Frontline workers keep quitting? The key is likely your frontline managers

Wages and benefits have always been important to keeping frontline workers, but compensation isn’t everything. A major reason behind frontline workers quitting is dissatisfaction with their managers. 

People don’t leave bad companies, they leave bad managers. While bad managers have always been a problem – supervisor quality appears to be worsening.

What’s changed? High turnover has accelerated how fast retailers and supply chains promote workers to managers. In fact, 40% of frontline managers are leading for the first time.

Through no fault of their own, these fairly inexperienced managers don’t come prepared or trained to lead. Newbie managers are more likely to lack the basics of people management and struggle to give constructive feedback, have difficult conversations or fully engage their teams.

This skills gap is no secret to frontline managers who, along with workers, are quitting in droves. Even Walmart can’t find enough store managers despite $200,000 a year of pay.

Some retailers report up to 65% of their frontline managers quitting. It’s like running a sports team but the players and the coaches are constantly changing.

What can be done to keep workers loyal and keep frontline managers from quitting?

We need to guide new managers to effectively coach one-on-one and build their managerial skills.

Why does one-on-one coaching matter to the frontline? Workers report being more engaged in their work and more positive about their supervisor, directly impacting workforce productivity and retention.

And technology can help support the unique coaching necessary at the fast-moving frontline. With Smart Access’ frontline performance management platform, we equip frontline managers with mobile tools to:

• Consistently coach workers one-on-one on the job and build their managerial skills
• Observe workers at the frontline and digitally document strengths and improvements needed
• Provide workers tips to improve and links to micro skill-building videos, with reminders to learn
• See gaps and progress among all workers, with alerts on issues unresolved

Close the skills gap for your frontline managers with Smart Access

We help retailers, supply chain & logistics organizations and manufacturers improve worker productivity and retain workers longer. Imagine all of your frontline managers have the skills and tools to spot and improve workforce gaps at the frontline – and that impact on operations performance.

We can have Smart Access in place in just 8 weeks. Take the first step: book a meeting.