Postal workers share tips as Black Friday kicks off busy delivery season

Black Friday sales kick start the busiest period for postal and delivery workers as shoppers load up on bargains and gifts. As these employees start working round the clock to get parcels to homes, some offered tips for anyone expecting a package this season. 

"It's amazing how much it has changed over the years to accommodate the increase of parcels and online shopping," said Alma Deveau, a 25-year veteran at the Canada Post plant in London, Ont. where she currently works as a clerk.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly how many parcels pass through the Highbury Avenue facility at this time of year, but Deveau said it's a lot.

"When I first started here, we literally handled one parcel at a time," she said. "We now have some machines that help us out and read them much faster than we ever could and keep it flowing." 

While the machines can help to handle demand, there's always a chance that human error will slow it down. Sometimes, the error is the sender's.

Deveau's tip is to double check the accuracy of labels and to add a phone number to the package. 

"That way we can make that phone call to correct anything that needs to be corrected and not send it back to somebody," Deveau said, noting Canada Post tries hard to make sure mail arrives at the right destination. 

It's no easy task delivering the mail, said longtime letter carrier Albert Tiseo who has done the job for 35 years. He walks up to 30 km/day carrying as much mail at a time as he can handle. 

He explains that the holiday season brings extra hazards for letter carriers, including navigating stairs and snow covered walkways when it's dark earlier than usual.

His tip to residents is to scan the surroundings for hazards and shovel. He also says Christmas lights can be a surprise problem for delivery people unfamiliar with the surroundings.

"A lot of people have cords going across the lawns. Just be aware of your surroundings," Tiseo said. 

There's no breaks for letter carriers during the season, and they are now starting to work weekends as parcels are sent in celebration of numerous cultural holidays, aside from Christmas.

Tiseo said it's worth it. 

"The best part is just seeing the reaction of when you go to the door to bring them their parcel or their Christmas card," he said.