Nearly half (47 per cent) of U.S. employees rate their overall well-being positively, up from 44 per cent in 2024, according to a new survey by Alight Solutions.
The survey, which polled more than 2,500 employees, found nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of employees reported positive energy and excitement at work and 66 per cent said they feel a genuine sense of belonging in their workplace.
Even with such progress, challenges remain. Two-fifths (39 per cent) of employees said they dread starting their workday — up five per cent from 2023 — while 34 per cent said they’ve lost trust in their employer’s well-being efforts, a seven-point increase over the same period.
Read: 80% of Canadian SMEs not confident employees would disclose mental-health issues: survey
While 85 per cent of employees reported access to at least one employer-sponsored well-being program, utilization of these programs was, on average, between 30 per cent and 35 per cent.
Communication is another area for improvement. While 63 per cent of employees said they feel more informed about benefits than in previous years, 46 per cent said the volume of communication is overwhelming, an eight-point increase since 2024.
The survey also found working arrangements have a clear influence on employee well-being. Nearly nine in 10 (86 per cent) employees in a remote-working arrangement said they’re satisfied with where and how they work, the highest percentage among any work arrangement. On the other hand, 40 per cent of hybrid workers reported increased feelings of loneliness, compared to 35 per cent of fully remote workers and 26 per cent of those working onsite.
However, choice plays a big part in how workers feel about where they work. While 72 per cent of self-scheduled hybrid workers said they’re happy with their situation, only 53 per cent of company-scheduled hybrid workers felt the same. Among hybrid employees, 61 per cent reported feeling connected to co-workers, compared to 51 per cent of remote workers and 46 per cent of onsite employees.
Read: Employers, employees divided over benefits of remote, hybrid work: survey