Coworkers say they distrust each other more than ever

Workplace relationships are suffering amid global economic upheaval, with trust among colleagues at its lowest point in the history of an annual survey. Edelman, a public relations company, found that trust in colleagues has dropped to 73% from 82% in August 2024, trust in direct managers to 72% from 79%, and trust in CEOs to 66% from 70%.

These record lows suggest that change, such as the implementation of AI and strategy shifts, may be to blame. About one-third of respondents who experienced a transformation in the past year reported a negative experience.

Edelman CEO Richard Edelman warns that transformation is a "hinge point" for businesses, which have been "on a great run as the most trusted institution" but risk losing trust if change goes poorly. The report indicates that job loss fears, political friction, and the generational divide may also contribute to the erosion of trust.

Three-quarters of workers fear unemployment due to factors like tariffs, automation, offshoring, and lack of training. Additionally, workers are less comfortable discussing societal issues with colleagues who hold differing views.

The issue of trust appears unlikely to improve soon. Recent studies show that just 13% of Gen Z believe most people can be trusted, and 47% of Gen Z have quit a job due to a lack of trust in leadership. Moreover, Gen Zers are 16 times as likely to say they don't trust their coworkers as members of Gen X. Edelman emphasizes that navigating the current moment of change is crucial for rebuilding trust in the workplace, as change can either divide an organization or drive its growth.