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Spotlight Series/How to Hang On to Your Frontline Workers
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Business management

The High Cost of Neglecting Low-Wage Workers

Six mistakes that companies make—and how they can do better by Joseph Fuller and Manjari Raman

From the Magazine (May–June 2023)
Brian Finke
Spotlight Series  /  How to Hang On to Your Frontline Workers

Summary.   

Despite all their efforts since the summer of 2021 to bring frontline workers back into the fold, companies are struggling to rehire and return operations to a prepandemic normal. As a result they have failed to deliver products and services, lost revenue, and disappointed their customers. Supply chains remain snarled, with warehouse and delivery operations woefully understaffed. Grocery stores and pharmacies are unable to keep their shelves stocked. Restaurants can’t find enough cooks, cleaners, and waiters. Hotel chains can’t book to their full capacity, because they don’t have enough housekeeping staff. Airlines have been forced to ground hundreds of flights.

Read more on Business management or related topics Employee retention, Employee incentives, Labor, Developing employees and Employee engagement
A version of this article appeared in the May–June 2023 issue of Harvard Business Review.
Spotlight Series  /  How to Hang On to Your Frontline Workers
Read more on Business management or related topics Employee retention, Employee incentives, Labor, Developing employees and Employee engagement

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