Showing Gratitude for the Frontline Workforce

Today’s post comes to us from Workforce Institute Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mullen, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, SPHR and includes a conversation featuring Workforce Institute board member, John Frehse.

I’ve been hooked on the new “Leadership in the Labor Shortage” video series (also known as “No Suits, No Slides”), and I was privileged to personally join the conversation for the latest episode.

In episode five, I join Workforce Institute advisory board member John Frehse, senior managing director at Ankura; Dave Gilbertson, a vice president at UKG; and Kylene Zenk, a director of industry marketing at UKG; for another great candid conversation.

We discuss the importance of showing gratitude for frontline workers, from emergency room nurses to retail store associates, who are doing essential work every day. Kylene wrote a standout article on this very topic last year, in the early days of the pandemic. We talk about the simple ways managers can show their appreciation, so employees know they’re managers are grateful for their service — and why doing right by your people is also good for your business.

Hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.

If you missed any episodes from the “No Suits, No Slides” series, you can view the entire lineup of episodes via the links below.

Episode 1: Hiring, Turnover, and the Economy

Episode 2: Where Did All the Workers Go? How Can We Get Them Back?

Episode 3: How Meaningful ESG Drives Performance: Part One

Episode 4: How Meaningful ESG Drives Performance: Part Two