The figures, which were produced by the Ken Blanchard Companies, also suggest that 40 per cent of staff cited lack of communication as a reason for their departure from a firm.

Other issues identified as causing a break down in trust included confidentiality breaches, broken promises and exclusion from activities.

Commenting on the findings, Cindy Olmstead, Blanchard's organisational change expert, stated: "The problem is that organisations pay too little attention to the issue of trust until it has been lost.

"Often they have no idea how the actions of their management teams influence the trust others place in them, or what they can do to be trustworthy."

Established 28 years ago, the Ken Blanchard Companies is a provider of workplace learning, leadership and effectiveness solutions, among other things.