Celebrating Employee Appreciation Day: How to Show Your Frontline Workers You Care

Frontline employees are the backbone of many businesses, yet their satisfaction and retention remain persistent challenges. According to Legion’s 2024 State of the Hourly Workforce Report, half of hourly employees plan to leave their jobs within the next year, with that number jumping to 76% among workers aged 18-24. This staggering statistic underscores the urgent need for employers to enhance the work experience of their frontline teams.

This Employee Appreciation Day, show genuine care for hourly employees beyond treats in the break room. Employers must take meaningful action by providing greater schedule flexibility, modern communication tools, instant access to earned wages, and user-friendly mobile apps that empower workers with greater control over their schedules. Here’s how these key improvements can make a tangible difference in employee satisfaction and retention.

1. Provide Greater Schedule Flexibility

The ability to easily adjust and manage work schedules is one of the most significant factors in job satisfaction for hourly employees. According to Legion’s 2024 State of the Hourly Workforce Report, 50% of workers cited the inability to offer schedule flexibility as a major challenge in retention. Additionally, “I have a flexible schedule” ranked as the third most valued aspect of a job (52%).

Flexibility isn’t just a perk—it’s a necessity for a workforce juggling personal commitments, education, and even multiple jobs. Employers can meet this demand by implementing scheduling technology that allows employees to swap shifts, pick up extra hours, and set their availability seamlessly through an easy-to-use mobile app.

2. Empower Employees with Modern Communication Tools

Outdated communication methods can lead to frustration and inefficiency, making it harder for employees to manage their work-life balance. Yet, more than half of managers still rely on calling, texting, or emailing individual employees to fill open shifts—a time-consuming and ineffective approach.

By investing in modern communication tools integrated within workforce management platforms, employers can facilitate instant messaging, automated shift notifications, and real-time schedule updates. This not only creates transparency and reduces scheduling conflicts but also fosters a sense of trust between employers and employees. When workers feel informed and heard, their engagement and job satisfaction increase.

3. Offer Instant Access to Earned Wages

Financial stress is a major concern for many frontline workers, particularly younger employees. Legion’s 2024 State of the Hourly Workforce Report found that 43% of workers aged 18-24 and 47% of those aged 25-34 prioritize early access to earned wages as a top incentive when considering a new job.

Employers can address this need by implementing earned wage access (EWA) programs. These programs enable employees to access their pay as they earn it rather than waiting for traditional pay cycles. This flexibility helps workers manage unexpected expenses, reduce reliance on high-interest payday loans, and ultimately feel more financially secure in their jobs.

4. Implement an Easy-to-Use Mobile App for Schedule Control

In an age where nearly everything is accessible via smartphone, employees expect the same convenience when managing their work schedules. An intuitive mobile workforce management app can transform the employee experience by allowing workers to easily check their schedules, request time off, and swap shifts.

The Business Case for Investing in Employee-Centric Technology

Enhancing the employee experience isn’t just good for workers—it’s smart business. Companies prioritizing workforce engagement see reduced turnover, lower operational costs, and improved productivity. Legion’s 2024 State of the Hourly Workforce Report highlights that employers who invest in AI-driven workforce management solutions ease administrative burdens and create a more positive and equitable work environment.

As the workforce becomes increasingly multigenerational, businesses must adapt to employees’ varying needs and expectations. Modern technology solutions provide the tools to bridge these gaps, ensuring that younger workers seeking flexibility and digital convenience and older employees requiring stability and structured scheduling can all thrive in their roles.

Final Thoughts: Make Every Day Employee Appreciation Day

While Employee Appreciation Day is an excellent opportunity to recognize the hard work of frontline employees, genuine appreciation should be a year-round commitment. Actions speak louder than words, and implementing meaningful improvements in scheduling flexibility, communication, financial wellness, and mobile accessibility is the best way to show employees that they are valued.

By embracing technology and prioritizing a positive work experience, employers can boost morale and create a loyal, motivated workforce that drives business success. This Employee Appreciation Day, go beyond “thank you” and invest in the tools and policies that make a real difference in your employees’ lives.

Explore Legion’s Solutions Today

Offering schedule flexibility, modern communications, and instant access to earned wages doesn’t need to cost you more, and with Legion WFM, it’s built into our workforce management platform. We help employers of hourly workers maximize labor efficiency and employee engagement simultaneously

Ready for a demo to see how Legion Workforce Management Software can help your performance management strategy? Contact us today!