UNITED STATES — The workplace was filled with uncertainty in 2025. Frequent layoffs contributed to an increasing disconnect between employees and leaders and declining workplace satisfaction.
In its Worklife Trends 2026 report, Glassdoor underscored the importance of employees and leaders working together to navigate the following crises:
- Employee-Leader Disconnect. Workers have become progressively skeptical of their leaders. This is reflected in Glassdoor reviews: 24% for disconnect, 26% for distrust, and 25% for miscommunication.
- “Forever Layoff” Trends. Job cuts regularly occurred in smaller numbers but in frequent waves. These rolling layoffs may have helped firms cut costs without making headlines, but they have created cultures of workplace anxiety and resentment.
- Slow-mo RTO. The pressure for workers to return to the office increased as remote career opportunities decreased in 2025. This not only threatened workers’ work-life balance but also translated into declining job satisfaction ratings.
- Decreased Hiring Rates. Refusal rates may have dropped dramatically in 2025, but that doesn’t mean good news. It’s a reflection of how difficult it has become to land jobs in today’s market, slowing career growth for workers and deepening disengagement crises.
What This Means for the Workforce in 2026
This Glassdoor report underscores the importance of valuing employees and honoring their needs to avoid undermining performance, morale, and organizational culture. When workers don’t feel valued or aligned with their leaders, loyalty suffers, which also harms productivity.
Gone are the days when employees settle for bare minimum workplace benefits and engagement. Now, they’re pursuing career growth opportunities and stability.
For companies, this highlights the need to rebuild employees’ trust through transparent communication and empathy. A shift from purely profit-driven management to a more people-centric approach may also be favored.
By 2026, culture and ethics will become key differentiators among companies. Firms that treat their employees well will gain a competitive advantage, reflected in both talent retention and performance improvements.
