8 Workplace Trends Shaping The 2025 Business Landscape

The modern workplace mirrors society. Which means it’s always evolving. Outside forces, such as tech advancements, global events, attitude shifts, and demographics, all shape the business landscape. And they combine to generate dynamic workplace trends.

Trends in the workplace impact the way organizations operate, organize, and orientate themselves. They also inform how employees work, collaborate, and lead. Keeping track of new workplace trends is the hallmark of success for businesses. It helps them keep their competitive edge, attract top talent, and create a robust, future-ready focus. For employees, it fosters career growth, job satisfaction, and an agile mindset.

So, what workplace trends should you have on your radar for the coming year? Here, we focus on 8 key workplace trends for 2025. And offer practical tips on how to support each one.

1. Four-day work week
2. Hybrid work model
3. Non-traditional employement models
4. Employee well-being and mental health
5. AI in HR
6. Upskilling and reskilling
7. Workplace culture
8. Leadership

Workplace trends 2025 and how to leverage them

In 2024, we dug deep into what employees want from workplaces. Fast-forward a year, and it’s time to take stock and plan for the next wave of workplace trends. Below is an insight into how new workplace trends are changing the landscape. Plus suggestions on ways to leverage each one.

1. Five becomes four: The working week is shrinking

The four-day week will transition from a pipe dream to a growing reality for more employees in 2025.

In 2023, 63% of candidates rated a “four-day workweek for the same pay” as the new benefit that would most attract them to a job. And, according to more recent research, it’s expected to be adopted by 8.8 million workers (28% of the workforce) in Great Britain by 2033. This shift is one of the most discussed workplace trends in recent years. And 2025 looks to be a pivotal year in its evolution.

Challenging traditional work patterns, the four-day week is achieved through either compressed or reduced hours. And it’s being accelerated by advances in AI. In a report linking the use of GPT-4 with the four-day week, introducing Large Language Models into workplaces is estimated to reduce working hours by at least 10%.

For individuals, the move to a shorter working week is linked to improvements in mental and physical health. Which, in turn, leads to higher levels of productivity and retention for businesses.

Research from a formative trial of the four-day week by 61 UK businesses, provides more detail on this.

Employers who took part in the study reported a 65% reduction in sick days. And a 57% fall in employee turnover, compared to the same period the previous year. Why the shift? Thirty-nine percent of employees were less stressed because of the change in working patterns. And 71 % had reduced levels of burnout. All of which point towards greater efficiency and a better ROI.

The environment benefits too. A 10% reduction in working hours is associated with an 8.6% fall in carbon footprint.

Workplace trends tips: How to implement a four-day week

• Start with a pilot
• Set meaningful, measurable objectives
• Involve employees in planning and preferences
• Focus on outcomes, not hours. Redesign workflows
• Communicate openly, honestly, and clearly
• Leverage technology, including AI
• Evaluate and adjust based on metrics and feedback
• Don’t discriminate (find creative ways to address potential disparities across teams/roles).
• Provide training and support

2. Hybrid working asserts itself as the norm

Despite 2024’s flurry of RTO mandates, hybrid work will settle firmly into the foundations of most workplaces in 2025 and beyond. Making it one of the most significant workplace trends this year.

Combining in-office and remote work, this workplace trend reflects employees’ demand for more flexibility and a better work-life balance. While also accommodating employers’ need for a hands-on approach to collaboration, innovation, and teamwork.

In its white paper, Navigating the Future of Work, Zoom found that 60% of companies in North America currently operate a hybrid model. And that 75% of organizations plan to move towards a more hybrid working model in the next two years.

Workplace trends tips: How to optimize hybrid working

• Invest in collaborative technology and tools
• Redesign offices to support collaboration and also focused, individual working
• Set clear policies and expectations
• Foster inclusive communication
• Provide equal opportunities for hybrid workers

3. The rise of non-traditional employment models

The gig economy started as a side hustle for people working in niche sectors looking to earn extra cash. (For example, ride-sharing and food delivery.) This year, more high-skilled professionals are expected to embrace freelancing, gig work, or project-based employment. The result? The global gig workforce will exceed 1.6 billion in 2025, with over 50% of the US workforce joining the gig economy by 2027.

It’s clear from these figures that the transformation of traditional employment models is set to be one of the major workplace trends this year. But why the dramatic uplift? Let’s break this wave of growth down.

First off, workers today want more autonomy and flexibility within their professional life. More than that, though, the “job for life” mindset is fast-declining. Rising living costs and economic uncertainty are also a growing reality for many. Combined, this means more people are looking for ways to diversify, find new opportunities, and take more control of their career path.

