Studies are showing that frontline workers feel burned out, disconnected, and dissatisfied. They made sure the assembly lines stayed moving. They rolled the trucks. They stocked the shelves. They tended to us when we got sick. And they tried to make life as close to normal as possible when we got better.

Frontline workers kept the economy’s gears turning. But now they’re feeling the grind.

A recent study by Workplace from Meta focusing on employee satisfaction found that two years of working through the pandemic have taken their toll. 

• 70% of frontline workers have suffered from or felt at risk of burnout in the last year 
• 45% of survey respondents say they plan to leave frontline service altogether 

Whether you want to call it the Great Resignation or the Great Reshuffling, workers have been quitting their jobs in record numbers. An astonishing 4.5 million handed in their resignation in November 2021. 

A feeling of being disconnected is driving up employee discontent and lowering employee satisfaction.

Meta reports only 14% of frontline workers feel connected to company headquarters. Meanwhile, 54% say they don’t feel they have a voice on the job.

Improving communication within your company is more important than it’s ever been before. That same survey from Meta shows more than 60% of frontline workers say having better communication technology at work would make a difference with their employee morale.

Creating a culture of better communication lowers turnover at work

In the post-pandemic era, frontline workers who feel disconnected from their jobs are more likely to look for employment elsewhere proving why employee satisfaction is important.

A special report from Microsoft surveyed nearly 10,000 frontline workers in a wide array of industries from around the world. It found that improving a company’s communications technology can be a powerful tool in preventing workplace burnout. 

Among the report’s key findings on how to improve employee satisfaction:

• Employees need leaders who communicate and care. More than 3/4 of frontline workers say they feel bonded to each other, but 60% say their company needs to do more to communicate. More than half complain they don’t feel valued as employees.
• They want better technology to help with communication issues. Improving technology ranks third on the list of factors employees say would reduce workplace stress only behind more pay and more time off.
• Nearly half of frontline workers (46%) say they value better communications technology more than mental health and wellness benefits.

The research is showing with turnover high and morale low, businesses of all sizes need to refocus on their frontline workplace culture. Microsoft’s data clearly shows building strong lines of communication and efficient workplace includes equipping frontline employees with the latest tech.

The many ways Relay can help improve communication at work

Relay turns one-way directives into two-way conversations. 

Our innovative, simple-to-use communication devices instantly connect your employees with each other and with team leaders to improve workplace efficiency while creating a safer and healthier environment for frontline workers.

They replace bulky radios and walkie-talkies with a sleek, push-button device that works wherever there’s wifi or a cellular signal.

Customers attest using Relay for their business has helped employees deal with emergency situations and enabled faster and more accurate communications with frontline workers — all while improving morale.

‘The major benefit has been the ability to easily communicate among the team,” said Rhiannon Zielinski , housekeeping manager of the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites in Kalamazoo, Michigan. “There are no longer multiple steps that a team member has to go through to reach the right person. This allows us to move more productively each day with less frustration.”

Relay features smartphone technology built inside a durable and easy-to-use device. With GPS tracking on every device, you can find and talk to frontline workers instantly with just a push of a button. Keeping your team connected has never been easier.

Still don’t know where to start?

The Relay team can walk you through the details of our cloud-based technology. Our data-driven approach gives you the ability to create efficient workplace operations and track performance, ultimately making an impact on your bottom line.

Sign up for a free consultation today

Though more states are introducing panic button laws and mandates, the rules on panic buttons aren’t always clear. And since the safety legislation can vary by city, state or brand, the employee requirements on providing associate alert devices to remote workers can sometimes feel confusing. We’ll try to help clear things up.

Hotel Panic Button 101

A hotel panic button is a wearable emergency button used most often by housekeeping staff. This safety device is operated with a single push of a button. In case of an emergency, a staffer can trigger the device which alerts security or team supervisors. Since most panic buttons operate on an interconnected system via Bluetooth, cellular networks, or wifi, employees are able to communicate in real time while their location data is immediately shared. 

A hotel panic button is also known as Associate Alert Device, Employee Safety Device (ESD), Employee Safety Solution, Lone Worker Safety Technology, or a Wearable Emergency Button for Housekeeping. The device names reflect their use as emergency safety technology meant to protect employees who often work in isolation as part of their job requirements. These workers often include housekeeping staffers potentially exposed to verbal or physical harassment.

