Forty per cent of workers have quit a job because they didn’t trust their manager, highlighting significant issues around workplace trust, according to a new report from career services firm LiveCareer.
The report, released on March 24, surveyed 1,000 American workers, revealing widespread distrust in corporate leadership across generations. More than half (53 per cent) said they have felt misled or lied to by their manager, while 25 per cent indicated they do not fully trust managers to act in their best interests.
Gen Z workers were identified as the least trusting of corporate leadership, with 45 per cent of respondents noting this trend. In contrast, baby boomers emerged as the most trusting group, according to 54 per cent of respondents.
“Many managers are either unwilling or slow to adapt to a different leadership style that works best for younger workers,” said Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at LiveCareer. “While Gen Z’s outspokenness may be surprising for managers used to working with baby boomers, Gen X, and millennial professionals, leaders should instead appreciate this level of transparency.”
Respondents cited favoritism (23 per cent), unethical behavior (18 per cent), and poor communication (17 per cent) as the top behaviors damaging employee trust. Additionally, nearly half (48 per cent) said their managers often downplay mistakes instead of fully acknowledging them, with only 29 per cent reporting that their managers take full responsibility for their errors.
The report also underscores a broader generational divide, with younger employees more willing to challenge leadership decisions openly. Gen Z, in particular, is seen as the generation most likely to raise concerns when disagreeing with leadership decisions, as indicated by 40 per cent of respondents.
Despite generational differences, most workers (63 per cent) agree their leaders fail to understand the unique priorities and challenges faced by their generation.
