“Fatigue” has officially been declared the word of the year by Glassdoor, a label that captures the mood of a workforce pushed to its limits in 2025.
The declaration comes as mentions of the term ‘fatigue’ surged 41% across Glassdoor Community this year, reflecting a sentiment employees repeatedly voiced: they are drained.
Earlier in the year, when Glassdoor asked workers whether news events were sapping their energy at work, 78% said YES. That exhaustion, it turns out, never truly faded, despite organizations doing their best to improve employee wellbeing at work.
“This year, workers spent a lot of time on edge, worried about the next headline, technology shift, or economic surprise coming around the corner,” Glassdoor said. “The result? A workforce running on empty.”
Yet amid the fatigue, many found solace in something simple: talking to one another.
Conversations on Glassdoor Community became a space where jobseekers vented, empathised, and compared experiences, often about topics that weren’t “work-related” but had seeped into the workday anyway.
Politics at work, whether employees wanted it or not
According the report, 2025 made it loudly clear that politics no longer stays outside the workplaces. As mentions of “inauguration” jumped 875% year-over-year, tied to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January. His decisions around DEI and federal workforce cuts sparked discussion, and tension, inside workplaces.
For many, even staying neutral became impossible. “I wore my ‘I Voted’ sticker to the office and had to take it off because people kept using it as an invitation to debate.” a Senior Manager shared in the report.
“I never initiate conversations about politics at the office… but if I hear someone saying something hateful or outright wrong, I can’t let it slide.” said another.
Research shows that political talk at work is a double-edged sword, energising some, exhausting many, but in 2025 particularly, it was unavoidable.
Stagflation, inflation and pay frustrations feed economic fatigue
Economic uncertainty was another defining stressor for the global workforce, as mentions of “stagflation” rose more than threefold from last year.
Employees didn’t hold back about their frustrations: “Anyone else absolutely ‘ecstatic’ about compensation not keeping up with inflation every year?” said an employee.
“Our pay bump was 2% across the board, basically nothing with inflation.” shared a senior tech recruiter
Concerns about recession, rising prices and stagnant salaries weighed heavily throughout the year.
AI disruption, and the overwhelm of trying to keep up
The rapid rise of generative and agentic AI added a new layer of anxiety, as mentions of “agentic” jumped 2,244% and workers questioned how to stay relevant, especially amid reports warning that AI is already taking over some early-career roles.
“If your résumé doesn’t say ‘agentic AI’ or ‘autonomous agents,’ you’re behind.” remarked a senior analyst
“Anyone else overwhelmed? Every day it’s AI coding assistants, agentic apps… things are moving too fast.” a employee at PwC shared.
Alongside this, job search exhaustion surged. Workers spoke frequently about feeling stuck, uncertain, or fearful about their prospects, and their job security.
A surprising twist: despite everything, optimism crept back in
Glassdoor even analysed emoji use across its community. And it reports that in the first half of 2025, red flags and shocked faces dominated, a fitting reflection of the collective mood.
But by the second half, sentiment shifted. Top emojis became ones of optimism: the laughing emoji, raised hands, wide grins.
Workers may be tired, but they’re not hopeless.
What HRs can do
Experts say tackling fatigue requires more than wellness emails or time-off reminders, it requires addressing the roots. On politics at work, Amanda Czepiel, U.S. Country Manager at Brightmine, urged HR leaders to implement clear, enforceable guardrails to prevent culture atrophy, while still encouraging civil, open communication.
On financial and emotional wellbeing, TELUS Health New Zealand’s Julie Cressey said organisations need flexible, inclusive support systems, from mental health tools to EAP services and financial counselling, to help employees navigate uncertainty.
On AI anxiety, Mercer’s advice is straightforward: silence from leaders only fuels fear. “No leader will have all the answers,” Mercer noted. “But not talking about AI, or pretending it’s a future problem, is far riskier than admitting you don’t know everything.”
And on burnout, organisational psychologist Adam Grant offered two science-backed strategies:
- Distraction: focus on small wins and silver linings
- Reframing: shift perspective during periods of chaos
He also encouraged employees to have transparent conversations with managers, “Ask them: ‘I’m trying to avoid burnout but also worried about job security. Do you have guidance on how to ensure I don’t burn out? Should I worry about taking breaks?’” Seeking advice, he said, is one of the fastest ways to turn a manager into an advocate.
In 2026, fatigue won’t vanish magically, as 2025 proved that workers aren’t facing it alone. Whether they’re navigating political tensions, economic pressures, or the acceleration of AI, employees are finding strength in community, honesty, and shared experience. And for now, “fatigue” captures more than a trend, it captures a workforce trying, together, to push through it.