Hotel Panic Buttons vs. Consumer Safety Devices

Before we get to the nitty gritty of operating your panic button, it’s important to understand what a hotel panic button is not. 

A hotel panic button does not rely on noise to alert of potential danger and is not a high-pitched alarm available to consumers. Hotel panic buttons use technology that’s industry specific. While many consumers carry around what’s known in the industry as a noisemaker or screamer, they aren’t effective deterrents in the hospitality business. In fact, these noisy gadgets are proven to be detrimental or distracting in an emergency, and could even potentially intensify an already dangerous situation.

Hotel panic buttons are discrete in both size and usage. They have a small footprint and while visible when worn, aren’t heavy or uncomfortable. In the case of an emergency, a button is pushed on a hotel panic button that silently alerts others to distress. Unlike noise only alarm systems, there’s no loud beeping sounds to scare off nearby guests. 

How Do Hotel Panic Buttons Work?

First off, a hotel panic button doesn’t work on its own out of the box. The panic button must be configured properly to a unified hardware and software system to provide alerts or real-time aid to workers in potential distress. 

The best hotel panic buttons operate on a network of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacons. These may be placed discreetly throughout your property including in unobtrusive spots in guest rooms or supply closets. Each beacon is named and registered to best keep track of employee location in case of an emergency. Once these beacons are installed (without any additional wiring or drilling needed) they work with panic buttons to detect signals and location.

When remote workers go about their work day, their panic buttons communicate with each beacon if needed. In case of an emergency, the staffer would press the button on their associate alert device. An immediate location would be logged by the beacon already in place. If the staffer feels it’s necessary to run to safety, the beacons passed along the way will keep logging their location until help arrives.

“

Your staff may leave your hotel for a different job that offers better tech and safety.

What Is The Dispatch Center?

If a panic button is deployed, the information sent must be delivered to the software management program AKA Dispatch Center. Think of this as the central command system which keeps track of everything from emergency situations and employee location, to critical details like battery life or device assignment. 

By empowering your staffers with a system that keeps them safe and keeps track of them when they might otherwise feel vulnerable, you also keep your entire property safer. 

It’s important to train staff to help them understand not only how to use their panic buttons, but also to reassure them their safety is your priority. It’s also critical to let your housekeeping and remote staff know that you are choosing to keep them safer. You may not even be required yet by law to have this type of system in place, but others are, and your staff may leave your hotel for a different job that offers better tech and safety.

A Day in the Life of a Hotel Panic Button

• Employees are either given a panic button that is theirs to use, or are assigned a panic button each day as they check in for their shift.
• Employees have their wearable panic button on them throughout the day and while on their shift.
• In case of an emergency, they push the button on their device. Their location is immediately shared to the dispatch center and any other configured locations. This might include texting their supervisor or informing law enforcement.
• If the remote staffer moves through the hotel toward safer conditions, BLE beacons placed throughout the property will update the command center of their current location until help arrives.
• At the end of their shift, staffers return their panic button to the drop-off location.

Do All Hotels Follow the Same Panic Button Protocol?

In a word, no. There are different laws that vary widely. To take it a step further, some hotel brands are not even required by law yet to implement a panic button rule, but are proactive in doing so. Some brands require all properties to have panic devices but allow the individual locations to choose from a list of vetted vendors. Some may allow the choice of a device, but require the same provider. 

Before choosing your panic button solution, you need to find out if you are under brand or state requirements. Relay can assist you with determining and abiding by these requirements. Also notable, every property already will have safety protocols in place. When setting up your system, it’s critical to create an organic emergency system that protects staffers without disrupting guest activities. 

Pro tip: Want to know what the brand requirements are? Watch our Webinar on Employee Safety Device deadlines here

Why You Need to Prioritize Hotel Panic Buttons

There are two main reasons to ensure staffers are well taken care of. With a global staffing shortage and the regular turnover in the hospitality industry, it’s critical to create as many incentives for staffers to stay with your hotel. That includes following all state laws and mandates for panic buttons. And even if your state or city doesn’t as yet require associate alert devices, you may choose to use them to remind staffers that their safety is your priority. And since hotels are all about hospitality, a safer and happier staff means guests who feel safer as well. By better protecting staffers you’re also creating an environment where staffers can better care for guests. 

Still don’t know where to start?

The Relay team can walk you through the details of any relevant brand or state requirements and will work with you to create a plan based on your team’s specific needs.

Sign up for a free consultation today