In 2025, access to this empowering working model will be greater than ever before. Ongoing advances in tech and new, emerging platforms mean people in different job roles and industries can now benefit from a gig model.

But it’s not just worker demand fueling this move away from traditional work structures. Businesses are increasingly experiencing skill shortages. And looking for more cost-effective, scalable hiring solutions in a fast-moving, ever-changing market. The gig model offers companies the agility they need to stay competitive while accessing specialized talent on demand.

Workplace trends tips: How to embrace a gig model

• Provide well-defined briefs and clear expectations
• Build and nurture a rich talent pool
• Invest in an easy-to-use project management platform and intuitive, training tools
• Balance cost with quality

4. Well-being gets a seat on the board

According to a Mercer report, 80% of employees were at risk of burnout in 2024. And only 50% were “thriving” in their overall lives — the lowest figure recorded by Gallup since 2009. The percentage of employees who believed their organization cared about their well-being also remained stubbornly low throughout the year (24%).

Which means? Businesses are at a crux point. In 2025, it’s either go big or go home for wellness programs. From elevated levels of engagement to lower levels of absenteeism, this is the year businesses will start recognizing employee well-being as a tangible asset. And a vital driver of long-term, organizational success. But it’s also far more than that. With so much at stake for employees on a personal level, the hope is that this becomes more than a “workplace trend” or one of many “employee trends”. Rather, it should represent a firm, long-term commitment to combating employee burnout and mental health struggles.

Workplace trends tips: How to elevate well-being in the workplace

• Make well-being attainable, not just a concept
• Introduce mental health days
• Provide access to targeted therapies, resources, or employee assistance programs (EAPs)
• Write more creative and impactful policies
• Create ergonomic, well-lit, and inviting office spaces
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle
• Lead by example

5. AI joins the (HR) team

Streamlining ad-hoc tasks, intermittently aiding decision-making, and occasionally driving innovation, AI elbowed its way into workflows in 2024. And this under-the-radar disruption was a key workforce trend last year. But in 2025, generative tech is forging a new workplace trend. This is the year it formalizes its role on the team.

According to Gartner research, AI will input into 70% of text- and data-heavy tasks this year. That’s a dramatic rise from less than 10% in 2023. With the majority of repetitive tasks automated, roles and responsibilities will be redefined.

Core functions within specialized departments will also be reshaped and, in some cases, departmental profiles reevaluated. Let’s take HR as an example of this. With AI doing the heavy lifting, HR professionals can focus on strategy. And, by doing so, position HR as a key influencer in the organizational roadmap.

That said, signs indicate that AI may enter the “trough of disillusionment” (Gartner’s Hype Cycle) phase this year. As the scale and scope of deployment raise expectations, risk, governance, quality control, and data integrity also emerge.

Workplace trends tips: How to formalize AI within teams

• Develop a clear, scalable strategy linked to specific business goals
• Start with high-impact use cases
• Invest in training and upskilling
• Organize and clean up data
• Prioritize ethical practices and compliance
• Communicate the vision and prepare for the “trough of disillusionment” by managing expectations and assessing risk

6. Upskilling and reskilling become a priority

As advances in tech continue at pace, skills are becoming obsolete faster than ever. Yet, at the same time, the value of skills is increasing. Gaps are emerging as AI places new demands on the workforce. And critical areas within businesses are at risk due to a lack of experience among teams and individuals.

Against this backdrop, many companies are tearing down the “paper ceiling”. They’re hiring job seekers for skills and on-the-job experience rather than formal qualifications. Which means? Upskilling and reskilling will be pivotal workplace trends for businesses wanting to stay agile in a rapidly evolving world. And for employees wanting to stay competitive and capable.

The good news is, according to the latest TalentLMS L&D Benchmark Report 2024, 68% of employees already feel more prepared for the future of work because of the training they received last year. But now isn’t a time to stop. Looking ahead to 2025, the focus on continuous learning is set to accelerate.

Tasked with future-proofing businesses, a growth mindset, and skills-centered approach will put high demand on L&D teams. It will elevate the importance of intuitive employee training software and skills-based learning. Plus, it will see atypical career paths become more mainstream in the coming year.

Workplace trends tips: How to support upskilling and reskilling

• Conduct a skills gap analysis
• Leverage AI in learning and development to create personalized learning paths and provide scalable and flexible training solutions
• Offer microlearning, an interactive training program, and on-the-job training opportunities
• Encourage cross-functional learning

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7. Culture and emotional connections require a strategic focus

Workplace culture is often dismissed as an intangible concept. But the truth is, it’s strongly linked to business and personal success.

