Owl Labs, the primary firm to construct AI-powered, 360-degree video conferencing options for hybrid organizations, at the moment launched new survey information that provides a take a look at the state of the office for the primary half of 2025. Surveying greater than 1,000 full-time information staff throughout the USA, the info gives a pulse verify on how AI is shaping our each day workplace life, a take a look at the Gen Z employee, and way more.
As firms modify their in-office insurance policies in 2025, staff are more and more turning to AI instruments to boost their productiveness and preserve work-life steadiness. With worker monitoring turning into extra widespread and conventional perks like ‘Summer season Fridays’ turning into much less prevalent, know-how is serving twin roles – serving to firms observe efficiency whereas empowering staff to adapt, particularly these balancing work with household obligations.
“The fashionable day workplace expertise is powered by AI and tech, whether or not that’s staff utilizing it to get extra finished, or managers overseeing by worker monitoring software program. For the primary time, we’re seeing staff being actively inspired to make use of AI, marking a serious shift from only a 12 months in the past,” mentioned Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs. “On the similar time, stricter return-to-office mandates are fueling anxiousness, particularly amongst youthful staff and people juggling caregiving obligations. The info reveals what at the moment’s workforce actually must thrive.”
The AI tide has formally turned – greater than half of US firms (56%) now encourage utilizing it on the job
In solely two years, there was an enormous shift in the case of AI utilization within the office. In our 2023 information report, about 44% of staff mentioned they imagine AI will assist them do their jobs sooner and extra successfully. Now, quick ahead to 2025, and nearly all of US firms (67%) are utilizing AI within the office, whereas almost half (46%) of staff will not be simply utilizing it however say they’re both closely or considerably reliant on it at work.
Over half of staff say their employer encourages the usage of AI at work. Almost 1 / 4 (24%) report sturdy help, full with instruments, coaching, and clear tips, whereas one other 32% get entry with at the least some course. Solely 4% say AI use is discouraged in any respect.
AI is making workplace life simpler for a lot of, with staff utilizing it most for administrative duties like scheduling and calendar administration (35%), crunching information (33%), and whipping up content material like emails and reviews (30%). The reliance on AI will increase in youthful generations, with 70% of Gen Z staff and 59% of millennials saying they’re reliant on it at work. An additional 36% mentioned that whereas they weren’t reliant they nonetheless use it sometimes for choose duties.
AI is turning into so integral to the each day of the office that individuals have fears about their jobs. Greater than half (52%) of staff are involved about their job or profession as a consequence of AI integration. The largest fears embrace: lowered job stability and/or potential layoffs (17%), the necessity to study new abilities or retrain to remain aggressive (15%) and fewer alternatives for profession progress (13%). Gen X (51%) and Boomers (61%) are the least involved about this, which can stem from the truth that they may retire prior to youthful generations.
Greater than half of US firms are monitoring staff with monitoring software program, with Gen Z and Millennials beneath the closest watch
Tech and AI will not be simply serving to staff, they’re additionally being utilized by employers to see what’s taking place amongst staff. The bulk (53%) of US staff mentioned that their group now makes use of some type of worker monitoring software program, which is up from 46% who reported the addition or elevated use of worker monitoring software program in our 2024 State of Hybrid Work Report.
Youthful generations are being monitored the closest, with a whopping 80% of Gen Z and 64% of millennials say their employers use monitoring software program. Solely a few quarter (26%) report no monitoring in any respect, whereas many are both not sure it’s taking place (20.5%) or don’t know what’s being tracked (12.8%).
Employers typically wish to know when individuals are working, as login/logout instances (30%) are probably the most closely monitored adopted by variety of conferences (16%), display or mouse motion (15%), and even keyboard utilization (15%).
