If our latest State of the Frontline Workforce report taught us anything, it’s that we can never know enough about the thoughts and experiences of frontline teams. By collecting selected insights into an additional Country Comparison edition, we’ve gained a valuable glimpse into how workforces around the globe navigate their daily challenges, manage stress, and balance their work and personal lives.
We analyzed these findings to predict trends that will shape the future of the global frontline workforce.
Mental wealth
Work-related stress is one of the key issues frontline workers grapple with, with Germany (85%) and the United States (82%) reporting the highest levels. As mental health awareness proves it’s not just a fad, we predict more businesses will prioritize mental health initiatives.
Expect to see more organizations offering support and resources, encouraging better work-life balance, and bringing in policies to reduce workplace stress. Prioritizing the mental health of frontline workers will ultimately lead to a happier, more productive workforce with reduced turnover rates.
Top causes of stress
One of the more troubling finds to emerge from the report is that many frontline workers report struggling to make ends meet. This stressor was particularly prevalent in Finland (40%) and the United States (39%). Other workers reported that their stress levels were heightened by working too many hours, with the Danes (27%) feeling most overworked, followed by the Swedes (20%) and the Germans (20%). Finland (12%) reported the lowest level of stress resulting from work overload.
Frontline workers are the backbone of your business, and there’s tough competition to attract top talent. Businesses that recognize this will focus on fostering an open and honest workplace where employees can raise concerns and get the support they need. Management can ease stress triggered by overwork by more effectively managing task delegation. By implementing a single platform for task management and communication, workloads can be fairly and efficiently handled, reducing the need for employees to work overtime.
Tech-powered teams
There will be no ignoring the tech and AI juggernaut, with digital tools promising to reshape frontline work in the years to come. Frontline workers, however, reported mixed feelings about the integration of tech into their daily work lives. Norway expressed the most optimism (69%) while in a somewhat surprising turnout, its Nordic neighbor and tech hub Sweden, which is often regarded as a country of early adopters, was the least optimistic (42%).
Employers can retain the trust and loyalty of their frontline teams by alleviating any fears about job displacement and providing rigorous training programs to ensure a smooth transition.
One platform fits all
A staggering three in four of the frontline workers we polled reported dissatisfaction with the tech provided by their employer. Although 2023 saw a decrease in the number of apps used – from 32% of workers using four or more apps to 16% – there is still a pressing need for more streamlined and efficient solutions.
We predict a major shift towards unified platforms that consolidate these functions. Implementing a workforce management software like Quinyx Frontline Portal can simplify your workers’ daily tasks by integrating scheduling, communication, and task management into a single platform. Streamlining their to-dos and opening a feedback loop between HQ and the frontline will enhance communication, increase efficiency, and boost employee engagement.
Meeting these challenges
Try the following strategies to better support your frontline employees:
- Enhance mental health support: introduce initiatives such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or implement more flexible scheduling
- Address financial strain: regularly review and adjust wages and offer more comprehensive benefits packages
- Manage work overload: use a workforce management software for efficient task delegation and better oversight of staffing scheduling and shortages
- Integrate technology: provide comprehensive training programs and clearly define the role of tech in your employees’ day-to-day roles
- Streamline tech platforms: implement an all-in-one workforce management platform and encourage feedback and communication between frontline teams and HQ
Takeaways
Several key areas look set to dominate the world of frontline work. Companies worldwide will increasingly focus on mental health support, aiming to ease work-related stress and foster better work-life balance. Employers who are in a position to offer better pay and benefits will reap the rewards of attracting top talent and retaining valuable existing members of staff.
Regardless of location, adoption of tech will only continue to pick up pace. Companies who succeed in seamlessly integrating new solutions are set to make the biggest wins. The most forward-thinking will look towards an all-in-one digital platform to streamline daily task management and nurture stronger relationships with frontline teams.
The businesses that heed these trends and invest in their frontline workers will be in the best position to succeed in an evolving landscape.
Discover how frontline workforces across different nations navigate challenges and drive success. Read the full Country Comparison edition here.