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UPS plans ‘Brown Friday’ for temps

There’s Black Friday — also known as the day after Thanksgiving — when shoppers swamp stores in search of holiday bargains. And then there’s its online cousin, Cyber Monday. This year, UPS is planning “Brown Friday,” a blitz to hire almost 40,000 seasonal workers in one day.

On Oct. 19, UPS will hold 170 job fairs across the US as part of the effort. The company also has online applications, and the roles will be for package handlers, drivers and driver-helpers. UPS noted the jobs also have the possibility of turning full-time, CEO David Abney started as a part-time worker. And 128,000 current UPS employees started their careers as seasonal employees — a third of the company’s workforce.

Overall, UPS plans to hire 100,000 workers for this holiday season.

“Just about everyone has heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but for anyone looking for a great seasonal job this holiday season, UPS Brown Friday promises the first good deal of the season,” Stefond Harris, VP, human resources, said in a statement. “Many of those who come to one of our job fairs this Friday could be signed up for a seasonal role by Monday.”

UPS is just one company hiring seasonal contingent workers this year.

The National Retail Federation reported that US retailers are expected to hire between 585,000 and 650,000 temporary workers this holiday season, up from 582,500 last year.

Still, the NRF’s data show hiring this year is expected to be down [1] from the post-recession high of 764,700 in 2013, but above the low of 263,800 in 2008.

Individual companies have also announced hiring plans, including retailer Target with plans to bring in 120,000 workers for jobs that will pay at least $12 per hour, FedEx Corp.’s intention to hire 55,000 and Macy’s plans to hire 80,000. And, in the UK, the Royal Mail intends to hire 23,000 temporary workers.

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