As more employees experience financial impacts from inflation and rising day-to-day costs, a greater number are turning to their employers for help.
According to MetLife’s 2025 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study (EBTS) , employees reported prominent drops in holistic health, including in areas like physical, mental, social, and financial wellness (-5%), followed by productivity (-5%), and engagement (-7%) in the workforce. This is as more cite financial concerns tied to rising medical costs (77%) and economic uncertainty (68%).
As a result, 81% of employees are holding their employers accountable for “building trust at work,” MetLife finds. Further, employees are 1.5 times more likely to trust their employers compared to other institutions.
Employers can build trust with employees by improving workplace outcomes, like providing positive benefit experiences and opportunities for workers to provide feedback, MetLife lists. The study shows that employees who trust their employers and feel taken care of are more likely to feel holistically healthy (3.8x), engaged (2.4x), and productive (1.9x). They are also likelier to trust that their employers will protect them in economic downturns (2.1x) and to trust their employer’s leadership (1.8x).
“Our research continues to validate that employers who demonstrate care for their employees see improved workplace health and outcomes,” said Todd Katz, head of Group Benefits at MetLife. “What we’ve newly uncovered this year, given macro challenges, is an opportunity to fortify care by fostering trust. Employers that focus on prioritizing benefit experiences and culture can effectively build high-trust, high-performing workplaces.”
Employers wanting to enhance workplace benefits could do so by providing personalized guidance and enhancing communication strategies.
“Benefits provide employees with stability and protection in uncertain times, which helps them feel cared for and amplifies trust,” adds Katz.
MetLife’s EBTS report surveyed 2,567 human resource (HR) decisionmakers and 5,579 full-time employees. It also interviewed 33 senior-level stakeholders, including HR decisionmakers, analysts, brokers, and C-suite executives.
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Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with over six years of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. Amanda received her degree in journalism and government and politics at St. John’s University. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado with her partner. In her free time, Amanda enjoys running, cooking, and watching the latest drama show.
