Corporate Action for Worker Voice

There’s no denying that worker voice is a hot topic of conversation in corporate spaces of late. Yet despite the rapidly increasing pervasiveness of the discussion, a lack of consensus remains regarding what exactly worker voice means, how it works, and what it can do.

In an insightful pair of reports, Jobs for the Future (JFF) clarifies answers to these questions and lays out the steps companies can take to meaningfully invest in worker voice and move this crucial topic from conversation to action.

In “A Blueprint for Amplifying Worker Voice,” JFF illustrates how amplifying the voice and input of workers can lead to a whole host of benefits—better employee engagement and retention, valuable insights for leaders, and increased psychological safety in the workplace. The report provides three mechanisms for amplifying worker voice: establishing employee warmlines, creating an ombuds program, and elevating employee resource groups (ERGs) for input. By implementing these mechanisms, employers can provide accessible, safe, and often confidential channels where workers can make their voices heard. In the report, we provide examples of these practices from Salesforce and Chevron, including actionable guidance for how to start and best practices to keep in mind.

But the work doesn’t stop there. In “Listening for Action: A Blueprint for Bringing Worker Voice to Decision-Making,” we highlight how incorporating the voices of workers, especially frontline workers, into decision-making processes is good for business. By including employees in big-picture discussions and high-stakes decision-making, leaders can harness workers’ valuable insights to make better decisions while simultaneously fostering a more engaged workforce, worker well-being, and innovation. The report outlines specific strategies to effectively and thoughtfully build a culture of worker voice, like including frontline workers in change management teams, research for operations changes, and new product or service discussions. The report also explores real-world examples of how companies like Bank of America, Hilton, and Zara have successfully incorporated worker voice into their decision-making processes.

If you’re an employer interested in building an inclusive culture that supports both worker well-being and your bottom line, these reports will provide you with the actionable guidance you need. We hope you’ll download them and join us in ushering in an era in which worker voice is heard, utilized, and celebrated.