Deskless workers are the unsung heroes of the workplace and despite making up 80 percent of the global workforce, these workers have been mostly ignored. However, leaders are finally acknowledging that deskless workers’ needs have been neglected in comparison to those of their desk-based coworkers and just how important their feedback, ideas, and general well-being are to the long-term viability and success of the company.
Deskless workers perform front-line work in industries such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and healthcare, all of which are experiencing record-high resignation rates, according to an elaborate global report by Oracle on the same topic. This article, based on the report, highlights the key takeaways that are relevant for an HR professional.
China, the world’s top exporter of goods, is facing its own manufacturing woes. As younger generations shun factory jobs and opt for white-collar jobs, factories are struggling to find workers.
What happened to deskless workers?
Deskless workers keep our society functioning as we rely on them for tasks that directly impact our everyday life, but the stress and harassment that many of them endured during the pandemic took a toll. Due to physical and mental exhaustion, 20,000 of Australia’s almost 400,000 nurses left the industry in 2021, causing a troubling shortage in the country. A spring 2021 survey of US hospitality workers who quit their jobs found that more than half wouldn’t return to their company for any amount of money, and a third said they had left the industry altogether.
The manufacturing sector in the US was severely impacted by the end of 2021, with a roughly 60 percent rise in workers resigning compared to pre-pandemic levels. The retail industry continues to experience significant turnover amid record inflation and a continuing global pandemic.
China, the world’s top exporter of goods, is facing its own manufacturing woes. As younger generations shun factory jobs and opt for white-collar jobs, factories are struggling to find workers. For businesses to survive and succeed, the global economy to grow, and our supply chain to function seamlessly, it is critical to be able to hire and retain deskless workers. The employee experience needs to undergo drastic changes—and they must be made now.
What can be done?
According to a Meta’s Workplace poll, 74% of deskless employees think there are obstacles to communication at work. In India, 95% of deskless workers experience barriers to communication at work.
Also Read: Here’s How UKG India Is Helping Organisations Bring Employee Experience To Blue Collar Workers
Here are six steps to create a better employee experience for your deskless workers.
1. Consistently hear feedback and act on it: Pulse surveys are a crucial tool that HR can use to identify goals and pinpoint the key distinctions between the employee experiences of desk-based employees and those who work from home.
2. Make sure to communicate with purpose and make it simple for staff to take action
Effective communication must be transparent and a two-way street. The majority of deskless workers said that their employers rarely or never pay attention to their suggestions, even though they wish to contribute to their organizations. Being in the field and working face-to-face with customers gives frontline workers unique insights into process improvements, which surveys can capture.
3. Boost employee well-being for deskless workers: Most people without desks have multifaceted, physically demanding jobs. Yet only 6% of manufacturing companies, compared to 21% of technology companies and 29% of professional services firms, organize their daily operations to allow employees time to rest, reinvent, and innovate. This is a recipe for burnout and accidents.
4. Create great leaders: Workers without desks need support, inspiration, and understanding. They also require bosses that care about their welfare and mentor them so they can perform their jobs more effectively. But great managers aren’t born—they’re made. Managers and supervisors must receive training to actively engage and support the workforce if organizations are committed to improving the deskless workforce’s employee experience.
In addition to providing career development tools, it’s vital for organizations to block off time for deskless workers to upskill while on the clock. Offering tuition reimbursement for courses and degrees related to business needs is worth considering as well.
5. Create more opportunities for deskless workers: Organizations may find it challenging to train and advance the careers of deskless workers since they frequently have irregular schedules, don’t always have access to computers, and are unable to spend an extended period of time away from their workstations. Organizations, however, can no longer afford to make excuses, given the current state of the talent market.
In addition to providing career development tools, it’s vital for organizations to block off time for deskless workers to upskill while on the clock. Offering tuition reimbursement for courses and degrees related to business needs is worth considering as well.
6. Real-Time learning can improve the performance of deskless workers: Customer satisfaction can be directly impacted by frontline staff’s performance. Hence they need real-time learning opportunities to acquire crucial skills that will enhance employee performance and guarantee the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Also read: How the EMS Industry Is Creating An Army of Blue-Collared Workers
Businesses need to take action right away
Every company with deskless workers should feel compelled to reconsider and redesign their employee experience to offer support that meets the expectations of their people and the labor market.
Deskless workers’ experience is intrinsically linked to an organization’s bottom line. But if your organization struggles to hire and keep deskless workers, your productivity, efficiency, and morale suffer. Ultimately, so do your customers, which means they won’t be loyal for long.
