EPISODE · Apr 9, 2026 · 22 MIN

The Frontline Conversation: Very Different Types of Frontline Workers

from The Josh Bersin Company · host Josh Bersin

In this podcast I talk with Josh Secrest, VP of Marketing at Paradox (Workday) about how we segment the “frontline” into useful worker categories. As you will hear, the complex issues of hiring, training, managing, leading, and building operational excellence vary widely from role to role. Many companies think “Frontline” is a category. As you’ll discover, this is not really true. Our new research shows that there are more than 800 “Frontline” worker job titles and they are not only industry-specific but also vary by skill type, skills depth, front or back office, licensing, and professional credential. And these dimensions play a major role in all HR, pay, reward, training, scheduling, and retention strategies. This episode sets the stage for our follow-on podcasts where we detail the Five Types of Frontline Work, a body of research you’ll find even more useful in leading this important part of our companies. Remember, Frontline work makes up over 70% of all US (80% global) workers, and commands more than 3 $Trillion of pay and rewards investment. Additional Information Powering the Frontline Workforce: How Frontline-First Companies Thrive (research) Josh Bersin Company Highlights Cost of Neglecting Frontline Workers (research) An Exploration into the Frontline Workforce with Josh Bersin (video) Tailor your HR and Management Programs for Frontline Work with Galileo, the Expert AI Agent for HR Chapters (00:00:02) - Frontline Conversation(00:07:40) - The Importance of Qualifications in Your Sales Pitch(00:09:12) - Employment Segmentation(00:10:24) - Training costs of the logistics industry(00:14:01) - How to Find and Retain Talent in Healthcare(00:14:41) - One Restaurant Group's Shift From Part-Time Work to Full Time(00:17:13) - Discussing Full-Time vs Part-Time Jobs(00:18:14) - Josh Ferson(00:19:51) - The Future of Segmentation in Business