Zustellerinnen

Zustellerinnen are female delivery workers who perform route-based mail, newspaper, catalog, and package delivery for postal, media, and logistics companies in German-speaking countries. The term covers women who work for national postal services, private courier firms, and newspaper publishers, delivering items to households and businesses. The broader male form is Zusteller, while Zustellerinnen emphasizes the feminine plural.

Typical duties include sorting incoming mail, planning or following a delivery route, delivering letters, newspapers, and small parcels, and handling undelivered items. They may also collect items that require a signature or payment on delivery and assist with basic customer service on the doorstep. Modern Zustellerinnen use bicycles, vans, or foot routes, depending on the area and employer, and rely on digital devices to scan deliveries, confirm receipt, and navigate routes.

Working conditions are often physically demanding and involve exposure to various weather conditions, lifting or carrying parcels, and operating in urban and rural environments. The job requires good spatial orientation, time management, and adherence to traffic safety and postal regulations. In many countries, Zustellerinnen work as part of a larger delivery workforce whose hours can include early mornings, weekends, or peak periods around holidays.

Historically, postal delivery was male-dominated, but women have played a substantial and increasingly visible role since the mid- to late 20th century. The position remains essential for communication and commerce, with its importance growing alongside e-commerce and the demand for home delivery. In German-speaking regions, Zustellerinnen are commonly employed by national postal services and private logistics companies, often under national labor laws and collective agreements that cover pay, hours, and benefits.