Only a third of UK employees have complete trust in their manager, according to new research.
The study, conducted by Investors in People, found almost eight in ten employees believed their manager had let them down in the past, while over half (55%) said that they thought their manager only had their best interests at heart when it suited them.
The main gripes about employers included a perceived failure to provide necessary support (49%), and withholding important information from employees (45%). The ultimate betrayal cited was sharing confidential information with another member of staff, with over half of employees saying that was their number one fear.
This lack of trust can have a serious impact within the workplace, the report found. Almost 70% said it lowered morale, and almost half of employees said that it would make them want to look for a new job.
The acting chief executive at Investors in People, Simon Jones, said: “Lack of trust in UK workplaces is a major concern.
“Trust is fundamental to building and maintaining effective relationships between managers and teams, and is the bedrock of success.”
He added that managers should take action to build trust within their organisation, warning:
“Without this, management practises threaten rather than enhance employee commitment, wasting opportunities, investment and resources as they do so.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007