Global Workforce: Challenges, Opportunities, and How to Keep Everyone in the Loop
Frontline workers are the backbone of industries like retail, logistics, and manufacturing, making up around 88% of the global workforce. ?? Recently, we ran a poll and it turns out only 22% of you guessed correctly about the portion of the global workforce that are frontline employees ??.
But as these roles become more geographically dispersed, managing them effectively comes with a whole new set of challenges. How do you keep a global frontline workforce engaged, informed, and united when they’re spread across time zones, languages, and cultures?
Managing a global frontline workforce isn’t just about sending out more memos or blasting texts. It’s about making sure every worker—no matter where they’re clocking in—feels connected and gets the info they need to do their job right.
The toughest challenges
Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. There are some real hurdles to managing a global frontline team:
#1 Time zone juggling
Your frontline teams are out there, working shifts around the clock in different time zones. A one-size-fits-all communication strategy? Not happening. You need to reach your people when they’re actually on the job, whether it’s early morning in Sydney or late at night in Los Angeles.
#2 Language barriers on the frontline
Your frontline employees are as diverse as they come, often speaking multiple languages. That critical safety update or new protocol needs to be understood by everyone, not just the English speakers. Multilingual communication isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity to keep your team safe and informed.
#3 Cultural sensitivities in the field
Different regions, different norms. What’s standard in one country might be a major faux pas in another. Tailoring your messages to respect these cultural differences shows your frontline workers that you understand and appreciate their unique perspectives, no matter where they’re based.
#4 Security compliance of internal comms tools
With a global workforce, ensuring that your internal communication tools comply with security regulations across different countries is crucial. Your platform needs to be robust, secure, and recognized globally for its compliance standards to protect sensitive information and maintain trust across your team.
#5 Employee disconnection due to fragmented communication
When communication is fragmented, especially across multiple countries, it’s easy for employees to feel isolated or out of the loop, which can negatively impact engagement and productivity.
Erik Groen, the Process & Project Manager at Royal Den Hartogh Logistics , sums it up well:?
“As a family-owned business, it’s crucial for everyone to feel part of the bigger group. But with the fragmented communication approach and communicating with employees across 10+ countries, our employees felt disconnected. We knew we had to change that.”?
The opportunities
While the challenges of managing a global frontline workforce are real, they also open the door to some serious opportunities.
#1 Access to a diverse talent pool
With a global workforce, you’re not limited to hiring locally. You can tap into the best talent from anywhere in the world, bringing in fresh perspectives and unique skills that can give your business a competitive edge.
#2 Building a global brand culture
Managing a global workforce means you have the opportunity to build a brand culture that transcends borders. When you get your internal comms right, you create a unified team that embodies your company’s values, no matter where they’re based.
#3 Sharing of knowledge across borders
A global workforce means access to a vast pool of knowledge and experience from different regions. Effective internal communication can facilitate the sharing of best practices, innovative ideas, and lessons learned across borders. This cross-pollination of knowledge can drive continuous improvement and innovation within your organization.
Internal comms with a global workforce: things to keep in mind
#1 Design around shift work
Build your communication strategies around your frontline employees’ schedules. Use tools that deliver real-time updates, but also give workers a chance to catch up on what they missed when they’re off-shift.
#2 Speak their language
Make sure all your comms are available in multiple languages. This isn’t just about ticking a box—it’s about making sure everyone understands the message. When everyone’s on the same page, everyone wins.?
For example, Restaurant Company Europe (RCE) -? the largest hospitality group in the Netherlands, comprising over 75 restaurants and café locations, with the Translate Feature in Speakap is able to break down language barriers, and make it easier to communicate important information to non-Dutch speaking employees.
#3 Create location-specific groups
To ensure that the right information reaches the right people, create specific groups on your employee communications app (if you don’t have, this might be the sign indicating it’s time to get one) based on location, and even by country, for targeted information dissemination.
This way, employees receive relevant updates that are tailored to their local context, making it easier for them to stay informed and engaged.
#4 Celebrate their contributions & recognize their hard work
Use your communications to build a sense of global community. Celebrate international holidays, recognize teams from different regions, and make sure your frontline workers feel seen and valued, no matter where they’re located.?
As Joelle Elias, Executive Director of Operations at Pura Vida , puts it:?
“The charm of what we created via Speakap (our employee app) lies in its ability to unite people throughout South Florida. Each team member can witness the celebrations, appreciations, and creations unique to every location.”
#5 Pick a secure platform
Choose a communication platform that is recognized globally for its security & compliance . Ensuring that your internal comms are secure across different regions not only protects sensitive data but also builds trust with your frontline workers, knowing that their information is safe.
As Sofie Deweerdt, Communications Team at VitaS puts it:
“One of the most important things for us was that the platform we were going to use was also private and secure. Speakap offers that and more.”
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