The as soon as prevalent Summer season Fridays providing is fading quick, whereas staff crave further flexibility in the summertime months
Staff are being requested to do extra with much less, are being monitored and beneath elevated stress, and in consequence are craving a reprieve from all of it. Particularly because the months get hotter, they need flexibility. Our information discovered that staff’ most valued types of flexibility in the summertime months are: half-days on Fridays (33%), versatile every day begin and finish instances (28%), and having Friday off utterly (27%).
Sadly, Summer season Fridays are fading quick. Simply 1 in 3 U.S. staff nonetheless get them – and it’s largely the youthful crowd cashing in. Over half of Gen Z (54%) and 43% of millennials say they’ve had Summer season Fridays, in comparison with far fewer older staff.
Looking forward to 2025, solely 21% count on the identical candy perk as earlier than (early depart or full time without work), whereas one other 12% say the providing is being scaled again. The summer season slowdown may be slowing down for good.
Greater than half of staff (57%) say it’s time for firms to step up with higher help and adaptability for caregiving – whether or not it’s youngsters or growing older dad and mom
Juggling work and caregiving is the norm for a lot of, nevertheless it’s particularly stunning to see that quantity so excessive for youthful staff. Proper now, 34% of U.S. staff are balancing childcare or eldercare, with that quantity leaping to 48% for Gen Z and 51% for millennials. Two-thirds (66%) of caregivers fear that it’s affecting their job efficiency.
Caregivers are on the lookout for extra help than they’re at the moment getting: 57% of staff assume employers ought to step up with higher methods or extra flexibility. That sentiment is even stronger amongst Gen Z (79%) and millennials (60%). Nonetheless, 34% imagine all staff ought to be handled the identical, regardless of their obligations exterior of labor.
Return-to-office mandates are driving expertise away – many staff whose firms carried out in-office mandates (66%) at the moment are job searching in consequence
Return-to-office mandates at the moment are stronger than ever. Almost half (47%) of U.S. staff say their employer has rolled out or ramped up in-office necessities this 12 months, with Gen Z (82%) and hybrid staff (60%) feeling it probably the most.
The commonest mandate is a full 5 days every week (19%), adopted by a three-day schedule (10%). 7% of staff have been mandated to return into the workplace two days per week, whereas 6% have been advised 4 days and 5% have been advised someday. In-office mandates are everywhere in the map, however many firms have one factor in widespread – flexibility is beginning to fade.
Not everyone seems to be completely satisfied concerning the comeback. Whereas 37% of staff be ok with in-office mandates and assume it should increase productiveness, and 38% say they don’t thoughts, frustration is effervescent beneath the floor – 16% are brazenly sad, and a whopping 66% are job searching due to it.
Youthful staff are main the exodus: 84% of Gen Z and 79% of millennials are on the lookout for extra versatile gigs. However touchdown these roles isn’t assured – 31% say versatile jobs are straightforward to seek out, whereas 24% say it’s a battle.
The ‘Assembly Tax’ is getting expensive – 43% of staff have ditched in-office tech for hybrid conferences sooner or later out of sheer frustration
Hybrid conferences are the brand new norm, with eight in ten conferences now being hybrid, in keeping with our information. Nevertheless, the setup will not be so clean. Employees waste worthwhile time simply getting these conferences off the bottom, whether or not it’s attempting to find the best hyperlink, rounding up the staff, or battling tech glitches. In reality, 43% have given up solely on utilizing in-office tech due to the setup frustrations.
Tech complications are an enormous time-suck – particularly for youthful staff. Gen Z is probably the most pissed off (78%), adopted by millennials (52%), a lot of whom find yourself utilizing their very own gadgets to keep away from the effort.
On common, 28% of staff are spending 3-6 minutes establishing hybrid conferences, and 12% are clocking in over ten minutes. Solely 13% say they by no means waste time on setup, with that quantity rising amongst Gen X (16%) and boomers (18%), possible counting on youthful colleagues to deal with the tech.
For extra future of labor information, see Owl Labs’ most up-to-date annual State of Hybrid Work report. Contact press@owllabs.com with any questions or inquiries.
