Happy people
Despite an abundance of economic uncertainty amid layoffs, tariffs, rising prices, and a volatile stock market, the majority of employees — 77% — still feel positive about their work experience. That’s the big (and perhaps surprising) takeaway from a new survey by cloud-based human capital and technology services provider Alight.
“Overall, we found employees are feeling better about their wellbeing and work experience,” reads the Executive Summary of Alight’s 33-page “2025 Employee Mindset Report.” “That’s not to suggest employers can sit back and relax since the bar has been lowered by the pandemic. There is still plenty of room for improvement. Workers are craving support — particularly when it comes to making healthcare decisions, finding their financial footing, and dealing with stress.”
The survey — based on responses from 2,500 full- and part-time employees in the United States working for companies with a minimum of 1,000 employees — focuses on such topics as employee wellbeing, workplace culture, total rewards, and technology. It represents employees from various industries and work arrangements (including remote, onsite, and hybrid).
All is not perfect, of course. Nearly 40% of workers say they dread starting their workday, up from 23% in 2020, and one-third of employees worry about artificial intelligence (AI) taking over their jobs. Additionally, 33% of remote workers would consider leaving if mandatory return-to-office policies were implemented by their employer, and nearly half of employees find the volume of HR and benefits messages overwhelming.
To that end, the Alight report offers five key recommendations for employers to help keep employees happy. Here they are, taken verbatim from the report:
1. Segment and personalize communication: Tailor benefits messages based on traditional demographics, like generation, in addition to factors like work location and benefits literacy level. Combine succinct AI-generated digital alerts with periodic high-touch check-ins to keep information relevant and actionable.
2. Supercharge wellbeing adoption: Close the gap between program access and usage by pairing mobile-first platforms with human-centered support, such as coaching and concierge services. Incentivize participation with small rewards and social recognition.
3. Use flexibility as a competitive edge: Consider allowing workers to allocate their benefits dollars to what they value most. Evolve beyond binary “remote vs. onsite” debates. Offer choices like phased return-to-office, four-day work weeks, or “core hours” scheduling and equip managers with data-driven guides to balance team cohesion and individual autonomy.
4. Embrace AI with transparency: Provide training, clear policies, and career-development pathways that integrate AI tools while reducing job-security fears. Position AI as a tool to free employees from rote tasks so they can focus on high-impact, creative work.
5. Help people choose the right benefits: Have AI analyze employee data to provide tailored benefits recommendations at the right time. Pair employees with navigators who can offer guidance and support. Develop micro-learning content to optimize benefits usage.
“From the boardroom to the breakroom, workers expect an environment that is flexible, tech-savvy, and deeply human,” the report states. “By listening to — and acting on — Alight’s insights, employers can build a workplace where engagement, productivity, and wellbeing rise in tandem, delivering resilient performance in a volatile world.”
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