Out of the 2,706 employees at Mission Linen, 2,407 are hourly workers. The textile services company is constantly seeking ways to motivate and engage them.

“Their work is routine, redundant and some might say not very rewarding,” says Sean Hearn, regional HR manager at the Santa Barbara-based supplier of linens, uniforms, laundry services and select supplies. “It’s a key challenge to keep them engaged and motivated to come to work on a daily basis.”

Hourly workers are a critical component of any company’s workforce. By motivating them, employers can accomplish many goals ranging from boosting productivity to slashing employee turnover ...