Who are deskless workers?
When we talk about employees, we often picture people at desks in offices. But the reality is very different. The majority of the world’s workforce doesn’t sit behind a desk. They’re on shop floors, in hospitals, driving deliveries, building homes, caring for people, or working in warehouses. These are the people we call deskless workers.
According to Emergence Research (2022), 80% of the global workforce is deskless. Yet only 1% of enterprise software investment is directed at supporting them. That gap tells its own story – while deskless workers keep businesses running, they are often overlooked when it comes to communication, engagement, and development.
The challenges of being deskless
Deskless workers face very different realities from office-based staff:
- Limited communication – Without regular access to company emails or meetings, many feel disconnected from what’s happening in the organisation.
- Isolation from culture – Without the office environment, it can be harder to feel part of the company’s identity and values.
- Fewer opportunities for growth – Training and career development programmes are often designed with office-based employees in mind.
Forbes (2023) reported that only 15% of deskless workers feel connected to their company’s leadership. That’s a huge, missed opportunity – because when people feel disconnected, engagement and retention suffer.
Why engagement matters for deskless teams
Deskless workers are often on the front line with customers or clients. They are the ones delivering services, solving problems, and representing your brand every day. If they don’t feel engaged, that shows up in performance, morale, and customer experience.
On the other hand, when deskless workers feel valued and connected, the impact is immediate. They bring more energy, more commitment, and a stronger sense of pride in their work.
How corporate volunteering can help
Volunteering is one of the most effective ways to engage deskless workers because it’s inclusive by design. With the right approach, volunteering can cut through barriers of role, location, and schedule to give everyone a chance to connect and contribute.
Here’s how it makes a difference:
- Equal participation – Volunteering projects can be open to everyone, regardless of role, creating a level playing field.
- Shared experiences – Taking part in volunteering helps deskless staff connect with colleagues they wouldn’t normally interact with.
- Building pride and purpose – Volunteering shows employees their company cares about more than profits, which helps them feel part of something bigger.
- Flexibility – With options ranging from short micro-volunteering to larger events, activities can be designed to fit the schedules of shift-based or mobile workers.
At Employee Volunteering, we’ve helped design programmes that bring together retail staff, warehouse teams, workers across manufacturing sites, on-site engineers, and office-based colleagues in ways that strengthen both morale and culture. The result is employees who feel included, recognised, and part of the same story.
Why inclusion is non-negotiable
Inclusion isn’t just about policies – it’s about practice. When the majority of the workforce is deskless, ignoring their engagement needs means ignoring most of your people. Organisations that invest in connecting deskless staff not only see stronger performance but also reduce turnover in roles where retention has traditionally been a struggle.
Engagement is not just for office-based employees – it’s for everyone.
What to do next
If you want your deskless workers to feel valued, connected, and part of your culture, volunteering is a practical and powerful way to make that happen. At Employee Volunteering, we design volunteering opportunities that include everyone, whatever their role or location, so no one is left out. Get in touch to explore how we can help you create volunteering programmes that truly engage deskless teams and strengthen your business from the ground up.
