Labor Expert John Frehse Exposes the Right and Wrong Ways to Treat Hourly Workers

Culture Leaders: The Masters Behind Movements

John Frehse, a renowned expert in labor strategy and workplace culture, shares his insights on the often-overlooked segment of the workforce - the hourly employees. With a career dedicated to representing and elevating the conditions of these essential workers, Frehse's journey is a narrative of passion, empathy, and transformative leadership. His approach to labor strategy champions the dignity and value of every individual in the workforce.

In this episode of the Culture Leaders Podcast, John Frehse delves into the complexities of managing and valuing the hourly workforce. He discusses the importance of understanding the real engine within businesses and the impact of fostering a culture where every employee feels valued and heard. Frehse's reflections on his experiences offer invaluable lessons on leadership, empathy, and the crucial role of effective communication in driving change.

Join us on the Culture Leaders Podcast as John Frehse takes us through his experiences and strategies for creating a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment. He shares his thoughts on the crucial role of frontline workers, the necessity of shifting leadership focus to understand and support their needs, and the profound impact this can have on both company culture and operational success.

Segmented Timestamps:

• [02:16] - Representing the hourly workforce.
• [03:06] - The underappreciation of factory floor workers.
• [04:37] - The importance of leadership understanding frontline needs.
• [10:09] - The challenges of implementing effective labor strategies.
• [14:43] - The pitfalls of poor leadership and the need for genuine engagement.
• [20:00] - Shifting from short-term action to long-term engagement and support.

Notable Quotes:

"The one that gets me up in the morning every day, not just for work, but everything, is representing a largely underrepresented or not represented at all population, which is the hourly workforce." - John Frehse​

"If this group of people decided to stop coming to work for a week, it would shut down the US economy." - John Frehse​​

"If leaders would spend more time understanding where the real engine is inside of their business, we would have a different outcome." - John Frehse​

"So they're good at big ideas, they're good at inspirational stories, and they're good at financial results. The challenge is... pausing from all of those activities and going to a larger population." - John Frehse​

​"I need leaders to believe that communication equals leadership... Our only employees are generally told what to do. Things are reported to them. Things are demanded of them. They're rarely asked anything." - John Frehse

USEFUL LINKS

Reach John at:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfrehse/

Bio at Ankura - https://ankura.com/experts-and-advisors/john-frehse

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