People are looking to CEOs to lead change, rather than waiting for the government to require it, according to the 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual gauge of global opinion.
This year marks what Edelman believes is a "profound" change of attitude, as people currently put significantly more trust in their employers than nongovernmental organizations, government, business or media. Employers had a 75 percent trust level, compared to 57 percent for NGOs, 56 percent for business, 48 percent for government and 47 percent for media.
"The last decade has seen a loss of faith in traditional authority figures and institutions," Edelman President and CEO Richard Edelman said in a press release. "More recently, people have lost confidence in the social platforms that fostered peer-to-peer trust. These forces have led people to shift their trust to the relationships within their control, most notably their employers."
Here are a few takeaways for employers:
- Most people (67 percent) expect employers to take action on social issues.
- However, 73 percent of people also believed companies could improve profits while improving socioeconomic conditions, which is up from 64 percent last year.
- The majority of people believe CEOs can positively affect pay equity, discrimination and job training.
- Employees who trust their employers are more engaged and more likely to advocate for their organization and remain committed to the job.
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