2025 Work Relationship Index
Most employees aren't at their best—and companies can change that.
This infographic from the 2025 HP Work Relationship Index shows:
- Why only 20% of workers are in the Healthy Zone
- Why 41% are struggling
- How 85% of the drivers sit within business control
- Where AI and everyday tools improve focus and output
View the infographic for a clear look at what affects performance—and what to fix first.
What is the 2025 Work Relationship Index and what does it tell us?
The 2025 Work Relationship Index (WRI) is HP’s global study on how people feel about their relationship with work and what’s shaping that experience.
In 2025, the data shows that work isn’t working well for most knowledge workers:
- Only **20%** of knowledge workers have a **healthy relationship with work**.
- **41%** are in the **“Critical Zone”**, meaning their relationship with work is very unhealthy. This is up from **30% in 2024**.
- For the first time, workers are **more likely to have a very unhealthy relationship with work than a healthy one**.
The study highlights that this is happening against a backdrop of disruption:
- Many workers say **each aspect of their life is worse than two years ago**.
- Two‑thirds of knowledge workers have experienced significant change in the past year, including **return‑to‑office mandates, redundancies, cost pressures, and global political uncertainty**.
- Many feel their **company’s demands and expectations have increased**, while at the same time they see **cost‑cutting measures** and feel their **company is prioritizing profit over people**.
Despite this, the Index is clear that it doesn’t have to stay this way. The research finds that **around 85% of the factors influencing our relationship with work are within business control**. When organizations focus on fulfillment, people‑centric leadership, and the right technology (including AI), they see a much higher share of employees in the Healthy Zone.
In short, the 2025 WRI shows a workforce under pressure, but it also shows that businesses have a meaningful opportunity to reimagine how people experience work.
How does business performance and leadership affect employee fulfillment?
The 2025 Work Relationship Index shows a strong link between business performance, leadership behavior, and how fulfilled employees feel at work.
**Business performance and fulfillment go together**:
- In **strongly performing businesses**, **47%** of workers are in the **Healthy Zone**.
- In **static businesses**, only **13%** are in the Healthy Zone.
- In **underperforming businesses**, that drops to just **6%**.
This suggests that when companies grow in a healthy way, they’re more likely to create conditions where people feel fulfilled. It’s not just about financial results, though—how leaders behave matters a lot.
**Leadership and people‑centricity are key**:
- Employees are more fulfilled when **senior leadership demonstrates the same behaviors and actions they ask of others**.
- People respond positively when they are **encouraged to prioritize their wellbeing throughout the day**, rather than being expected to be “always on.”
- Many workers currently feel their **company is prioritizing profit over people**, which erodes trust and fulfillment.
The study recommends that organizations:
- **Lead with emotional intelligence (EQ)** and put **people at the heart of decision‑making**.
- **Include IT decision makers (ITDMs)** in shaping the employee experience, since technology is now central to how work gets done.
- Use **digital employee experience (DEX) solutions** to accurately measure and improve how technology and processes affect fulfillment.
When leadership models the right behaviors, aligns decisions with people’s wellbeing, and involves IT in solving experience gaps, the gap between fulfilled and non‑fulfilled workers narrows significantly.
What role do technology, AI, and Gen Z expectations play in the future of work?
The 2025 Work Relationship Index highlights that technology—especially AI—and the expectations of younger workers are reshaping how work gets done and how people feel about it.
**Technology and AI as enablers of fulfillment**:
- Businesses that **invest in the right tools and technology** are more likely to have workers in the **Healthy Zone**.
- Companies that **bring AI into daily work** are seeing clearer benefits in employee experience.
- Among workers with a healthy relationship with work, a significant share **use AI tools daily**.
However, knowledge workers overall are still **lagging on AI adoption and proficiency**:
- There is a clear **technology wish list** among knowledge workers focused on tools that improve effectiveness and make AI part of the everyday workflow.
- Among daily users of work‑provided AI tools, **31% describe themselves as proficient**, compared with **24% overall**, suggesting that regular use builds confidence and skills.
The study recommends that organizations:
- **Democratize tech and AI** across the workforce, not just for a small group.
- Provide **continuous upskilling** so employees can use AI confidently and productively.
- **Utilize DEX solutions** to measure and optimize the digital employee experience.
**Gen Z is reimagining work expectations**:
- Gen Z workers are **more optimistic and enthusiastic** about how technology will improve their work life.
- Many are entrepreneurial: **51% of Gen Z have a side venture**.
- Their **Work Relationship Index score is 4 points higher than average**, indicating a somewhat healthier relationship with work.
- A large share of Gen Z would **trade salary for**:
- **Flexibility** in when and where they work.
- **Above‑average work‑life balance**.
- **Company ethics aligned with their personal values**.
- **Cutting‑edge technology** that supports how they want to work.
For businesses, this means:
- **Reimagine work experiences for future generations** by building in flexibility, purpose, and modern tools.
- **Model leadership behaviors** that reflect Gen Z’s expectations around ethics and balance.
- **Provide upgraded, efficient hardware and advanced AI tools** so employees can work smarter, not harder.
In essence, the future of work will be shaped by how well organizations combine people‑centric leadership with accessible, effective technology and AI—especially in ways that align with what Gen Z and younger talent are looking for.
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