Lions and Tigers and Frontline Workers, Oh My!

One of the biggest challenges for companies with deskless workers is reaching them with critical business communications.

Communications channels are everywhere, but which ones actually work to connect with your frontline employees? Let’s explore.

Email

Oh, email. Always a staple of corporate life.

Challenges: Many companies don’t provide email accounts for frontline employees. Even when they do, inboxes get cluttered and messages go unread.

Opportunities: If you go this route, make it intentional. Create short, targeted updates that feel relevant, not corporate wallpaper.

Company intranet

Simultaneously too much and not enough information at any given time.

Challenges: No email usually means no login, which can leave this audience shut out. Intranets can also be clunky and overloaded with information they don’t need.

Opportunities: Consider a mobile-friendly intranet that allows guest access. Invest in user targeting so you can make sure the content matters most to your frontline employees.

Mobile app

If it's not Facebook or TikTok, will they open it?

Challenges: Adoption. Getting employees to download and use “another app” can be tough, especially if it competes with personal phone storage.

Opportunities: Pair the app with incentives or make it part of the workday. Push notifications, shift updates and recognition programs can help it stick.

Existing systems, like Workday or learning management training platforms

They have to go here, so why not use it to your benefit?

Challenges: Specialized portals often live in a silo, which is great for compliance, not so great for connecting to the big picture.

Opportunities: Integrate. If your platform allows it, use it to deliver updates, videos or quick surveys alongside training modules.

Direct mail

Can old school be new again?

Challenges: Cost and logistics. Not every message is worth a stamp.

Opportunities: It can be used sparingly for big moments like anniversaries, safety milestones or benefits enrollment. Receiving mail can feel surprisingly personal and memorable.

Leadership cascade

Equipping this resource is critical for information flow throughout the company.

Challenges: Consistency. Messages can shift or stall as they flow down the chain.

Opportunities: Equip leaders with simple talking points, FAQ and visuals. When leaders deliver messages face-to-face, it builds trust and makes the message stick.

The takeaway: There’s no single magic channel for reaching frontline workers. It’s about layering methods, testing what lands and making sure the message feels useful in their world.