Retail and logistics workers are facing heightened strain as the holiday shopping season ramps up, with labor advocates warning that economic uncertainty, aggressive use of AI for scheduling and automation, and tighter staffing levels are creating a “perfect storm” on the front lines.

“The holiday season has always been a time of great pressure on retail workers — this year, that pressure is compounded by new challenges, " said Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) president Stuart Appelbaum in a November 5 release, where he pointed to shrinking seasonal hiring despite strong demand, in addition to elevated theft concerns and growing customer aggression driven by a challenging economic landscape.

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Appelbaum also voiced concerns about conditions in e-commerce warehouses, including Amazon facilities, where he said algorithmic oversight and demanding productivity systems have been pushing workers to their limits. He accused the tech giant of union-busting and failing to hire enough staff, and contributing to on-the-job injuries and burnout. 

Entering into the holiday season, Appelbaum called on retailers, lawmakers and shoppers to strengthen worker protections and regulate AI-driven labor practices, and for shoppers to “treat workers with dignity and respect every day of the year.”

"Employers must ensure safe staffing levels, security, and clear protocols for handling aggression, and shoppers must remember kindness costs nothing, but it means everything," he said.