Disengaged Employees: Are employers in touch with the needs of their frontline employees? Where is the disconnect and what are the impacts?

“Disengaged employees cost the world $7.8 trillion a year in lost productivity” – Gallup

The frontline employees of any organization are the backbone of its success. They interact with customers, create products, operate at the literal coalface and keep the business running. However, many employers fail to understand the needs of their frontline employees.

Infact, statistics show that frontline employees often feel unheard, undervalued and ignored by their employers.

  • One survey conducted by Gallup in 2021 found that only 36% of employees feel that their organizations care about their well-being.
  • A survey conducted by Work Institute in 2020 found that the top reason employees quit their jobs is due to issues with their managers.
  • According to a survey conducted by Hays in 2020, 46% of employees stated that they were not given the necessary resources to perform their job effectively.

This disconnect can have serious consequences for both the employees and the organization as a whole.

What causes the disconnect that leads to a culture of disengaged employees?

One major cause of the disconnect between employers and frontline employees is a lack of communication. Employers often fail to communicate directly and timeously with their employees, nevermind listen to their employees’ concerns or provide them with the necessary resources to do their jobs effectively. This can lead to a lack of engagement, low morale, high turnover rates and an increased race of workplace risks and injuries. Another factor that contributes to the disconnect is a lack of understanding of the day-to-day realities of frontline employees. This absolute focus on the bottom line can result in unrealistic expectations, high levels of stress, and a lack of recognition for their efforts.

The Impacts

The impacts of this disconnect can be severe. When frontline employees feel undervalued or ignored, they are more likely to become disengaged employees who are unproductive and at risk. This can lead to a decrease in customer satisfaction, decreased profits, and ultimately, a decline in the overall success of the organization.

What if it were different?

On the other hand, when employers are in touch with the needs of their frontline employees, they are more likely to experience a range of benefits, including:

  • Increased employee engagement and employee productivity
  • Lower turnover rates
  • Higher customer satisfaction
  • Improved reputation and brand image
  • Increased profitability

What can be done?

To bridge the gap between employers and frontline employees, organizations can take several steps, including:

  • Improving communication channels between employees and management, such as implementing regular check-ins, suggestion boxes, or employee surveys.
  • Providing adequate resources, training, and support to frontline employees to ensure they can do their jobs effectively.
  • Investing in technology and tools that can make work easier and more efficient for frontline employees.
  • Recognizing and rewarding employee contributions, such as through public acknowledgments.
  • Providing opportunities for career advancement and growth within the organization.

How to solve the problem of disengaged employees

Using a digital employee engagement app, for example, goes a long way to solving many of the issues that have been raised. The Wyzetalk platform, for example, enables employers to reach their frontline employees in real-time, wherever they are, from the convenience of a cell phone. This ensures that the right message gets to the right person at the right time. The platform provides employers with a fast and efficient method of communicating with employees and enables employees to provide feedback too. The solution has several other use cases, including the functionality to send out and receive surveys, provide learning information among others.

Furthermore, Wyzetalk’s solution can be integrated with existing systems so that rather than many different applications, employees have a single, easy to use interface, radically improving their day-to-day work lives, thus positively impacting their employee experience.

Key Takeaways

Employers who are in touch with the needs of their frontline employees are more likely to experience success and profitability. Unfortunately, many organizations struggle with the disconnect between management and employees, leading to a range of negative consequences, including many disengaged employees. To address this issue, employers can take steps to improve communication, provide necessary resources and support, and recognize employee contributions. By doing so, they can create a more engaged and productive workforce and ultimately, improve the success of the organization.

To find out how the Wyzetalk solution can help your organisation bridge the gap, talk to an expert today.