A recent study indicates that only 10% of frontline employees recognize clear advancement opportunities within their current roles. The 2027 O.C. Tanner Global Culture Report reveals that the vast majority of frontline staff feel disenfranchised and perceive no path toward growth in their careers.
Growth cultures can increase opportunity, success, and reduce employee burnout, according to the report. Recognition and career development can help frontline workers feel more invested in their work and boost the prospects of businesses like restaurants and grocery stores.
Frontline Workers’ Perspectives
Christina, a focus group participant, said, “Growth to me feels more like: If you’re looking at a resume and you have somebody’s narrative – what is the story that’s being told and what is the next step on their path? That’s growth to me.”
Kelsey, another participant, emphasized the need for opportunities, including internal upward mobility, space to learn, and space for mistakes. “It has to be a very teamwork-oriented place,” Kelsey said.
Key Findings
The report concludes that employees need meaningful recognition and support, and a company’s culture needs flexibility. Enabling employees to experience personal growth gives an organization the ability to grow as well.
Professor Adam Grant of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania noted, “Good leaders build products. Great leaders build cultures. Good leaders deliver results. Great leaders develop people.”
The report found that a growth culture increases the sense of opportunity 20 times and success 25 times, and reduces burnout by 90% for frontline workers who don’t see any way to advance.
Recommendations for Management
The report urges management to recognize employees for thinking creatively and sharing ideas to unlock innovation. Recognition is a powerful way to reinforce growth, according to the report.
Clark Quinn, co-director of the Learning Development Accelerator, said, “What’s largely going to make a difference in going forward, in our increasingly ambiguous era where rote stuff gets increasingly automated, is the ability to make decisions in ambiguous and challenging contexts. [That] is going to be what really makes a difference to the success of the organization,”
Organizations should provide specific growth opportunities for frontline roles, a clear plan for career development, and have regular conversations about growth with frontline workers, the report said.
The report’s findings suggest that by providing growth opportunities and recognizing employee achievements, companies can promote creativity, build trust, and show organizational compassion necessary for sustainable growth.
