Glassdoor’s Word of the Year Is “Fatigue”
Date
Glassdoor has named “fatigue” its word of the year, reflecting how employees experienced work in 2025. This wasn’t just the stress of a busy week or project, it was a sustained sense of exhaustion shaped by ongoing change and uncertainty. Politics, layoffs, inflation, and the rapid adoption of AI contributed to employees feeling stretched and worn down.
A Year Lived in Anticipation
For employees, 2025 felt like a year spent bracing for what came next. Every headline, economic signal, or technology shift demanded attention, leaving little space to recharge. The work environment wasn’t just busy—it was anticipatory, a constant preparation for the next change, often beyond anyone’s control.
Fatigue in the Numbers
The data reflects this strain. Mentions of “fatigue” on Glassdoor Community rose 41% compared with the previous year. In a spring survey asking whether news events drained energy at work, 78% of professionals said yes. That exhaustion didn’t ease as the year went on; it was a persistent backdrop to daily work life.
Pressures Shaping Work in 2025
Three major forces emerged as key contributors to fatigue:
Politics at Work Even employees who preferred to avoid political discussions found themselves drawn in. Mentions of “inauguration” increased 875%, illustrating how political events penetrated the workplace.
“I wore my ‘I Voted’ sticker to the office and had to take it off.” — Senior Manager
Economic Uncertainty Compensation lagged behind inflation, and fears of a recession lingered. Mentions of “stagflation” more than tripled compared with 2024.
“2% across the board feels like nothing with inflation.” — Senior Tech Recruiter
AI Disruption and Job Anxiety Rapid adoption of AI created pressure to stay relevant. Mentions of “agentic” skyrocketed 2,244%, highlighting concerns about skills, career stability, and being prepared for a quickly evolving job market.
“If your resume doesn’t mention agentic AI, you’re already behind.” — Senior Analyst
Fatigue Isn’t Personal
The cumulative effect of politics, economic uncertainty, and technology created an environment where fatigue was almost inevitable. It’s not a reflection of individual weakness—employees were responding to conditions that left little room to recover.
Strategies to Navigate Workplace Fatigue
Organizational psychologist Adam Grant recommends practical approaches for managing prolonged work strain:
- Distraction Focus on small wins and positive developments rather than fixating on every stressor.
- Reframing Maintain perspective on challenges without ignoring the reality of the pressures.
- Manager Support Openly ask managers for guidance on avoiding burnout while protecting job security.
Understanding the sources of fatigue and seeking support are essential steps toward managing it effectively.
Looking Ahead
Glassdoor’s 2025 Word of the Year shows that fatigue is a real, measurable trend in the workforce. The lesson isn’t that employees are failing—it’s that work environments are demanding and complex, requiring both organizational awareness and individual strategies to maintain well-being.
Source Glassdoor, 'AI, politics, and stagflation: The forces driving worker fatigue,' December 2025.
Explore More The Hottest Brands in Q3/2025 The Creative Industries' Biggest Moves in October 2025
