18 Pros and Cons of Working for UPS

Packages need to be delivered for residential and commercial reasons alike.

When you work for UPS, you can be a part of the shipping industry.

The company offers a number of benefits, but there are also some downsides to working for them.

Getting to know the pros and cons alike will help you determine if you should work for UPS.

Pros of Working for UPS

UPS has become a well-known express delivery company since 1907.

With such a long history, there are many pros to working for UPS.

1. Pay is Good

The pay at UPS is extremely competitive.

Hourly and salary positions are available, and all are paid generously above minimum wage.

As employees grow and climb the corporate ladder, compensation and benefits rise as well.

This allows you to be paid well for all of your hard work within the company.

2. There Is a Great Benefits Package

Benefits are significant, and much of this has to do with the company’s core values that focus on humility, integrity, and philanthropy.

The benefits package that you receive will vary depending upon whether you are an hourly or salaried employee.

Even part-time hourly employees are eligible for healthcare coverage.

Additionally, you will have access to a retirement package so that you are set in your later years.

3. The Company is Diverse

Diversity is a primary focus for UPS.

This allows you to comfortably apply for a position knowing that you are not going to be passed up simply because of your background.

The diverse workforce focuses on diversity regarding gender, religion, culture, race, age, education, and even physical ability.

With so many different positions, they can accommodate everyone.

4. Tuition Reimbursement is Offered

Education is important for UPS, which is why they offer tuition reimbursement.

This has the potential to save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your career and provide you with critical knowledge that can help you to climb the corporate ladder faster.

The tuition assistance program is available to both part-time and full-time employees.

There are also on-demand online courses within the company’s learning management system.

5. Growth Opportunities are Abundant

There are all sorts of growth opportunities at UPS, primarily due to the global network that they have created over the years.

They hire from within, and many employees who started at the bottom are now in key positions in management.

As a result, many people choose to work their entire career with UPS because of the internal hiring practices that are present.

6. Locations are Everywhere

Locations for UPS warehousing, distribution centers, and more are found all over the United States as well as throughout North America, South America, and beyond.

This allows you to move while still being able to work for UPS.

In some instances, you may even be asked to transfer to a new facility within the company – and enjoy an all-expenses-paid move.

7. You Can Own Stock

You have the ability to grow your wealth by owning stock.

UPS provides a Discounted Employee Stock Purchase Program that allows you to purchase stocks in order to enjoy long-term ownership within the company.

This can be a considerable benefit, especially when you pair it with the 401(k) plan that is also offered by UPS.

8. The Company is Stable

The company has been around for over 100 years, which offers a significant amount of stability.

When you consider how many companies fold after a few years, it can make you hesitant to accept jobs with new companies.

UPS has solidified its position as a reliable shipping company, so you can accept a position with them confidently knowing that they will likely be around for another hundred years or more.

9. You Will Meet People

Regardless of the position that you accept with UPS, you will meet people.

If you are a driver, you will meet various residents and business owners on your regular delivery route.

If you work within one of the offices, you will meet some amazing and talented people that you will work with on a daily basis.

Additionally, many of the UPS locations offer teambuilding, family picnics, and more so that you can get to meet more of the people within the organization.

10. The Company is Unionized

There is an employee union within UPS, which is purely for your benefit.

It ensures that there is someone behind the scenes fighting for all of your rights.

If you feel as though you are not getting the appreciation that you deserve, the pay that others are receiving, or something else, there is a union representative for you to talk to.

The union is also what provides favorable working conditions in comparison to other companies.

Cons of Working for UPS

UPS, otherwise known as United Parcel Service or Big Brown, can be a great company to work for – but you have to know what you are getting yourself into.

Knowing the cons can help you to go in with a full understanding of what the job will entail.

1. It Is a Lot of Heavy Lifting

Many of the positions within UPS are physically demanding.

If you are in a warehouse, you may be doing a lot of heavy lifting from the boxes that come in.

If you are a delivery driver, you may be carrying heavy boxes to people’s front doors.

Even beyond the lifting, you may spend a significant amount of time on your feet.

By the end of the day, you will be physically exhausted.

In the long term, you may encounter back pain and other problems.

2. Overtime Might Be Mandatory

Around the holidays, more people are shipping packages.

However, the deadlines do not change.

The company may require you to work longer hours, have fewer breaks, and even work more days in a week.

While you will be generously compensated for this overtime, it can have a negative impact on your work-life balance.

3. You May Be Asked to Pitch In

Not all locations are properly staffed, which means that you may be asked to pitch in to avoid shipment delays.

Punctuality is a critical component for UPS, and they do not allow shortages to be an excuse.

As such, you may be asked to go outside of your traditional job description periodically, which can include anything from driving a truck to handling customer service calls.

4. The Noise Levels are High

The noise can be almost too much to handle in a number of different positions.

Especially if you are working in one of the warehouses or on the loading dock, you will be constantly around the beeping of forklifts and bustle of any employees working around you.

If you are a driver, you may also be dealing with a lot of traffic noises.

The company does focus on hearing protection, but it may not be enough.

5. You Are Often Micromanaged

UPS has been known to micromanage many of its employees because they are concerned about numbers as well as delivery times.

This can create a significant amount of work-related stress.

Although something is not your fault, management may put pressure on you to help fix it.

You may feel as though you are under a microscope, even though your performance is top-notch.

6. There is the Risk of Getting Injured

UPS has various positions where you will have a high risk of getting injured.

If you are a driver, you may spend a significant amount of your day sitting in traffic.

Although most people will see you since you are in a big brown truck, there is still the likelihood of you getting into a car accident.

Even if you are in one of the sorting facilities, there is a lot of machinery around, increasing your risks.

7. Environment Can Vary

The environment that you work in can vary throughout the year and throughout your career.

You will have to work in the rain and in the snow.

You may spend half of your day indoors and the other half outdoors.

As you move up the corporate ladder, you may spend more of your day sitting in a cubicle staring at a computer.

Knowing that your environment can change can make it hard to know what you are getting yourself into when you start with the company.

8. High Turnover

Some of the lower-end positions with UPS have a high turnover.

Much of this has to do with people picking up jobs to get them through the holidays.

Once the holidays are over, they quit.

The problem with this is that it can be harder on you because you will spend more time training employees, knowing that they will be leaving in a few months.

You may find that you spend more time training than actually being able to do your job to the fullest.

Pros and Cons of Working for UPS – Summary Table

Pros of Working for UPS	Cons of Working for UPS
1. Pay is Good	1. It Is a Lot of Heavy Lifting
2. There Is a Great Benefits Package	2. Overtime Might Be Mandatory
3. The Company is Diverse	3. You May Be Asked to Pitch In
4. Tuition Reimbursement is Offered	4. The Noise Levels are High
5. Growth Opportunities are Abundant	5. You Are Often Micromanaged
6. Locations are Everywhere	6. There is the Risk of Getting Injured
7. You Can Own Stock	7. Environment Can Vary
8. The Company is Stable	8. High Turnover
9. You Will Meet People
10. The Company is Unionized

Should You Work for UPS?

Many employees love working for UPS because of the benefits.

You will have to consider the individual responsibilities for your job as well as the downsides to see if it will offer the kind of balance that you are looking for.

By weighing the pros and cons, you can choose to accept a job with UPS knowing all that there is to know.