UPS hiring 100,000 holiday seasonal workers in 2026

UPS plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 holiday season, down 9% from 2025. The company is investing in automation and RFID technology to improve efficiency. UPS reported Q2 revenue of $22.8B and raised its full-year revenue forecast to $91.2B. Mastercard predicts 5.5% U.S. retail sales growth for the 2026 holiday season.

The EEOC filed lawsuits against Walmart and UPS, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Walmart is accused of failing to accommodate a deaf employee, while UPS is accused of refusing to hire a deaf man due to his disability or accommodation needs, according to the EEOC's complaints filed in Virginia.

UPS has secured an exclusive deal with TikTok Shop to handle no-box, no-label returns for US sellers, aiming to capture higher-margin business. The service uses UPS's Happy Returns subsidiary, offering shoppers convenient return options. Returns average 27% of a product's purchase price, with total retail returns reaching $850 billion in 2025. The partnership targets improving the shopping experience and reducing return fraud, benefiting both sellers and customers.

UPS partnered with TikTok Shop to offer no-box, no-label return services for U.S. sellers. The service aims to reduce return costs, which average 27% of product prices. TikTok Shop launched in the U.S. in 2023, attracting sellers like Ulta Beauty and PacSun. Happy Returns, used for the service, employs AI to detect fraudulent returns.

CEVA Logistics, a subsidiary of CMA CGM Group, partnered with a Chinese firm blacklisted by the US. The company was involved in shipping F-35 parts, some of which were reportedly diverted to Hong Kong. CMA CGM generates about 33% of its revenue from China and has a strategic agreement with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which is on the US Entity List.

United Parcel Service (UPS) stock fell 3.5% due to an analyst's price target reduction to $108 from $105, citing concerns over softer package volume, particularly from Amazon. The company's strategic shift away from lower-margin business also contributed to investor caution.