Four drivers of frontline employee satisfaction and business results: United Kingdom spotlight

Frontline employees make up 45% of the UK workforce — approximately 16.7 million people¹ — yet many face low wages, restricted benefits, and limited opportunities for growth. Women, who hold 43% of these roles,² are particularly affected, often receiving fewer development opportunities.³ As a result, nearly half (46%) of frontline employees consider quitting on tough days,⁴ and 40% cite pay as their top reason for leaving.⁵ This equates to roughly 6.9 million frontline employees at risk of not showing up to work tomorrow, placing immense strain on businesses and the wider economy. The cost of inaction is steep — an estimated £283.6 billion in potential turnover expenses.⁶ But wages alone don’t tell the full story — 52% of frontline employees feel advancement is out of reach, and only 49% believe they receive adequate training to progress.⁷

We surveyed 2,939 frontline employees and managers in the United Kingdom⁸ across a range of industries⁹ and quantified their satisfaction with five aspects of job rewards and growth opportunities: base pay, pay increases, benefits, job growth and development opportunities, and advancement.

Through our analysis, we found that respondents fell into two distinct profiles based on their level of satisfaction.¹⁰