A matter of trust

The importance that members of the public place on trust has risen during the current economic crisis, according to a new poll commissioned by Hiscox.

Pollsters YouGov surveyed 2,000 people about their attitudes to trust, and 36 per cent of them revealed that the importance they place on people’s trustworthiness has increased in today’s financial climate.

Although 79 per cent of Britons say they value people who can keep their word, it seems they are not behaving that way themselves. The study showed that integrity and trustworthiness appear to be lacking in the workplace, with 44 per cent of those polled admitting to breaking their word in the office. Most common is the claim that work is being done when it hasn’t been started. Although we value trust, many people don’t actually trust each other, as 60 per cent expect those around them to break their word, with bosses expected to be the most likely (19 per cent) to do so.

Glenn Caton, Hiscox Sales and Marketing Director, said: “We are pleased the results show that honesty and integrity are highly prized commodities for businesses and individuals, yet understand that people are still wary, given the events of the past year.” Social psychologist Dr David Lewis, who worked on the study, added: “This study shows that trust is fundamental to economic life – the real challenge is bringing this back to strength in the UK.”