Each new year is synonymous with changes and resolutions, especially in a professional context. In 2025, these aspirations take on particular importance, motivated by a growing need for fulfillment and transformation at work. This article seeks to explore the main resolutions that employees wish to adopt, as well as their impact on the work environment.
Expectations of working conditions are changing, giving way to bolder and more meaningful resolutions. Whether in terms of assertiveness, work-life balance or maintaining a respectful environment, we will examine these crucial issues in detail.
Employees’ key resolutions for the new year
According to one recent study, several resolutions clearly stand out among those adopted by French employees. They reflect growing needs for recognition, self-affirmation and better working conditions.
We observe that many employees want stop criticizing their colleagues and favor more positive interactions. Say “thank you” more often becomes a sought-after habit, contributing to a more friendly and supportive work environment.
Furthermore, many people want reduce personal conversations during office hours to increase their productivity. Also popular is the decision to reduce coffee consumption, a reflection of an awareness of physical and mental well-being. Finally, ask for a raise or promotion is a frequent aspiration, especially among men, although women also feel this need, often with more difficulty asserting themselves.
A New Communication Manual
Seeking to improve relationships between colleagues becomes essential. One of the most commonly cited aspects is the need to promote open and positive communication in offices. Companies have a key role to play here, by promoting communication workshops or seminars on conflict management. Indeed, a collaborative environment not only improves employee morale, but also increases overall productivity. For example, at a growing tech company, leaders organized a monthly seminar where teams share their successes. This generated a sense of belonging and helped reduce stress.
The impact of gender on professional resolutions
Gender differences play an important role in the resolutions made by employees. Women, more affected by professional pressure and disrespectful behavior, want to assert themselves more. They are also looking for an improvement in the atmosphere at work and hope for increased recognition for their efforts.
According to surveys, 82% of women wish to assert themselves in the face of behavior deemed disrespectful. This statistic shows their desire to transform their work environment into a more respectful and equitable place.
A look at reality
Statistics reveal that many women feel the need to prove their legitimacy, which may explain why they strongly feel the need to ask for pay raises and promotions. This crime of affirmation is more pronounced than for their male counterparts, thus revealing a continuous quest for recognition in a sometimes unfavorable climate. A poignant anecdote on this subject comes from a young professional in the field of marketing who had to defend her campaign proposal, although her ideas were rejected several times initially. With persistence, she demonstrated real results, but this journey was strewn with pitfalls, highlighting the need for more global awareness of these issues.
Towards a balance between professional and personal life
One of the major objectives for employees in 2025 is to find a better balance between professional and personal life. Many are concerned about this issue and are taking steps to address it.
To achieve this balance, learn to say no to non-essential requests is crucial. A large number of employees set the goal of better managing their time and priorities in order to reduce stress and preserve their mental and physical health. Aspiring to spend more time with family and friends, cultivating personal hobbies and having time to relax are also among the real priorities of professionals today.
Underlying reasons for planned resignations
In addition to resolutions aimed at improving the work experience, a notable phenomenon in 2025 is the increase in resignation intentions. Several factors explain this worrying trend: a toxic work environment, a lack of prospects for advancement, and a gap between personal values and those of the company.
Finding themselves in an unfulfilling work environment pushes many employees towards the exit. More than 24% of employees are considering leaving their current position, looking for an environment where they can feel valued and in harmony with their aspirations.
A revealing picture
Here is a table which illustrates the main reasons given by employees for considering resignation:
| Reason | Percentage of employees |
| Toxic work environment | 45% |
| Lack of prospects for advancement | 39% |
| Misaligned personal values | 31% |
| High stress | 35% |
The importance of keeping your resolutions
Making resolutions is one thing, but maintaining them throughout the year is a major challenge. Approximately 59% of employees admit to having difficulty achieving their stated goals. However, even if these promises are difficult to keep, they reveal a sincere desire for change and improvement in professional life.
To successfully keep your resolutions, you need to implement certain strategies:
- Break down the goals: Breaking big resolutions into concrete, achievable actions helps maintain motivation.
- Support and accountability: Sharing your goals with colleagues or friends can provide needed support and a form of shared responsibility.
- Track your progress: Keeping a journal of achievements allows you to visualize progress and adjust efforts accordingly.
Success Stories
Many employees who have put these strategies into practice have succeeded in keeping their commitments. Let’s take the example of Marc, who decided to reduce his working hours and focus more on his personal life. He set up a tracking chart for his time management and shared his progress with his colleagues, which motivated him to continue in this direction.
The transformation of workspaces
With increasingly demanding expectations of their workplaces, employees are seeking to reshape their environments to better meet their needs and expectations. This includes creating more inclusive and respectful company cultures.
Improving corporate culture involves various levers, such as adapting internal policies to promote well-being, fairness and respect.
Evolution of internal policies
Initiatives such as cultural awareness training and implementing transparent practices are commonly undertaken to foster a positive climate. This development does not only concern large companies; SMEs also seek to create work environments where everyone can flourish.
By encouraging healthy and productive professional relationships, organizations establish frameworks conducive to satisfaction and performance.
Now, let’s observe how these resolutions generate not only individual but also collective changes within companies.