Frontline Unscripted

What makes a workplace a great place? Is it the benefits? Is it the managers? Is it work itself? Or is it an algorithmic combination of all of these factors and more? Companies claim to have amazing cultures and that employees are their “greatest assets.” But are they doing what it takes to create a great place for all, including the frontline?  JD sits down with Michael C. Bush , CEO of Great Pla...

“The greatest era of innovation is coming.” This statement may sound out of place or downright tone deaf given how difficult it has been for businesses to just keep their doors open over the past six months. However, think about the ways you have adapted the way you live and work during the pandemic. Consider how much more quickly organizations have adopted digital tools and ecommerce options than...

We launched The 80 Percent in April with a visit to the grocery store to find out how essential workers were coping during the beginning of the pandemic. Now, four months later, we're returning to the grocery story to find out how businesses and employees have adapted to their next normal. JD is joined by long-time grocery professionals Harold Lloyd and Evan Parkes . We explore the importance...

“ Resilience ” is the official buzzword of 2020 - just outpacing “unprecedented.” We’re all doing our best to keep moving forward as we face an uncertain future. What can organizations do to build resilience within their frontline teams? How can we help people develop the skills, purpose and connections they need to overcome current and future challenges? JD spoke with Dane Jensen , CEO of Third F...

Reskilling . Is it more than just a buzzword? How do organizations have to change so they can reskill their employees faster? And how can a renewed focus on frontline reskilling help companies overcome unprecedented disruption? JD sat down with David Perring , Director of Research at Fosway Group, for an informal chat on the realities of reskilling in today’s workplace.  Thank you to David for sha...

If you build it, will they come? This question is about more than baseball fields. A learning solution will not have the intended impact if no one uses it. Engagement is a critical and often overlooked part of enterprise learning strategy. This is especially true on the frontline, where time is tight and development needs are personal. How can you get employees to voluntarily engage in training -...

We’ve always relied on the frontline. They get us where we’re going. They answer the phone when we have a problem. They help us feed our families. But for many of us, it took a pandemic to notice just how important these people really are. The frontline may be in the spotlight right now. But is this a flash in the pan? Will they continue to be heralded as heroes? Or will the importance of the fron...

Our international panel of talent development experts are back! They shared so many great insights during our conversations, we just couldn’t fit it all into one episode. In this “deleted scenes” edition of The 80 Percent, we focus on real-world examples.  How can frontline training be improved in manufacturing? How important is coaching in a contact center? How can we put the employee at the cent...

Five continents. Five experts. One frontline story. JD calls on some of the smartest people in the global talent development community to explore how workplace disruption is fundamentally changing the ways organizations support frontline workers. Is this the push L&D needs to finally get beyond the classroom? How will frontline knowledge and skill expectations shift in an increasingly digital...

Frontline jobs have been disrupted worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people have been sent home, furloughed while businesses figure out how to move forward and wait for restrictions to lift. They may not be at work, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped learning. How can maintaining engagement with employees while they’re home accelerate reboarding and strengthen workplace cultur...

Frontline employees in grocery, delivery and contact centers are being heralded as heroes of the pandemic alongside first responders and healthcare workers. While many companies have temporarily shut down or limited their operations, these essential businesses have been rapidly hiring to meet changing customer needs. What’s it like to start a new job on the frontline right now? How are people maki...

The grocery shopping experience has changed radically over the past few weeks. But this impact is felt even more by the people who continue to go to work in these stores every day. Grocery associates are among the heroes working on the frontline of the pandemic. To keep them safe and productive at work, grocers are rapidly adapting the ways they train their associates, especially as they onboard h...