The Future of Work is AI + Human Connection.
Deputy Announces 2025 International Shift Worker Sunday Theme: ‘Better Together’
GLOBAL - 14 October 2025 — Deputy, the global people platform for shift work, today announced the 2025 theme for International Shift Worker Sunday: Better Together.
Shift Worker Sunday is the annual global moment to honour the 2.7 billion shift workers who keep our world moving every day. From nurses caring for patients overnight, to baristas opening cafés at dawn, to truck drivers, caregivers, and retail associates powering our communities, shift workers make modern life possible.
As artificial intelligence accelerates across industries, headlines often frame it as a threat to jobs. Too often, frontline workers, the 80% of the global workforce who work on their feet, have been left behind by waves of technology. The internet, mobile, and cloud took years to reach them, and many businesses still run with little to no digital tools at all.
Deputy sees a different future: one where AI and people work side by side, amplifying each other’s strengths. With smartphones in nearly every worker’s pocket and consumer AI tools already part of daily life, shift workers are positioned to leapfrog into the AI era faster than ever before. Instead of exclusion, this is the chance to bring them to the forefront of the technology revolution.
“The future of work isn’t AI versus people — it’s AI plus human connection. That’s what Better Together truly means,” said Silvija Martincevic, CEO of Deputy. “Our research shows the proof points: 94% of workers who use AI say it makes their jobs easier, 77% feel more valued by their employers, and burnout is reduced by 28%. Yet, 98% also insist that empathy and human touch are essential in their work. Technology delivers speed, efficiency, and predictability — but people bring the trust, care, and connection that make workplaces thrive. The best shift-based businesses of tomorrow will be built with both.”
Since its launch, Shift Worker Sunday has evolved from a single day of recognition into a broader movement that celebrates both workers and the organisations that support them. In 2025, Deputy is highlighting forward-looking employers already embracing AI plus human connection to create stronger, more resilient workplaces.
“When we launched Shift Worker Sunday, our intention was clear: to shine a spotlight on the people who keep our communities running,” said Star Levandowski, SVP of Business Operations & Communications at Deputy. “But recognition alone isn’t enough. The rapid rise of AI makes it vital that both shift workers and employers have a voice in shaping the future of work. That’s why we’ve reimagined Shift Worker Sunday as a campaign that showcases how technology is transforming workplaces—and how the real magic happens when AI and human connection come together. Better Together is the philosophy at the heart of this movement.”
Throughout October and November, Deputy will spotlight stories from hospitality, retail, healthcare, and services showing how customers are already putting Better Together into practice. These examples will illustrate how AI plus human connection delivers real impact: predictable schedules, stronger communication, safer workplaces, and thriving communities.
For more information, visit deputy.com/bettertogether
About Deputy
Deputy is the world’s leading workforce management platform, revolutionising hourly work for over 1.5 million workers and 385,000 workplaces across over 100 countries. For over 15 years, Deputy has helped businesses to effortlessly navigate and comply with complex labour laws while enhancing employee engagement with predictable, transparent and flexible scheduling, and delivering actionable insights to transform labour efficiency into a competitive advantage. Deputy is more than just a solution – it’s a trusted partner in building workplaces that foster productivity, well-being, and growth. Discover how we are improving the world of work, one shift at a time, at www.deputy.com and join the conversation on LinkedIn.
About Shift Worker Sunday
On 30 November 2025, we celebrate Shift Worker Sunday and the 2.7 billion people who keep the world running - shift workers. This year’s theme, Better Together, highlights a simple truth: as AI transforms their work, the future isn’t technology or shift workers — it’s both.
Better Together is about what happens when AI and human connection work side by side. Technology empowers people to make smarter, more informed decisions, while humans bring the empathy and care that make workplaces thrive. At Deputy, we believe the best shift-based businesses of tomorrow will be built with both.