Employees who strongly agree they feel connected to their organization’s culture are 4 times as likely to be engaged at work. They’re 62% less likely to feel burned out. And they’re 43% less likely to actively look for another job. The problem? In 2024, employee engagement in the U.S. dropped to 31% — its lowest point in a decade. And, moving into 2025, only 2 in 10 US employees feel connected to their company’s culture. Viewed side by side, these stats points towards an increasing focus on organizational culture as a way of boosting engagement. And an important strategy for companies to explore to align with current workplace trends.

There could be several reasons for the “great detachment” currently making waves throughout the business world. The growth in remote work, for example. Plus, an increasingly dispersed, generationally disparate, and diverse workforce. Organizational values out of sync with employees’ deepening passion for sustainability and ethics could also be a factor. Or a general degradation of the employee experience. (For example, increased distractions, fewer in-person interactions, constant change, and an emphasis on technology over human experience.)

Either way, in 2025 businesses will be looking at employee retention strategies, underpinned by an employer value proposition reset. And exploring ways to establish a meaningful organizational culture, grow employee engagement, and improve social connections.

Workplace trends tips: How to establish a meaningful organizational culture

• Create and communicate core values and embed them in the day-to-day decision-making
• Encourage leaders to model authenticity and cultural values
• Provide remote employees with opportunities for interaction, both in-person and virtual
• Celebrate diversity and shared successes — particularly those that align with company goals
• Introduce immersive environments for working, training, team-building, and meetings
• Highlight the work of employee resource groups (ERGs) in providing support and advocacy

8. Leadership comes under review

Going into 2025, trust in leadership is in decline. In August 2024, Gallup recorded a low of 20% among US employees. And this isn’t the only challenge to management teams this coming year. Diversity among business leaders is also at risk.

A growing number of younger workers (52% of Gen Z professionals) are rejecting management roles. Viewing these as high-stress for low reward, they’re opting to follow a linear path of progression over a hierarchical one. Research also shows that women with children are twice as likely as men with children to say they declined or delayed a promotion due to family obligations. On top of this, leadership roles are transforming as traditional tasks are absorbed by AI.

Faced with this uncertain and unsteady landscape, a review of leadership looks to be a top priority for companies moving forward. Leadership diversity and soft skills capabilities, in particular, are emerging workplace trends that will define successful organizations in 2025.

At a structural level, companies will be looking to adapt job structures and expectations across leadership roles to accommodate and attract a wider talent. And reassessing work-life balance in general.

On an individual level, leaders will be expected to use a more human-centric approach in 2025 to offset the impact of AI. Specifically? Soft skills will overtake hard skills in terms of importance, as managers are tasked with boosting levels of trust and transparency, fostering emotional connections, and nurturing strong teams.

Pro tip: Most (middle) managers tend to be appointed due to technical prowess or specialist knowledge. For these leaders in particular, training in interpersonal skills will be an immediate priority.

Workplace trends tips: How to uplevel leadership

• Assess current leadership demographics using a diversity audit
• Invest in mentoring and professional development programs
• Evaluate leaders’ soft skills using employee performance skill assessments, 360-degree employee feedback, and employee surveys
• Provide targeted training on essential soft skills like emotional intelligence, empathy, conflict resolution, and active listening
• Recognize and reward leaders who demonstrate strong soft skills in their day-to-day work

The year we remember what it is to be human

The future of work is always a hot topic for employers and employees. By staying ahead of workplace trends (and workforce trends), companies can build an agile workforce ready to take on new challenges and win.

The workplace trends we’ve listed here will rank differently for different businesses. But there’s one workplace trend that will transcend all of these. And which will provide a solid foundation for progress across all of these for the foreseeable future — a move towards greater humanity.

As AI strengthens its grip across all areas of the workplace, the importance of interpersonal skills can’t—and shouldn’t—be undervalued. Emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to build meaningful human connections will become even more critical as technology takes on more routine and technical tasks. These uniquely human skills won’t just complement advancements in AI. They’ll also ensure that organizations remain grounded, innovative, and people-centric.

When it comes to workplace trends, 2025 looks set to be a pivotal year. This year, the businesses that thrive will be those that balance the power of technology with the value of human insight, creativity, and compassion. By embracing workplace trends that prioritize humanity alongside innovation, organizations can create a more resilient, inclusive, and fulfilling future for their workforce.

This isn’t just a trend—it’s a mindset.