Are You Working for a Company that Doesn't Trust You?

It's difficult to do great work in an environment of distrust, let alone have the desire to share ideas or be fully engaged. Yet, many workplace cultures operate with foundational beliefs that work against the very engagement, productivity, and accountability elements they seek. What's it like where you work?

What does your company think about you as an employee? No, not what's written on wall plaques proclaiming employees are their most important assets; not the glowing words on the website hiring page, or flowery show in the on-boarding video about teamwork, collaboration, respect, and transparency. It's actions, not words that will tell you if you're trusted.

In cultures of distrust the underlying belief is related to the nature of people -- that, for the most part, they can't be trusted. While there's likely an atmosphere of cordial hypocrisy where people pretend to trust on the surface, look deeper.

In these distrusting cultures, rules and policies are predicated on the premise that, for the most part, employees are slackers, out to take advantage of well-meaning employers. They need prodding, evaluating, and management to achieve results because they're not inherently motivated. Nor can they be trusted to operate with good judgment, honesty, integrity, or the best interests of the company.

How do you know if you work for a company that doesn't trust you? Here are 10 ways you can tell. How many of these behaviors exist where you work? If there's more than two or three, you have the answer.

1. 

   Source: BingImage - Public Domain

   Tracking devices, wearables, limited web access, and/or video cameras are the norm, but only for certain levels of employees or certain departments, as if trustworthiness is related to someone's role or title.

2. Information is parceled out on a needs-to-know basis, in scripted half-truths or spin type fashion. Questions, open dialogue, and differing points of view are discouraged. Rumors are rampant.
3. Employees are talked about as if they're interchangeable pieces; contributions are rolled up for department head bonuses, but not acknowledged or rewarded in tangible ways below that level.
4. Work from home isn't an option for most since no one would know what you'd “really” be doing if you weren't physically present to monitor.
5. Policies are rule-based and highly controlling or punitive, written for the five percentage of employees who are not contributors, not the 95 percent who are.
6. High levels of bureaucracy, and multiple sign-offs are required for even simple matters. Only people at certain levels are viewed as having good judgment or decision making common-sense.
7. There's much CYA-ing -- cover-your-you-know-what. Email chains grow exponentially as people add their boss and bosses' boss. Dark side company politics are the norm.
8. Ideas are shut down, discretionary efforts are not forthcoming, engagement is low and there is an us-them divide with strong silos.
9. Stress and finger pointing are commonplace. When something goes wrong there's a public who-to-blame hunt. People are discouraged from helping other departments or divisions, or sharing information.
10. Company values are nice sounding words that have little reality in the day-to-day work environment or operating style.

Source: BingImage - Public Domain

Does any of this sound like the place you work? If so, the real question to consider is why are you working for a company that doesn't trust you?

If you want to do great work, contribute to an organization or its mission, learn and grow professionally, then don't settle for an environment of distrust. The best performers don't, and the best companies don't, either.

More tips about workplace trust:

• 15 Communication Mistakes that Can Diminish Trust
• Your Trusted Inner Circle at Work
• How to Step Toward Trust in Cultures of Distrust

You'll find more tips and information in my book: Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture That Will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation