A new survey from Resume Now reveals a striking reality in today’s workplace: while firms love to tout their values, most employees say leadership doesn’t live them.
The Values Gap Report, based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. workers in May 2025, shows a widespread “values gap”—the disconnect between corporate messaging and lived employee experience. Despite 86% of workers saying their company communicates its values clearly, only 44% feel those values are consistently upheld. Meanwhile, 70% have witnessed leadership bend rules or play favorites.
“Employees don’t just want inspiring mission statements—they want to see those values in action,” Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now, said in a statement. “When leaders say one thing but do another, it creates distrust and disengagement.”
Key findings of the report include:
- Clarity ≠ consistency: 86% say company values are clearly communicated, but only 44% say they’re consistently demonstrated.
- Rule bending is rampant: 70% have seen leaders bend rules or play favorites.
- Leadership authenticity in question: Just 47% believe their leaders frequently model the company’s stated values.
- Favoritism and injustice: 43% have witnessed favoritism in promotions, raises, or recognition.
- Toxic exceptions: 24% say toxic top performers are protected by leadership.
When survey respondents were asked what unethical or troubling behavior they’ve witnessed at work:
- 31% say employees are expected to work through illness or burnout.
- 22% have seen harassment or bullying ignored.
- 18% say ethics concerns are swept under the rug.
- 10% felt pressure or punishment for using PTO or mental health benefits.
“When employees see values being ignored or applied inconsistently, they stop speaking up. They disengage. They question whether fairness is possible,” Spencer said. “Companies cannot build loyalty or accountability when people believe leadership will always protect the highest performer, no matter the behavior. It is not just about living the values. It is about showing people those values apply to everyone.”
The survey also found that trust and psychological safety in the workforce is eroding. According to the poll:
- Only 41% of employees feel comfortable raising ethical concerns.
- 11% fear retaliation if they do.
- 54% feel pressure to “perform” a version of themselves that fits company image.
The findings in this report are based on a survey conducted with 1,000 U.S. workers on May 6, 2025. Participants were asked about ethical behavior, trust in leadership, and alignment between stated company values and lived experiences. The survey included a mix of multiple choice, scaled-response, binary, and multi-select questions to capture a wide range of perspectives on workplace culture and ethics.
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Tags: employees, Payroll, toxic workplaces, values gap, workplace
