Chris Brown, CEO of employee rewards, benefits, and recognition platform, Rippl, explores the critical role deskless workers play in the global economy and discusses how HR teams can empower them and unlock their full potential to drive future prosperity.
The conversation around the future of work commonly focuses on the needs of those who work in traditional office settings. But what about the vast majority who keep the wheels of our economy turning – the deskless workforce?
The unsung heroes of our economy
Deskless workers make up over 80% of the global workforce and play an integral role in driving the success of countless industries. From retail professionals and delivery drivers to nurses, construction workers, and air traffic control, they are the ones who interact with customers, build our infrastructure, and ensure a seamless flow of goods and services.
The pandemic highlighted the critical role that deskless workers play. While many office workers transitioned almost seamlessly to remote work, deskless personnel remained on the frontlines, facing heightened health risks to maintain essential services.
Disconnect between desk and field
Yet, despite their contributions, there’s a concerning disconnect between desk-based employees and their deskless counterparts. Over half (51%) of deskless workers feel they are expendable to their employers and a third believe they’re seen as inferior by their office colleagues. This perception gap highlights deskless workers to be the unseen and unheard majority.
Plus, just 10% feel they have access to the right communication channels, technology, and resources that are readily available to their office-based peers. This disconnect not only risks inefficient scheduling, unclear task delegation, and limited access to company information or training materials, but it also hinders productivity, reduces morale, and ultimately leads to a higher rate of staff turnover.
Empowering the deskless workforce
It’s time to bridge this gap and empower the deskless workforce. There are several key strategies that organisations could implement to help achieve this:
1. Prioritise communication and feedback – Regular two-way communication is crucial. By utilising tools such as engagement apps for announcements, surveys, and feedback, communication needs to be centralised and accessible to all to engage and prioritise deskless workers, many of whom don’t have a company email address or regular face-to-face meetings with their managers.
2. Focus on recognition and rewards – Recognition programmes shouldn’t be limited to office workers. Acknowledging and rewarding the achievements of deskless teams empowers them to feel equally as valued and visible as corporate staff. Consider implementing peer-to-peer recognition programmes that allow colleagues to celebrate each other’s successes.
3. Invest in mobile technology – Company apps can be used for more than just communication too. For example, user-friendly interfaces can allow deskless workers to access schedules, training materials, and company updates, alongside wider communication and engagement tools.
4. Offer flexible work options – While deskless jobs often require physical presence, exploring opportunities for flexible scheduling or remote work options is advised. It not only helps with work-life balance, but it can help improve employee satisfaction.
5. Invest in training and development – Providing ongoing training opportunities that cater to the specific needs of deskless workers. This could include microlearning modules accessible through mobile apps, on-site workshops, or mentorship programmes with experienced personnel. Offering courses not job related, such as financial literacy or wellbeing, can further help deskless workers feel valued and purposeful.
6. Focus on wellbeing – Deskless jobs can place significant demands on employees’ physical and mental health. Offering comprehensive wellbeing programmes that promote perks across all pillars of health not only ensures your workforce remain happy and healthy but will improve job satisfaction. These could include access to healthcare benefits, ergonomic assessments, and stress management resources.
Building a culture of appreciation
By prioritising the needs of deskless workforces, organisations can foster a culture of appreciation and belonging. This leads to a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce. Communication and recognition are particularly critical to this.
When it comes to recognition, deskless workers often work in silos where their achievements are not as easily recognised as their desk-based counterparts. This has resulted in our workforce majority feeling overlooked, isolated and expendable. Recognising deskless workers with a quick ‘thank you’ for a job well done through a company app can go a long way.
Similarly, work benefits are often seen as a ‘corporate perk, when employers should take a holistic view on this. Benefits programmes are just as useful in incentivising and engaging deskless workers, especially when they are tailored to offer useful perks that workers can use in their day-to-day lives, such as supermarket vouchers and retail discounts. The tailored aspect ensures that employers are offering meaningful benefits to their employees that will increase engagement, rather than offering them in a ‘tick box’ approach which feels hollow.
Investing in the future
Empowering the deskless workforce isn’t just about fairness. By prioritising their needs, organisations can build a more engaged and productive workforce, ultimately leading to better customer service, higher retention rates, and a stronger bottom line.
The deskless workforce is the engine that drives our economy. By empowering them with the right tools, resources, and recognition, we can create a future where their contributions are valued, their potential is unlocked, and their success becomes the success of entire organisations.
Together, let’s rewrite the narrative of the future of work to ensure it’s a future that benefits everyone.
As the Chief Executive Officer at Rippl, Chris Brown leads Rippl's mission to transform how organisations recognise and reward their employees. Rippl delivers innovative SaaS solutions that empower businesses to enhance employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction through tailored recognition, rewards, and benefits programs.
Chris is responsible for the strategic vision, operational excellence, and fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusivity. He is dedicated to driving growth, ensuring customer success, and championing Rippl's commitment to delivering exceptional value. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and a deep understanding of organisational needs, Rippl aims to set new standards in the HR tech industry.
