Work environment beats culture for frontline employees

Note: this blog was initially published in July 2024. We are repeating it now in preparation for an update from Ben Green about internal communication at the August 14 Partner for Success workshop. You can register for the free workshop here.

The workforce shortage is top-of-mind for employers of all sizes. Currently, there are four people for every five job openings, giving people the power of choice in the job selection process. Retaining workers has become an increasing challenge with costly consequences for companies with high turnover rates.

The challenge is especially daunting with frontline workers who can easily jump from one employer to another. According to Ben Green of TrailPath Workplace Solutions, 45% of today’s frontline workers feel they are either declining or just surviving in their positions. Green presented data from his company’s 5,000+ employee surveys from companies across the country to NKY Works Focus Area 5 – Employer Best Practices on July 16, 2024. He said the turnover rate for frontline workers is 47% and even higher – as high as 400% - in the first 90 days of employment.

“We hear a lot about workplace culture, and it is important. But companies often invest a lot of time and energy to build a good culture. What workers tell us, however, is that what they experience on a daily basis on the job floor does not align with the culture,” he said. “If the culture is great, but the work environment is bad, they will leave.”

Communication is very often the problem. Green has found that employees often don’t understand why their company follows certain policies and procedures. Usually there are very good reasons behind the policies, and company leaders can easily explain the “why” behind them. But the explanation is not getting to the frontline staff.“Across the board, employees tell us they want more interaction with their leaders. They want to see them, they want to be able to ask questions, and they want to feel ‘seen’ by them,” Green said.

Green recommends individual plans to address workplace issues. “With four generations now working side by side and changing attitudes about the role of work in people's lives, it is critical that companies view their workers as individuals who have a lot to offer and a lot of expectations at the same time.”Green, a long-time Northern Kentucky resident, and his partners started TrailPath Workforce Solutions in January. Green previously spent nearly 20 years in the logistics industry, working for Uber Freight and LeanCor Supply Chain Group. Learn more about TrailPath at https://www.trailpathws.com/————————————————————————————————————————

Green will provide updated information about internal communication, particularly as relates to frontline employees, at the Partner for Success workshop on Thursday, August 14, 1:30-3:00 PM. Register here. Contact NKYWorks@NKADD.org with questions.