgiving?
Amazon drivers are not required to work on Thanksgiving or other holidays. Their work schedules are dependent on seasonal demands, but drivers can choose not to work if they request time off in advance.
During busy periods like the winter holidays, Amazon offers increased wages and overtime pay to incentivize drivers to work extra hours and holidays. But drivers ultimately can opt out of holiday shifts if they make schedule requests early enough.
What do Amazon drivers say about Thanksgiving deliveries?
Amazon drivers have mixed opinions about holiday deliveries. Some appreciate the increased pay and flexibility to earn extra income. But others argue it takes away important family time.
Positive perspectives:
- Holiday pay incentives are attractive
- Good opportunity to increase earnings
- Drivers like the flexibility to choose their own schedules
Negative perspectives:
- Sacrifices important family time on holidays
- Means drivers cannot relax and enjoy the time off
- Causes drivers to burn out from long holiday peak seasons
Ultimately it’s an individual decision based on each driver’s financial needs and preferences around holiday time. But Amazon gives drivers the choice to opt in or out.
What delivery volume is typical on Thanksgiving Day?
Package delivery volume on Thanksgiving Day is significantly lower than peak days surrounding Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here are some estimates of Amazon’s Thanksgiving delivery volume:
| Year | Estimated Thanksgiving Delivery Volume |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 700,000 packages |
| 2017 | Over 1 million packages |
| 2018 | 1.3 million packages |
| 2019 | Nearly 2 million packages |
The overall trend shows steady growth in Thanksgiving deliveries over the past few years. But this volume remains dwarfed by the estimated 35 million packages Amazon delivered on Cyber Monday 2019, for example.
Do delivery drivers receive holiday pay on Thanksgiving?
Amazon provides holiday pay incentives to encourage drivers to work on Thanksgiving Day and other major holidays like Christmas Day. However, the exact holiday pay policy can vary.
For Amazon Flex drivers, who use their own vehicles for deliveries, Thanksgiving shifts are eligible for an additional $18 – $22 per hour above base pay. Amazon Flex drivers earn $18 – $25 per hour normally.
Meanwhile, Amazon Delivery Service Partners operating out of Amazon delivery stations qualify for 1.5x base pay on Thanksgiving Day. Regular wages for salaried Amazon drivers ranges based on location and experience.
What do Amazon employees say about Thanksgiving operations?
Frontline Amazon employees have mixed reactions regarding the company’s operations on Thanksgiving and other major holidays. Some of the most common perspectives include:
- Warehouse employees appreciate the extra holiday pay but lament not having the day off with family.
- Corporate employees say holidays like Thanksgiving are important times to spend with family and rest.
- Drivers are divided – some arguing the flexibility and high pay is worth it, others saying holidays should be protected family time.
- Managers say operating on Thanksgiving shows Amazon’s commitment to customers even during holidays.
Overall the issue sparks debate within Amazon’s workforce. Some view the holiday operations critically while others see it as a reasonable business necessity.
Has Amazon faced any criticism for Thanksgiving deliveries?
Yes, Amazon has faced some criticism over its years of operating through major holidays like Thanksgiving. Some of the main criticisms include:
- Workers should have guaranteed holidays off to spend time with family.
- Operating on Thanksgiving promotes consumerism on a day traditionally reserved for gratitude.
- Forcing warehouse employees to work extra hours around Black Friday is exploitative.
- The additional holiday pay isn’t high enough to compensate for giving up family time.
Amazon counters that employees choose their own schedules and they aim to provide exceptional service by delivering every day of the year. But the debate persists around workers rights on holidays.
Do Amazon competitors also deliver on Thanksgiving?
Amazon is not alone in offering Thanksgiving deliveries. Major competitors including Walmart, Target, and UPS also provide delivery services on Thanksgiving Day.
Key details on competitor holiday operations:
- Walmart: Offers in-store pickup for online orders on Thanksgiving. Also provides delivery through services like DoorDash.
- Target: Retail stores are closed on Thanksgiving but online orders can be picked up via Drive Up curbside pickup at select locations.
- UPS: Has limited service on Thanksgiving with no ground pickups or deliveries. But UPS Express Critical service remains available.
Offering Thanksgiving deliveries has become an industry standard for retailers trying to maximize holiday season sales. Customers have come to expect packages even during holidays when shopping online.
How many packages did Amazon deliver on Thanksgiving 2022?
