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A global survey has found that most employees believe they must push for fair pay, highlighting an ongoing trust gap between workers and their employers.
A recent anonymous online study has revealed that many employees feel a lack of trust in their employers.
The research, conducted by Kickresume in September 2025, surveyed 1,850 people worldwide about their pay satisfaction and perceptions of fairness.
Most workers believe their employer does not understand living costs
When asked whether their boss understands how much money employees need to live a decent life, 31% of respondents said this “might” be the case but they doubted it. Another 27% said their boss has “no idea” about the cost of living, while 22% said their boss “does not care at all”. About one in five (20%) believed their employer truly understands what it takes to live decently.
This means that 80% of workers think their employer does not fully understand the financial pressures they face. Older workers were more likely to share this view, with 30% of Gen X saying their employer has no idea about the cost of living, compared to 26% of Gen Z and 27% of Millennials.
Trust in fair pay remains low
The survey also asked whether workers trust their employer to pay them fairly without having to ask. About one in three respondents (34%) said “not really” and that they must push for fair pay, while 32% said they “partly” trust their company but still double check. Only 18% said they fully trust their employer to pay them fairly, and 16% said they do not trust their company at all, believing they would be deliberately underpaid if they did not speak up.
Older workers were once again more sceptical. While 28% of Gen Z workers said they had to push for fair pay, this figure rose to 36% for Millennials and 38% for Gen X. Gen Z employees were also the most likely to trust their employer to pay them what they deserve (26%), compared with 16% of Millennials and 13% of Gen X.
Salary satisfaction remains mixed
The study also looked at how employees feel about their current earnings. In particular, just 9% said they are “very happy” with their salary, while 39% said they would prefer a higher one. At the same time, about 19% said their pay is “good enough”, 17% felt neutral, and 16% said they are “really disappointed”.
Favouritism seen as a factor in pay decisions
When asked how pay is determined at their company, 47% of respondents said it is a mix of performance and favouritism. Meanwhile, 22% believed it is mostly based on performance, 18% said it is mainly determined by who the boss likes most, and 13% said they were unsure.
In that vein, older workers were more likely to feel that favouritism is the main factor in pay decisions, with 23% of Gen X respondents giving this answer compared to 13% of Gen Z.
Many feel a lack of trust and understanding
Overall, the results suggest a frequent lack of trust between workers and employers. Some believe their boss does not understand the financial realities they face, while others feel their employer would underpay them if they did not negotiate.
Commenting on the findings, Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, said: “This survey shows the frustration that many workers are feeling. They don’t believe their employers understand the cost of living right now, or trust their employers to pay them the salary they’re looking for without them pushing for it. What’s more, nearly a quarter believe that their bosses don’t even care about the economic hardship that many employees are facing.”
He added that companies that address these concerns and prioritise fair pay may find their employees more satisfied and likely to stay.
View the full survey here.
Images / Kickresume
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