Health care organizations that build trust between employees and leadership could see higher quality of care and increased professional satisfaction among staff, according to a study published in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety in January. 
 
Of 353 health care workers surveyed, 20.2% reported trusting leadership “very much,” while 36.9% said “somewhat” and 42.9% noted that their level of trust in leadership was “not too much” or “not at all.” Nearly all respondents reported that this trust impacted them professionally. 
 
Many of the workers who reported higher levels of trust in their organization’s leadership noted experiencing increased professional satisfaction or providing higher-quality care as an impact of this relationship. Those with lower levels of trust, meanwhile, saw lower professional satisfaction and work quality. 
 
The survey authors noted that effective and transparent communication, treating employees well and prioritizing patient care were all key elements in building employees’ trust.