Complete data is not yet available for Amazon’s total Thanksgiving deliveries in 2022. However, some initial estimates indicate the company may have delivered over 2 million packages on Thanksgiving Day this year.
This would represent continued growth from the nearly 2 million Thanksgiving deliveries Amazon completed in 2019. Given ongoing labor shortages, it’s likely volume was tempered compared to previous growth rates.
Final verified delivery totals for Thanksgiving 2022 should become available in early December when Amazon releases information from the holiday peak season.
What precautions does Amazon take for drivers on holidays?
Amazon uses several strategies to support driver safety and reduce risks associated with operating on major holidays like Thanksgiving.
- Increased pay to retain experienced drivers familiar with routes and protocols
- Modified delivery routes to maximize efficiency with fewer drivers
- Enhanced driver assistance through routing software and support teams
- Prioritizing areas with lower traffic and pedestrian volumes
- Advanced training refreshers for seasonal driver helpers
Amazon also provides frequent reminders and communications to drivers about driving safely and staying vigilant during the high-activity holiday peak. Additional job perks like bonuses and rewards are also used to boost driver motivation.
Do Amazon drivers enjoy working holidays?
Whether or not drivers enjoy working on major holidays depends a lot on the individual. Some of the key factors that can sway driver opinions include:
- Family obligations – Drivers with small kids or family traditions may dislike working holidays.
- Financial situation – Drivers relying on the income may appreciate the extra pay.
- Flexibility preferences – Drivers who like picking their own hours tend to not mind holiday shifts.
- Years of experience – Veteran drivers are more familiar with the pros/cons of holiday routes.
Ultimately driver enjoyment working holidays is very personalized based on someone’s individual circumstances. But many drivers are grateful for the opportunity given the right conditions for them.
What returns do drivers see on holiday pay incentives?
The holiday pay incentives that Amazon offers during major holidays like Thanksgiving can have a significant impact on driver earnings. Here are some examples:
- A flex driver working 8 hours on Thanksgiving can earn an extra $144 – $176 in holiday pay alone.
- A full-time delivery driver logging 10 hours on Thanksgiving with 1.5x holiday pay can earn approximately $180 – $240 extra.
- Drivers also cite receiving tips around 20% higher on average during Thanksgiving than normal days.
In many cases, drivers willing to sacrifice family time on a holiday can see their daily earnings double or more compared to regular pay. So the additional pay is a major incentive.
How has demand for Thanksgiving deliveries changed over time?
| Year | Estimated Thanksgiving Delivery Volume | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Nearly 15,000 packages | Amazon just expanding delivery network |
| 2016 | 700,000 packages | Growth of Prime membership |
| 2019 | Nearly 2 million packages | Surge in consumers shopping online |
| 2022 | Over 2 million packages* | Pandemic-driven online shopping habits |
* Estimated volume for 2022
Demand for Thanksgiving deliveries at Amazon has surged over the past decade thanks to broader ecommerce trends and the rise of online holiday shopping. This demand creates the need for at least some drivers to work holidays.
Do drivers have flexibility in their Thanksgiving schedule?
Amazon aims to provide drivers with flexibility in choosing their holiday schedules. Drivers have several options for customizing their Thanksgiving shifts:
- Opt out of the holiday completely and take the day off unpaid
- Request just a few hours on Thanksgiving to earn extra money
- Work an entire standard shift to maximize holiday pay
- Split a shift before/after Thanksgiving meals and celebrations
Drivers also can swap and adjust routes and delivery areas based on preferences. Amazon ultimately aims for enough coverage to meet customer demand while accommodating drivers’ needs.
Do Amazon drivers enjoy the quieter roads on holidays?
Many Amazon drivers say they enjoy the lighter traffic and pedestrian activity on major holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas when many people are at home celebrating.
Key advantages of reduced road congestion according to drivers:
- Faster delivery times and ability to complete more routes
- Reduced driver stress from heavy traffic
- Safer conditions with fewer cars on the road
- Easier access and parking for deliveries
The quieter roads can make holiday routes more enjoyable and efficient. Though some drivers still prefer to have the day off regardless.
Conclusion
Amazon’s policy of delivering packages every day of the year, including on major holidays like Thanksgiving, sparks mixed reactions from employees. Drivers appreciate the ability to earn extra income but sometimes lament missing out on family time. For customers, Amazon’s Thanksgiving deliveries provide a convenience that has become an expected staple of holiday shopping. Balancing these factors will continue posing challenges for Amazon as the company weighs operational demands against worker satisfaction.