UNIDOS leads a transformative initiative to highlight the impact of Latino frontline workers, driving business innovation and fostering inclusivity within the workforce.
Empowering members to be confident in their voice, creating networking and development opportunities, steering impactful conversations, and cultivating a powerful community in a supportive and uplifting environment ― this is the mission of UNIDOS, UKG’s employee resource group (ERG) for Hispanic-Latino employees and allies. UNIDOS means “united” in Spanish, and the group strives to create a special workplace familia for its members.
Each ERG at UKG has four pillars of focus that are supported by a workstream team that leads efforts for these initiatives. In the Business Innovation and Impact pillar, the workstream’s goal is to drive innovative projects that have a high business impact and leverage employees’ expertise and visions to further enhance existing products and services.
Using this framework, the UNIDOS team embarked on an ambitious project to highlight the impact of Latino frontline workers in the U.S. workforce.
“We wanted to work on a project that would have significant business impact, not only for our community in UNIDOS but for UKG at large.”
UNIDOS Business Innovation & Impact Workstream co-lead
Their goal was to address the challenges faced by Latino frontline workers, focusing on how UKG’s technology could better support this growing workforce.
“[At UKG] we excel in all areas of our technology, but we predominantly excel with our products that help serve the frontline worker throughout our human capital management (HCM) and workforce management (WFM) technology. We found a niche here, focusing on the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. — Latinos — who make up a significant portion of the frontline workforce,” says Erika, Principal Human Insights Program Manager and UNIDOS Business Innovation & Impact Workstream co-lead.
Frontline workers are employees who directly interact with customers or clients and they are crucial to many businesses' success. Yet, research shows that their needs, particularly those of Latino frontline workers, are often overlooked. They frequently face barriers such as being underpaid, overworked, and lacking opportunities for professional development.
Recognizing these inequities, the UNIDOS team set out to create resources that would help UKG and its clients better understand how to support Latino workers. The team’s research reaffirmed the group’s belief that addressing the needs of Latino frontline workers wasn’t just a matter of creating better tools — it was about fostering inclusivity and retention in industries already heavily reliant on this demographic.
“The real issue is: how do we create an inclusive environment to help folks stay and retain our workforce?” says Erika.
The project team, made up of members from various departments at UKG — including sales, HR, customer success, and frontline workers themselves — brought diverse perspectives to the project. “We wanted the project to be driven by our lived experiences,” Erika says, “because all of us in the UNIDOS Business Innovation workstream have been a frontline worker or have family that are frontline workers.”
After months of research and work, the UNIDOS team released an infographic, blog post, and other marketing and communications assets highlighting the impact of Latino frontline workers.
These materials were designed not only to raise awareness but also to serve as practical tools for UKG’s sales and marketing teams. “This project enables our sales team to have more insightful conversations with clients and present solutions that make a real difference," says Angie, Senior Learning Management Systems Administrator and co-chair of UNIDOS. “For our customers, it’s not just about technology, it’s about how we can help them better engage their frontline workers, particularly the Latino community.”
“If we didn’t believe in the product or that it would help this population, we wouldn’t be talking so passionately about it,” Erika says. This project is not just about advocating for Latino workers — it’s about creating a business model that recognizes and supports the changing face of the workforce. “If your company doesn’t have a Latino strategy, it doesn’t have a growth strategy,” Erika adds, quoting Dr. Robert Rodriguez, PhD.
"We're ensuring that UKG's solutions reflect the changing face of the workforce, and that's how we'll continue to grow."
UNIDOS Business Innovation & Impact Workstream co-lead
A testament to collective action and strong work ethic
“The project is a testament of the work ethic that we have,” says Angie. Taking on a project of this size was no easy feat, and Angie, Erika, and Martha attribute its success to the many UNIDOS members who contributed.
Their work is just beginning, and they’re excited about future opportunities to collaborate with other ERGs to amplify the stories and experiences of Black frontline workers, single parents, and other underserved communities within the workforce.
The UNIDOS Latino Frontline Worker project serves as a shining example of how ERGs can have a tangible impact on the bottom line by leveraging insights to drive meaningful change. “Our ERG came up with this idea, and our labor created the artifact,” says Martha. “We’re making an actual difference in our business strategy.”
ERGs with a strong framework are a strategic imperative for businesses that want to grow alongside the communities they serve. The UNIDOS team demonstrates that ERGs are a driving force for powerful transformation, both within their organizations and in the broader business landscape.
Read the blog: Empowering Latino Frontline Employees: Strategies for Leadership Support and Success
View the research and download the infographic: The Latino Frontline Employee: Facts and Figures Driving Essential Contributions.
