HP’s Work Relationship Index 2026 points to an improvement in how office workers view their jobs, but the data also highlights persistent pressure around burnout and economic uncertainty. The study found that 29% of office employees now describe their relationship with work as healthy, up from 21% a year earlier.
The improvement is uneven. HP reports that 35% of respondents remain in a critical stress and burnout zone, while 67% say the economic climate makes them too concerned to change jobs at present.
AI has become an established part of workplace routines in the survey: 47% of employees said they already use AI agents at work, and 39% use AI in their daily workflow. Respondents also placed a premium on reliable, fast devices, with more than half saying better technology is important to doing their jobs effectively.
The findings align with HP’s broader workplace portfolio, which combines AI-capable PCs with IT management platforms and Wolf Security protections. The company is positioning the hardware, software and security stack as part of a response to everyday employee friction rather than as standalone products.
HP has also highlighted education and entrepreneurship initiatives, including a partnership with Junior Achievement that has run for more than two decades and CompassHub Iancului, a space offering free access to technology. The Work Relationship Index suggests that as AI deployment accelerates, organizations will still need to address the human factors behind workplace stress and retention.
