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Rising medical costs and economic uncertainty are stressing out today’s workforce.

That’s according to MetLife’s 2025 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study which revealed a decline in employees’ holistic health (-5%), productivity (-5%), and engagement (-7%) across the board and found that a majority of employees are worried about finances.

Rising medical costs (77%) and economic uncertainty (68%) were listed as employees’ primary source of stress amid social and economic turmoil, the survey said. Employees are turning to their employers for stability and support, according to MetLife’s EBTS. Some 81% of employees reported holding their employer accountable for building trust at work, while employees overall are 1.5x more likely to trust their employer than other institutions.

That’s a “great responsibility” for any employer. Building trust comes with a significant opportunity to improve workplace outcomes, according to MetLife’s study, which noted that trust, when combined with employee care, has a profound impact on employees.

“Employees who trust and feel cared for by their employer are more likely to feel holistically healthy (3.8x), engaged (2.4x), and more productive (1.9x) than those with either or neither,” the study said.

MetLife recommends that employers can build trust by fostering a supportive culture and promoting positive benefits experiences.

Workplaces that promote recognition of achievements and hold a culture with transparent leadership and empathy are more likely to foster trust between employees and employers, MetLife’s report said. Combining the right mix of benefits with a positive utilization experience is also highly correlated to increased trust and improved outcomes, the study said.

According to MetLife’s study, employees who use and have positive experiences with their employee benefits are:

• 2.4x more likely to feel holistically healthy.
• 2.1x more likely to trust that their employer will protect them in economic downturns.
• 1.8x more likely to trust their employer’s leadership.

“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, when releasing the survey report. “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 and high-performing workplaces, he added.

To view MetLife’s 2025 Employee Benefit Trends Study, visit .