Ask your frontline workers why they do what they do, and you will seldom if ever hear “because of the money.” They’ve chosen this work because they like caring for people and making a difference. At the same time, when the leave, money often is only part of their reason. In survey after survey, frontline workers say they want to feel valued, respected, and engaged.
So how can you support your frontline workers in a way that resonates with them? Consider these three steps:
- Streamline communications. Don’t bombard them with general emails and other communications. When possible, customize messaging to ensure they get the information they need and want. At the same time, give them an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.
- Offer flexible scheduling. Involve workers in creating their own schedules. Enable options such as job sharing, four-day workweeks, and parent-friendly workdays that enable them to be there for their kids after school.
- Provide opportunities for upward mobility. Invest in your workers. Look for ways to help them reach their goals and fulfil their professional dreams. Don’t assume you know what they want. For instance, not all CNAs want to be nurses; but they might enjoy training others or being the lead CNA on their unit.
