However, the organisation’s workforce has been reduced by 20% during the same period.
Unusually, Islanders may have therefore seen postal vans out and about on Sunday catching up on deliveries from Liberation Day.
According to the company’s postal and logistics managing director, Niall McClure, that willingness to pull out all the stops to get the job done has epitomised the workers’ attitudes to getting packages delivered during the pandemic.
As soon as the lockdown restrictions were imposed, one in five of Jersey Post’s staff were sent home because they were classed as vulnerable.
Despite letter volumes being down by 20%, the number of parcels coming into the Island has risen by up to 15% – meaning it has been all hands to the pump at times.
Royal Mail delivery numbers in the UK are also up despite postal workers there no longer delivering letters on a Saturday.
Mr McClure explained: ‘We had 51 people out on Sunday catching up with all the bank holiday stuff.
‘It has been really busy and like everyone we have had to adapt to things.
‘We had 20% of the workforce go straight away as they were in the vulnerable category. Now some of them are coming back this week, but we still have others off.
‘All staff are responsible for the cleaning of their own vans at the end of the day.
‘We have staggered start times to avoid the sorting office being too busy, and it has all worked well really.
‘Credit to the staff, admin and delivery staff. They have all been great, doing extra bits and working later to cover things.
‘It has been busy. It hasn’t been quite as challenging as in the UK, where they have had bigger loads and bigger issues.
‘But we have had a ten to 15% rise in parcels, and a different range of parcels, compared to letters, which are down as offices are closed.’
Mr McClure also praised the kindness of Islanders after the service was inundated with cards and gestures of goodwill for working through the crisis.
He added: ‘We’ve had letters and cards, and pizzas and cakes sent to us, which is great. It’s great to know the work is valued.’
