3 Causes of Frontline Worker Burnout and Why You Should Care

Across all industries, headlines screaming about “frontline worker burnout,” abound. Staffing shortages continue to be a problem, increasing the workload for already over-taxed staff. However, that’s not the only contributing factor. Employers need to consider additional causes of worker burnout, why they should care, and what they can do to help.

3 Causes of Frontline 

Aside from staffing shortages, three key contributing factors to burnout are lack of workplace safety, lack of necessary supplies and equipment, and feeling undervalued and unsupported. In many cases, workers are experiencing several of these at the same time, which has led to a steady decline in their overall mental health. Businesses are seeing the impact, with high turnover rates and staffing shortages across the board affecting their bottom lines.

In the recent 2024 “State of Employee Safety Report” from AlertMedia, a whopping 97% of employees reported that their physical safety at work is important to them. In fact, for the third year in a row, workplace safety trailed behind only compensation and benefits in importance. Eighty-six percent of employees have experienced an emergency at work, and 87% are worried a future emergency will occur, but almost one-third say they feel unprepared to navigate work emergencies, leading to feeling unsafe and uncared for by their employers.

In the healthcare sector, a survey completed by Vivian Health indicated that nearly one out of two nurses experienced workplace violence in the last year. And, roughly half of the healthcare frontline workers polled indicated that their employers had not implemented safety measures to protect them. In industries like manufacturing, warehousing, and operations, while workplace violence may not be the biggest worry, the physical safety of these mobile workers who often work in isolated areas or handle dangerous machinery is a real concern.

When it comes to employer support, a 2023 report from WorkHuman showed that 50% of employees only feel “somewhat valued,” and one in ten indicated they do not feel valued at all. In the supply chain and logistics industry, more than 60% have considered quitting in the last year because of feeling undervalued.

Related closely to feeling undervalued, a lack of transparency and communication has decreased employee trust in their employers. Shockingly, 71% of frontline workers do not have one central place to go for work communication, which means there is a large gap in knowledge sharing and collaboration and the increased chance of misinformation being shared and repeated. And 76% of employees feel that communication from their employers needs improvement, including when it comes to information about available resources or emergencies that might impact them.

Why Should You Care

When roughly half of the 100 million frontline workers in the US are feeling burned out, and more than a quarter are researching new job opportunities, employers need to start caring.  Forbes reports that of those who reported feeling burnout, 63% are more likely to take a sick day, and 23% are more likely to visit an emergency room. From a human perspective, caring for staff mental health and well-being is right. However, aside from that, employers face the risk of even larger staff shortages, turnover that affects the bottom line regarding the cost of recruitment and training, and an unmotivated staff who is likely to be less productive.

On the plus side, employers who focus on providing a positive working environment for their frontline workers, these key teammates can represent a motivated workforce that can not only bring value to the business but help improve growth. In fact, according to recent BCG research, when frontline workers are more satisfied on the job, they show a 17% increase in productivity, a 25% decrease in turnover, and a 41% decrease in absenteeism.

Additionally, in the healthcare industry, staffing shortages caused by worker burnout correlate with patient wait times, with 27.9% reporting that wait times will worsen without more staff. This has a huge effect not only on patient care but also on bed turnover, which can affect a hospital’s bottom line.

What Can Be Done

According to the report from Forbes, while the amount of work thrust upon these frontline workers is certainly a cause for burnout, the actual quality of the work experience matters three times more. This means that with some changes, employers can help to combat frontline worker burnout and improve the mental health and work lives of these critical employees.

With 71% of frontline workers reporting that they are dissatisfied with the technology they have to work with and 29.1% indicating that technological advancements could help improve job satisfaction, this is a good place to start. Fortunately, enterprise tools designed specifically for the mobile worker can help.

With an enterprise-grade smartphone like the Spectralink Versity 97 that was designed specifically for the needs of the mobile workforce, not only can two-way communication be improved between through the unmatched, AI-enabled voice calling, but communication can be centralized and accessible through the use of UC platform mobile applications like Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

If a Wi-Fi solution isn’t in the cards because of a business’ infrastructure, we still have an outstanding option with the best DECT solution available on the market. Spectralink DECT has unparalleled Microsoft Teams integration and also features Spectralink’s superior voice quality. This means that no matter what Spectralink solution being used, information can reach frontline workers in real-time.

And, employers do not have to worry about their data being compromised, because Versity has achieved Android Enterprise Recommended status, meeting the strictest security standards on the market, while our DECT platform meets Step B security standards.

Plus, when it comes to staff safety, not only can critical messages or emergency plans be shared immediately, but all three flavors of Spectralink enterprise mobility, including our 84 Series Wi-Fi feature phone, include built-in employee safety features. The Versity Series smartphones feature a red “panic button” that can be used to quickly and quietly summon help in the event of an emergency and can be programmed for many different safety protocols, while the 84 Series also has a programmable duress button. These devices also include additional safety features, especially for the mobile worker, including running and tilt notifications.

With Spectralink, deskless workers can be assured that they are receiving cutting-edge technology – we have been leading innovation in mobility for over 30 years. These devices were designed with deskless worker needs in mind. Not only are communication and safety covered, but through application integration, deskless workers are empowered to thrive on the job because many of their workflow tasks can be accomplished or monitored right from the Spectralink devices. Frontline workers won’t have to waste time finding computer stations to complete tasks or find information. Checklists can move from paper to digital, which is much easier to track and share with critical teammates and managers. And, frontline workers can also use these devices to help access training materials as well as mental health resources, proving to be a true one-stop shop for deskless workers’ critical needs.

Conclusion

When it comes to frontline worker burnout, employers must take action now. By neglecting the needs of their workforce, they are contributing to poor mental health and exhaustion that threatens productivity while simultaneously increasing the chances of their valued teammates quitting altogether. When considering the overall consequences of not investing in mobile technology to improve communication, safety, and productivity, helping employees feel supported, the cost of not doing so is much greater. It is a cost not only of continuously attracting and training staff, causing continuous interruption to the goals of the business and its bottom line, but also a cost to humanity.

If you want to learn more about how Spectralink mobility solutions can help prevent frontline worker burnout while protecting your bottom line, contact our team today.