The workplace is evolving at pace, all thanks to technology, shifting societal norms and employee needs. So, heading into 2025, what can we expect?

Shannon Karaka, Country Head of HR platform Deel for Australia and New Zealand says that when it comes to the workplace in 2025, these trends will redefine how people work and collaborate with each other.

The employee experience will be vastly different thanks to new work arrangements and innovation in productivity.

What can we expect?

Hushed Hybrid

Return to office mandates are increasing but employees are tiptoeing their way back into the office. What was expected as mainstream a couple of years ago will now be kept ‘hush hush’ within managers and their teams.

Rules will be bent, and whispers of flexibility will be prevalent.

Karaka says hushed hybrid will be the workplace version of a secret club.

Coffee Badging

Defined as employees popping into the office just long enough to grab a coffee and clock in, then dash off to work somewhere else.

Karaka says this can be considered as a “quick caffeine pit stop” to show employers that they are there. Consider it a “cheeky” way to be hybrid.

But for employers, this will pose a challenge: how to make the office a place to hang out and stay.

Alonement

If working hybrid is no longer an option, employees are looking for alternatives, including secluded spaces in the office to get that feeling of ‘alonement’.

In the Idealog office, there is a hushpod, perfect for those who want their own quiet space.

These ‘alonement’ spaces are going to pop up now more than ever, giving employees a cozy hideaway and their own sense of solitude without leaving the office.

Read more: The rise of co-working spaces with my Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk companion

New-Collar Worker

A new collar has entered the mix alongside blue and white, and this is defined by those with no degrees, shaking up the hiring industry.

These workers prove that those without diplomas can snag a top-tier job on skill alone.

“Welcome to the era where skills pay the bills,” adds Karaka.

Naked Quitting

This trend first emerged in China and is now making its way across the world. ‘Naked Quitting’ looks at workers ditching their jobs without having a backup plan.

Karaka says this comes from the amount of pressure and rigidity that workers are starting to feel.

Now, workers are seeking roles that prioritise wellbeing and work-life balance and if companies can’t adapt and meet these expectations fast enough, workers are ready to quit immediately.

Progressive time-off policies

There is a new wave of leave policies that workers are looking for in hopes to cover heartbreak, menstrual, pawternity and even Tinder leave.

Companies are now getting creative with time off to support its employees who are suffering from mending broken hearts, welcoming furry friends and so much more.

Traditional sick leave is now slowly dying down and bosses are now welcoming a new world where they support dating lives.

Karaka adds that these progressive perks will boost the well-being and keep employees happy in hopes they stay on board.

Bring your own AI

As seen in Hong Kong offices where AI is the most prevalent, the 2024 World Trade Index Report by Microsoft and LinkedIn revealed that 78% of employees are using their own AI tools.

Everyone in the chain has their own digital sidekick whether it is ChatGPT or a larger more developed machine – the future of AI is here.

Call-in-sick generation

Did you know that Gen Z is more likely to call in sick for their mental health than the likes of their Gen X colleagues.

With over a third dealing with common mental health challenges, Gen Z is flipping the script.

The Resolution Foundation says that this is a wake-up call – it is time to prioritise mental wellbeing.