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The United Parcel Service has suspended a number of service guarantees in response to the spread of the coronavirus, which “has created unprecedented complexities” in the marketplace, the company announced Friday.

“Until further notice, we have suspended the UPS Service Guarantee for all shipments to any destination, at all service levels,” a statement from the company said. “As the effects of the coronavirus impact our infrastructure, we will continue to seek guidance from local and national government entities regarding applicable regulations.”

All of the suspensions have either taken effect or go into effect Friday.

Warehouse workers and delivery drivers are carrying the American economy on their backs. Not only has the outbreak of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, increased their workload, it creates dangerous working conditions that corporations have done little to mitigate. Temporary raises, the addition of hand sanitizer or the occasional canister of Lysol wipes, the hiring of new staff; the measures introduced by companies like Amazon and Wegman’s and others are piecemeal solutions. Workers, meanwhile, continue to expose themselves to COVID-19 in order to keep their jobs. Many still lack basic paid leave.

Some also worry that they may be helping spread COVID-19 to others. John, who loads UPS trucks at a facility in Philadelphia and is a member of the Teamsters, is symptomatic for the virus. He told Intelligencer by phone that he believes conditions at his workplace may threaten public health. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that the virus does not live long on cardboard surfaces; it seems to disintegrate on packages after about 24 hours. But dirty facilities and inadequate sick leave create hazards at work, and in turn, may prevent communities from containing the pandemic.

Around 120 stops a day, 120 to 140 miles a day and 500 to 700 miles a week.

That’s how far Ron Mackensen, a Port Huron UPS driver, travels for his job, and for 30 years he has driven accident free.

UPS has 10,411 drivers who have collectively traveled about 15 billion miles without so much as a fender-bender, according to a UPS press release. 

UPS is just one of many delivery services working through social isolation and the stay-at-home order.

Right now, people are relying on delivery services more than ever, and those still delivering are doing what they can to protect the well-being of their customers and employees. UPS is a designated ‘Critical Infrastructure Business’ and must continue to work as usual.

UPS says they update their employees regularly with recommendations to manage health risks. For example, social distancing. Inside all UPS facilities, space has been added between work stations and all employees. If a UPS employee does get sick, the company is allowing up to 10 days of compensation,

As many of us retreat into our homes to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, still more folks have to venture out to their necessary jobs.

Ben Hertle, 34, is one of those people. A UPS delivery driver in Maple Grove, Minnesota, by day and a musician at heart, Hertle is spreading joy by singing.

In a recent video posted to Facebook, he performed Lenny LeBlanc’s worship song, “There’s None Like You” as he sat in his UPS truck on break.

Hertle told TODAY he started out delivering groceries many years ago until he was laid off during the 2008 recession. He was able to land a job at UPS and has been working there ever since — but said he still has empathy for the workers losing their incomes this time around.