Only 14 percent of American workers believe their company's management is ethical and honest, according to a recent poll by Maritz, which surveyed 1,857 employees about their job engagement and level of trust.

Even fewer employees -- 10 percent -- trust management to make the right decision in times of uncertainty, while those ages 18 to 24 years who recently entered the workforce have slightly more trust in their superiors, with 16 percent expressing trust.

Twelve percent of employees believe their employer actually cares and listens to them, while only 7 percent feel that the actions of management are consistent with what they say they will do.

As remnants of the recession continue to linger, 25 percent of employees have lost trust in their employer since last year.

The report cites "poor communication, lack of perceived caring, inconsistent behavior and perceptions of favoritism" as the greatest factors to the lack of trust.

The lack of trust between employees and employers could stem from the disconnect between personal and company values. Only 14 percent of employees said their company's values line up with their personal values.

Employers are struggling to engage new employees, who have been with the company for one to five years. Of this group, 27 percent are currently looking for a new job.

Rick Garlick, senior director of strategic consulting at Maritz, said in a statement, "Every employee is unique. The sooner management realizes that a one-size-fits-all approach to engagement doesn't work, the sooner they'll start earning the trust of their people and driving business growth."

This article was written by Alicia Ciccone and published in AOL Small Business.