The Unleash World conference, held in Paris, is a renowned global platform for HR innovation, bringing together thought leaders and industry experts to discuss the future of work. This year, our Managing Director, Claire Harrison, attended a session by John Kostoulas, VP of Market Positioning and Strategy at Dayforce, that addressed a pressing issue many businesses face: empowering managers to unlock value in the frontline workforce. As your trusted business consulting partner with expertise in HR services, we’ve summarised the key insights from this presentation and how they can help businesses improve their frontline workforce management.
The Topic: Empowering Managers to Unlock Value in the Frontline Workforce
Frontline workers, whether in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, or hospitality, are the backbone of many industries. However, businesses often struggle to engage and retain these essential employees. John Kostoulas’s presentation at Unleash World emphasised that empowering frontline managers through data-driven tools, flexible scheduling, and skill development programs can help companies unlock the full potential of their frontline workforce. This approach addresses a critical pain point for businesses: how to create an efficient and engaged frontline team that is both productive and satisfied.
The Problem Businesses Face
Frontline workers have long faced challenges that impact their performance, engagement, and retention. These include inconsistent scheduling, lack of internal mobility opportunities, financial stress, and poor work-life balance. Companies that fail to address these issues face high turnover, decreased productivity, and increased operational costs. Additionally, managers are often ill-equipped to deal with these challenges due to a lack of data, tools, and support from their organisations.
Kostoulas identified these core challenges, highlighting the need for businesses to adopt a more proactive approach to managing their frontline workforce. By empowering managers with the right tools, businesses can optimise scheduling, improve employee satisfaction, and enhance overall performance.
Solving the Problem: The Dayforce Solution
Dayforce offers a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to help managers address these pain points. At the core of the solution is the empowerment of frontline managers. With access to real-time data and insights, managers can make informed decisions about scheduling, compliance, and employee well-being. This not only increases operational efficiency but also drives employee engagement and retention.
Key areas addressed include:
- Flexible Scheduling: A significant challenge for frontline workers is managing their work-life balance. Inflexible schedules often lead to burnout and dissatisfaction. Dayforce enables managers to create flexible work schedules that consider employee preferences and availability, thereby increasing satisfaction and reducing turnover. This is especially relevant for businesses that rely heavily on shift-based workforces, such as retail and healthcare.
- On-Demand Pay: Financial stress is a key driver of employee turnover. Many frontline workers live paycheck to paycheck, and unexpected expenses can lead to financial instability. Dayforce’s on-demand pay solution allows employees to access their earned wages before payday, providing much-needed financial relief. This not only reduces financial stress but also improves employee retention.
- Internal Mobility and Skill Development: One of the most effective ways to retain employees is by offering them opportunities for growth within the company. Dayforce provides tools for internal mobility, helping employees develop new skills and advance their careers. This addresses the growing demand for career progression among frontline workers, who often feel stuck in their roles due to a lack of development opportunities.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Many managers struggle to make informed decisions because they lack access to real-time data. Dayforce’s platform empowers managers by giving them insights into employee performance, scheduling preferences, and compliance requirements. This data allows managers to make better decisions that positively impact both the business and its employees.
- Compliance Management: For businesses operating in highly regulated industries, compliance can be a significant challenge. Dayforce helps businesses stay compliant with labour laws, ensuring that scheduling, overtime, and employee benefits are all managed in accordance with regulations. This reduces the risk of costly penalties and improves overall workforce management.
Why This Matters for Employers
The impact of these solutions on businesses is clear. By addressing the core challenges that frontline workers face, employers can create a more engaged and productive workforce. The benefits include reduced turnover, increased employee satisfaction, and improved operational efficiency.
In industries like healthcare, where the well-being of the workforce directly impacts the quality of care provided, these solutions can be a game-changer. Similarly, in retail and hospitality, where high turnover and inconsistent scheduling can lead to poor customer service, empowering managers with the right tools can significantly improve both employee and customer experiences.
For employers, the message is simple: investing in your frontline workforce by empowering managers is no longer optional. It’s a necessity for business success. By adopting solutions like Dayforce, businesses can create a more resilient, agile, and engaged workforce, which ultimately leads to better business outcomes.
Claire’s Top 5 Take-outs
After attending John Kostoulas’s presentation at Unleash World, Claire Harrison, our Managing Director, has identified five practical strategies that businesses can implement to unlock the value of their frontline workforce.
- Implement Flexible Scheduling: Flexible work schedules are key to improving employee satisfaction and reducing turnover. By using data-driven tools, businesses can create more adaptable schedules that meet the needs of both the business and its employees.
- Offer On-Demand Pay: Financial stress is a major issue for many frontline workers. Implementing on-demand pay can help employees manage their finances better, reducing stress and increasing retention.
- Prioritise Internal Mobility: Employees want to grow within their organisations. Offering career development opportunities through internal mobility programs will help businesses retain talent and address skill gaps.
- Use Data to Drive Decision Making: Data is a powerful tool for managers. By giving managers access to real-time insights, businesses can improve decision-making around scheduling, compliance, and employee engagement.
- Ensure Compliance: Compliance with labour laws is crucial, especially in highly regulated industries. Businesses must invest in tools that help managers stay compliant with regulations to avoid penalties and ensure smooth operations.
Empowering managers to unlock value in the frontline workforce is essential for business success in today’s competitive environment. By implementing flexible scheduling, on-demand pay, internal mobility, and data-driven decision-making tools, businesses can create a more engaged and productive workforce. Claire Harrison’s top 5 take-outs provide practical steps that all businesses can follow to improve their frontline workforce management.
If you’d like to find out more about unlocking value in your frontline workforce as a business priority and/or Harrisons please contact us on 1300 001 447 or contact us.
Claire Harrison is the Founder and Managing Director of Harrisons, a flourishing HR consulting business that sprouted in 2009 from Claire’s passionate belief that inspiring leaders and superstar employees are the key success factor to any business. With over 20 years’ experience, Claire has worked as a HR Director of multi-national organisations, as a Non-Executive Board Director, and a small business owner. Claire’s corporate career includes working with companies such as BHP, Westpac, Fonterra and Mayne Nickless.
