Today, it’s two well-known air and ground delivery firms for Comparably’s Culture Showdown: UPS vs. FedEx. But there are big differences here. UPS’ employees are unionized, most of FedEx’ workers are not. UPS uses their own employees for all work, while FedEx deals often with independent contractors. UPS uses just one network for all their deliveries, while FedEx has multiple networks under their brand: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, etc. And leadership at both companies surely have sleepness nights centered on Amazon disrupting them. But how do workers at both companies feel about their jobs and they way they are treated? Let’s take a look at Comparably’s wide-ranging employee-submitted data for both companies.
OVERALL CULTURE
FedEx beats UPS for overall culture by a relatively slim margin, 72-64.
A UPS driver writes, “As a driver it’s nice to be able to make people happy and help them out if you have the time. That and you’re basically your own boss when you’re behind the wheel delivering.” Another driver says, “People come and go all the time but all of us full time drivers are like family. We grow old together as we complete the daily mission year after year.” Another employee would like to see “a better work/life balance. Less than a 12-14 hour day.”
About working for FedEx, employees write that “the culture has always been people, service, product” and “It’s fast paced. You always have help. It is a home away from home.” Another pines a bit for the company culture of the past, suggesting that things are changing for the worse: “There was a time when we had bowling leagues, golf leagues and other team building activities. No one in management is supporting this.”
CEO & LEADERSHIP
FedEx’s Frederick Smith fairly trounces UPS chief exec David Abney, winning by 21 points.
About the leadership at UPS, one employee complains that “communication and employee satisfaction needs to improve.” Another says leadership should be stricter about “firing people for throwing people’s packages! It’s supposed to be an automatic termination, but none of the managers or upper management do anything about people doing it!”
FedEx leadership is “fair but firm,” according to one worker.“They set expectations then allow you to proceed without micromanaging.” Another says that management needs to“Eradicate the ‘old boys club’ mentality so that there is less hostility and silo management.” Another says,“They try to keep us updated with meetings, although it’s hard because I work nights and do not see the center manager often.”
COMPENSATION
UPS wins here, beating FedEx’s Compensation score by five percentage points.
One employee says UPS offers “great pay.” Another calls the company’s compensation “a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay.” Dissenting voices include one employee who writes, “They underpay everyone. The cost per package is literally .12 to .40 cents and we’re paying people $50.00 to unload four 45ft. trailers in 3.5 hours.”
From FedEx, one worker writes that they are “happy with the pay and the 401k plan with company contributions.” Another is thankful for the “opportunity to earn additional salary and OT pay if you work hard enough.” A third writes that “the pay is not enough for what we do and all the hours worked.”
PERKS & BENEFITS
Neither shipping company scored particualrly high, with UPS squeaking out another win by two points, 61-59.
“As a full time driver, my benefits include health insurance, life insurance, two weeks vacation plus additional paid days off and family leave if necessary. The benefits are very nice but they come at a cost. Usually long hours and often very physically demanding. Overall, if you can handle hard work, it is a worthwhile trade off,” writes one helpful UPS employee. Another writes that they love that they are “getting paid to stay fit.” A third says, “After one year you are eligible for healthcare benefits. A stock purchasing program is available at a 10% discount to employees.”
From FedEx, one employee writes, “We’re an airline, so we have benefits with other airlines and hotels. We also get corporate discounts with Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.” Another writes, however, that “drivers have no benefits. They are not considered FedEx employees.” An employee from Operations writes that at his level he gets “health insuarance and retirement compensation.”
GENDER
FedEx takes the lead again with a 9-point win for Gender.
“This industry is male dominated. Women make up 5% of operations,” writes one UPS employee.
While FedEx won, a few comments suggest there is still room for improvement: “The leadership team needs to treat women equally,”and – most stridently – “FedEx does not have a place for women.”
DIVERSITY
FedEx also wins for their Diversity, beating UPS by six points.
A UPS worker says the company hires “Vast diversity. Big, small, male, female, all races, all religions, sexual orientation, old, young and physical disabled.”
FedEx’s work force holds “a lot of diversity,” according to our final employee commentator. “All types of different people and cultures.”
