Alight Study Finds Improvements in Wellbeing While Economic Anxieties Linger as Workers Seek More Guidance on Benefits

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09/16/2025 - 08:00 AM

The 2025 Alight Employee Mindset Study reveals a paradox: workers feel better overall, yet daily strain, communication overload and rapid change threaten progress to wellbeing – offering key takeaways for employers.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Facing rapid technological change, economic uncertainty and shifting workplace expectations, employees have remained resilient with reports of feeling better about their wellbeing compared to previous years, according to the 2025 Alight Employee Mindset Study.

Nearly half of employees (47%) now rate their overall wellbeing positively—a three-point increase from 2024—with incremental gains in social and mental health. Employee engagement is also trending upwards, with 63% of respondents reporting positive energy and excitement at work and 66% feeling a genuine sense of belonging in their workplace.

Even with such progress, challenges remain, as 39% of employees say they dread starting their workday—up five points since 2023—while 34% say they have lost trust in their employer’s wellbeing efforts, a seven-point increase over the same period.

“While it’s encouraging to see employees reporting stronger wellbeing, employers can’t afford to lose momentum,” said Laine Thomas Conway, vice president of delivery enablement and engagement at Alight. “Return-to-office tensions, rising burnout and AI uncertainty are adding points of friction to the employee experience. Employees are seeking further guidance from their employers on how to make sense of the resources available to them to improve and maintain their wellbeing. By pairing a high-tech, human-first benefits strategy with flexible work options and clear, personalized communication, employers can turn access into action—driving stronger wellbeing and productivity despite ongoing change."

Key insights from the 2025 Employee Mindset Study include:

Workers want more than just benefits—they need clear communication and help

Availability of employer-sponsored wellbeing programs continue to expand, with 85% of employees reporting access to at least one program, up from 78% in 2022. Yet program utilization remains low, averaging just 30–35%, signaling a need for clearer guidance and practical support from employers.

Communication is another area for improvement. While 63% of employees feel more informed about benefits than in previous years, 46% say the volume of communication is overwhelming—an eight-point increase since 2024 — suggesting a need for personalized communication through a combination of technology and human support to be effective.

Flexible work environments remain key to employee satisfaction and retention

Working arrangements have a clear influence on employee wellbeing. An overwhelming 86% of remote workers are satisfied with where and how they work, the highest percentage among any work arrangement. On the other hand, 40% of hybrid workers report increased feelings of loneliness, compared to 35% of fully remote workers and 26% of those working onsite.

However, the key to a successful wellbeing strategy does not necessarily involve return-to-office mandates; choice plays a big part in how workers feel about where they work. While 72% of self-scheduled hybrid workers are happy with their situation, only 53% of company-scheduled hybrid workers feel the same. The good news is that among hybrid employees, 61% report feeling connected to coworkers, compared to 51% of remote workers and 46% of onsite employees, suggesting the need to incorporate flexible working options. Additionally, 35% say they’d be willing to take a pay cut to gain more flexibility in their life.

Employees approach AI with both caution and acceptance

AI adoption is rising, with one in four employees using AI tools daily. However, attitudes toward AI also strongly correlate with feelings of wellbeing:

56% of employees who feel anxious about AI dread starting their workday, compared with 23% of those unafraid of the technology.
AI-worried employees are more likely to feel overwhelmed by benefits choices (25% vs. 8%) and report higher stress (75% vs. 63%).

“The findings from this year’s study highlight the critical need for employers to provide their employees with clear direction and expert guidance. By equipping their workforce to navigate rapid disruptions and prioritize their wellbeing, organizations can nurture engagement, boost retention, and avoid the risk of losing valuable talent,” said Rob Austin, vice president of value engineering at Alight. “Embracing flexibility is equally vital as it creates a win-win situation for employers and employees. When employees feel supported, they can put their best foot forward, drive business success and stay committed to their organization.”

About this study

The 2025 Employee Mindset Study marks Alight's 15th annual report focused on the U.S. workforce, delving into key areas such as employee wellbeing, workplace culture, total rewards and technology. This study aims to gain insights into employee perceptions, enabling employers to enhance wellbeing and experiences, ultimately boosting engagement, productivity and performance.

Conducted between May and June 2025, the study gathered responses from 2,500 U.S. employees—both full-time and part-time—working for organizations with a minimum of 1,000 employees. Our diverse sample reflects a wide range of age groups, races, genders and tenures. Participants represent various industries and work arrangements, including remote, onsite and hybrid.

About Alight Solutions

Alight is a leading cloud-based human capital technology and services provider for many of the world’s largest organizations and 35 million people and dependents. Through the administration of employee benefits, Alight helps clients gain a benefits advantage while building a healthy and financially secure workforce by unifying the benefits ecosystem across health, wealth, wellbeing, absence management and navigation. Our Alight Worklife® platform empowers employers to gain a deeper understanding of their workforce and engage them throughout life’s most important moments with personalized benefits management and data-driven insights, leading to increased employee wellbeing, engagement and productivity. Learn more about the Alight Benefits Advantage™ at alight.com.