More than half NZ workers don't trust the boss

More than half of working New Zealanders don't trust their boss, according to a new survey from recruitment consultants Seek.

Seek surveyed 2000 employees this year and found 61 per cent of them didn't trust their manager.

Seek New Zealand general manager Jude Manuel said the lack of confidence in management was a significant problem.

"A lack of trust in management is endemic in New Zealand workplaces.

"Across all industry sectors, 61 per cent of employees say that management in their organisations do not inspire trust and 62 per cent believe that management is not open and honest with employees," she said in a statement.

The survey found that 53 per cent of employees hated the quality of management at their current job, 47 per cent hated their salary, 47 per cent hated the stress and 46 per cent hated the lack of feedback and appreciation.

For 91 per cent of respondents, the quality of management was the most important thing they looked for in a new job.

"This survey should serve as a fairly significant wake-up call to employers," Ms Manuel said.

"If you're a manager, the odds are that many of your employees dislike working for you, they don't trust a lot of what you say and they have plenty of job opportunities available to them elsewhere."

She said the problem was particularly important with the buoyant job market meaning people could find work elsewhere if they were dissatisfied.

- NZPA