TriNet Unveils 2025 State of the Workplace Report

Core Insights - The TriNet 2025 State of the Workplace report highlights significant changes in employee engagement, AI adoption, workplace flexibility, and benefits within small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the U.S. [2][4] Employee Engagement - Employee engagement is perceived to be increasing, with 47% of employers believing employees are "extremely engaged," a rise of 10 percentage points from 37% in 2024. However, only one-third of Gen Z employees share this sentiment, indicating a disconnect between employer perceptions and employee realities [5]. Workplace Flexibility - The trend towards workplace flexibility is evident, with 26% of employers favoring three days in the office, up from 21%. In contrast, only 14% of employees agree with this arrangement, suggesting a need for better alignment on flexible work policies [5]. Skills Gap - There is a growing talent readiness gap, as 46% of employers believe their workers possess the necessary skills, while only 49% of employees agree, down from 59% in 2024. This indicates a widening disconnect in perceived workforce capabilities [5]. AI Adoption - AI usage in HR is becoming mainstream, with 94% of employers and 84% of employees reporting its use. However, there is a slight pullback in sensitive areas like offboarding and training, where human context is still deemed essential [5]. Mental Health Support - Recognition of mental health support is increasing, with the percentage of employers considering it "extremely important" rising to 37% from 28%. This reflects a growing prioritization of mental health in workplace benefits [5]. Fertility Coverage - Fertility coverage is gaining importance, with employer ratings for "extremely" and "moderately important" climbing to 29% and 31%, respectively. Employee indifference towards this benefit has decreased from 31% to 19% [5]. Childcare Assistance - There is a notable alignment between employers and employees regarding childcare assistance, with both sides showing increased support. Employers have raised their "extremely important" and "somewhat important" ratings, while employee responses indicating "not at all important" have nearly halved [5]. Employee Discounts - The importance of employee discounts has seen a shared increase, with employers' "extremely important" ratings rising to 32% from 27%, and employees' "moderately important" responses increasing to 36% from 29% [5].