RedThread Research has released a new report, Developing Frontline Workers: Focus Where It Counts, designed to help Learning & Development teams make smarter, more strategic decisions about frontline workforce development. Based on months of extensive research, the report introduces a practical, three-part framework that ensures organizations balance immediate needs with long-term growth, creating a stronger, more capable frontline workforce.
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The Challenge: Imbalance in Frontline Development
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Research shows organizations often overinvest in “license to operate” training (safety, compliance, basic proficiency) while neglecting development that improves performance and builds future skills.
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This imbalance leads to missed opportunities for business growth and workforce advancement.
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The Three-Part Framework for Frontline Development
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License to Operate: Focuses on essential, foundational training necessary for daily operations — safety, regulatory compliance, and basic job skills. This is non-negotiable but shouldn’t be the sole focus.
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Current Performance: Targets critical business problems and provides immediate support to help frontline employees excel in their current roles.
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Future Readiness: Prepares workers for upcoming changes, from technological advancements to evolving customer demands, ensuring long-term workforce resilience.
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Insights from the Research
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Conducted over 4 months through literature reviews, interviews with 22 L&D and HR leaders, and a research roundtable with 17 companies.
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Frontline development must be deliberate, balancing immediate operational needs with strategic workforce planning.
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L&D teams need to prioritize impact over breadth — focusing limited resources where they will drive the greatest results.
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Practical Guidance for L&D Leaders
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The report outlines goals, questions to ask, data points to track, and strategic options for each domain.
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Leaders are encouraged to move away from “doing everything” and instead channel their efforts into the most critical areas for business and workforce success.
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Real-world examples and reflection questions help teams apply the framework effectively within their organizations.
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Developing Frontline Workers: Focus Where It Counts empowers L&D and HR leaders to prioritize investments strategically, balancing operational necessities with the drive for performance improvement and future readiness. By focusing efforts on what truly matters, organizations can build a frontline workforce that not only meets today’s challenges but thrives amid tomorrow’s opportunities.
