PostNL continues to run at full capacity to handle extra volumes
Parcel sorting
PostNL is pulling out all the stops to deliver all mail and parcels on time in the hectic next few weeks. The busy peak season invariably involves additional measures being taken. And last Saturday, the Netherlands government announced a strict lockdown, requiring non-essential shops to close until at least mid-January. The additional measures PostNL already has taken for peak season will be extended to absorb the extra pressure.
Increased delivery capabilities until mid-January
More people
One thing PostNL is currently working on is to get in more people to help deliver mail and parcels over the next few weeks. It is investigating the option of offering work to people who are temporarily out of work because of this latest lockdown, as it did in the December 2020. As well as deliverers, this also involves drivers and sorting centre workers.
Health and safety first
Being extremely busy, PostNL may come very close to maximum network capacity on certain days going forward, and it may occasionally take longer for parcels to be delivered than usual. This will really depend on how much more people order online with non-essential shops closed until at least mid-January – PostNL is and will remain in close contact with webstores about the state of play. At this point, it is unclear what the impact of the Omicron variant will be on employee absence through illness, but the health of employees at its sorting centres and other locations will of course come first. In other words, everyone should be able to continue to do their jobs safely.
PostNL points open during lockdown
Shops hosting a PostNL point are allowed to remain open for collecting and dispensing mail and parcels, and for selling ordinary and festive-season stamps. Owners will receive extra compensation from PostNL for keeping these points open, on top of their usual fees.
Source: PostNL