Four drivers of frontline employee satisfaction and business results

A thriving business starts with an engaged workforce. Frontline employees don’t just want their pay packet each month — they want jobs that offer stability, opportunity, and respect. When companies provide fair wages, clear development pathways, and meaningful benefits, employees show up — and they stay, grow, and contribute at higher levels. But with limited resources, where should companies focus to make the biggest impact? Using advanced analytics, our research pinpoints the key actions that move the needle on employee satisfaction, engagement, and intent to stay.

Why should companies invest in improving employee experiences? It’s simple — frontline employees are the backbone of industries worldwide, but in today’s talent-driven market,¹ attracting, retaining, and developing them is a continual challenge. Many hold roles with a “sticky floor”² — characterized by low wages, limited benefits, and few opportunities for advancement. These roles are disproportionately held by women, people from marginalized racial and ethnic groups, and those without higher education degrees.³ By creating good jobs — offering meaningful job rewards and building career ladders for employees to chart a path to job satisfaction — companies can eliminate long-standing barriers and reap the benefits in the form of greater engagement, commitment, and retention.