In Brief: Trust Gap Grows; Indie Bookstores Thrive

Edelman Study: Widening Trust Gap Between Employees and Businesses

According to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, there is a growing discrepancy in trust among the world’s public. 

The yearly study found that the gap in trust in institutions between the “informed” public — who Edelman defines as “wealthier, more educated, and frequent consumers of news”— and the masses is at an all-time-high. “Distrust is being driven by a growing sense of inequity and unfairness in the system,” writes Edelman. “The perception is that institutions increasingly serve the interests of the few over everyone.”

These frustrations especially exist in the power dynamics between employees and the businesses they work for; the study found that 83 percent of workers say they fear losing their jobs, which they attribute to the gig economy, the looming recession and anxieties about automation, among other things. 

In addition, a strong number of respondents believe that it is the duty of companies to pay decent wages (83 percent) and provide retraining for workers whose jobs are threatened by automation (79 percent), yet less than a third of people trust that businesses will do these.

New Survey Finds Striking Levels of Résumé Dishonesty

A new study shows a striking number of Americans have lied on a résumé before. According to the ResumeLab survey, 36 percent of the job hunters polled admit to fabricating their skill levels or career experiences to make themselves more attractive to potential employers.

The survey further elaborates that men lie more often than women, individuals aged 18-39 make up the most culpable demographic, and when presented with the truth, most employers don’t usually respond with forgiveness; of the 31 percent who were caught lying on their résumés, 65 were either fired or not hired at all, found ResumeLab.

While it’s difficult to prevent résumé dishonesty, especially when a highly-coveted job is at stake, HR Dive writer Valerie Bolden-Barrett says there are some measures hiring managers can take to snuff out disinformation.

“Experts advise employers to update job descriptions using key words that pinpoint requirements and focus on what makes a great candidate, and make skills-testing part of the recruiting process to uncover applicants’ real proficiencies,” she writes.

As Retail Stores Struggle, Independent Booksellers Thrive

While brick-and-mortar shops continue to dwindle in an era of online purchasing and Amazon Prime, one type of retail store has experienced a recent resurgence: independent booksellers. After years of decline, indie bookstores began making a comeback in 2009, climbing 49 percent in the next decade to nearly 2,500 stores nationwide. 

Harvard Business School’s Ryan Raffaelli sees some common strengths behind their recent uptick, the likes of which offer lessons and strategies for struggling retail companies. For Raffaeli, the resurgence is tied to the way they foster a sense of community. Amazon may be able to offer customers a list of purchase-history-culled novel recommendations, for instance, but that can never replace the persuasiveness of a bookstore employee taking the time to earnestly learn about you and your literary taste. 

“Many booksellers are voracious readers and serve as trusted guides who can point their customers to new genres or up-and-coming authors they might not have encountered,” he says. “Customers leave the store excited and then want to come back.” 

Today’s Consumers Are Embracing Old-School Tech and Culture

Despite today’s wealth of new technology and ideas, many consumers are finding comfort in old forms of entertainment like iPods, turntables and the game Dungeons & Dragons. 

According to USA Today, this trend is driven by a strong nostalgia for the simplicity of retro culture as well as younger generations hoping to find an activity or item they can share with their parents and grandparents. 

“In today’s turbulent world, a lot of consumers take comfort in the designs of the past,” says Neil Saunders, managing director of the retail consultancy GlobalData. “There is something reassuring about retro products, many of which are also seen as being authentic because of their heritage.”

However, as consumers continue to pine for the past, the companies behind those retro products are taking steps to modernize themselves; Dungeons & Dragons’ creators recently revamped the rules for their latest edition of the game to help entice new users, while many record players now come with Bluetooth and wireless capabilities.

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