The Frontline Gap: Insights for Manufacturing

For the manufacturing industry, frontline workers are absolutely critical. They’re the factory workers, machine operators, and maintenance technicians who ensure your product is made safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards – keeping your supply chain running smoothly, your profit margins high, and your customers happy.

But like their frontline peers in other fields, they’re facing what we call the ‘Frontline Gap’ – a real disconnect between desk-based teams and those on the ground. It can leave them feeling left out, unheard, or unsupported.

To understand the impact of this gap – and how to fix it – we surveyed 7,500 global frontline workers across multiple industries, including more than 780 from manufacturing.

We found that 52% of all frontline workers in manufacturing say their company cares more about office workers than them.

And if unaddressed, the growing dissatisfaction caused by the Frontline Gap can result in higher attrition and turnover, damage to your employer brand and reputation, and a decline in customer service and overall experience.

Here's a sneak peek at our findings:

• 1 in 5 feel they’re rarely or never recognized for their work
• 47% feel they have a bigger impact than their office colleagues but aren’t recognized for it
• Only 14% are certain their company culture applies to them
• 39% say their company doesn’t care about them as a person
• Only 40% say their company culture feels real to them

Download the report to explore the key challenges affecting frontline retail worker engagement and discover practical insights to help close these gaps within your teams.