Workplace trust boosts productivity — Slack study

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — A recent study by the communication platform Slack highlighted the substantial influence of workplace trust on employee output. 

The survey, comprising over 10,000 global desk workers, discovered that trust noticeably improves employee performance and job satisfaction. 

Employees who feel trusted exhibited twice the productivity, better focus by a factor of 2.1, and 4.3 times higher job satisfaction. They were also 1.3 times more likely to give extra effort at work. 

However, more than one in four desk workers who participated in the study said they do not feel trusted at work.

“Companies across geographies and industries have been, for years, experiencing an erosion of trust. The data shows this widespread problem unlocks opportunities for businesses to focus on trust to achieve both cultural and worker productivity benefits,” said Slack SVP of Research and Analytics Christina Janzer.

Distrust induces a domino effect at work, leading to higher stress levels, resource access limitations, and a reduced sense of belonging. It instigates managers to doubt their team’s work ethic and drives employees to job hunt.

Janzer emphasized, “Cultivating channels for employees to share their ideas and feedback is a win-win even when the feedback itself is challenging.”

“It allows organizations to tap into their own subject-matter experts to improve work output and experience—and it’s the first step to ensuring employees feel valued and heard,” she added.

Technology aids in nurturing transparency in our globally scattered workforce. Workers in technologically advanced companies experienced greater trust and felt more informed about workplace changes than their less technologically adept companies counterparts. 

To build on workplace trust, Janzer urged businesses to venture into new technological avenues to promote transparency, trust, and productivity.