---
title: "Deloitte's US Human Capital Practice leader warns companies about the importance of trust in employee motivation"
url: https://newscentral.site/deloitte-s-us-human-capital-practice-leader-warns-companies-about/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Business"
published: 2026-10-20T20:21:11.000Z
updated: 2026-10-21T08:52:07.413Z
id: 05358ac0-53c5-43a5-be54-afae7aef9919
source: "Fortune https://fortune.com/2026/10/20/deloitte-us-human-capital-chief-warns-broken-trust-cuts-employee-motivation-by-more-than-half/"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/deloitte-s-us-human-capital-practice-leader-warns-companies-about/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Deloitte's US Human Capital Practice leader warns companies about the importance of trust in employee motivation

Companies must balance four essential pillars - reliability, transparency, capability, and humanity - to maintain trust with their workforce.

A warning from Deloitte's U.S. human capital chief highlights the critical role of trust in employee motivation. According to Simona Spelman, US Human Capital Practice leader at Deloitte, companies are facing a daunting challenge: building and maintaining trust with their workforce.

Spelman identified four essential pillars that underpin trust: reliability, transparency, capability, and humanity. She emphasized that these factors are not merely soft concepts, but rather they have the power to either propel or hinder an organization's progress. To gauge trust effectively, companies must strike a delicate balance among these four pillars.

Maintaining this equilibrium is becoming increasingly complex as organizations integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations. The introduction of AI has led some companies to lay off employees, sparking concerns about job security and exacerbating the already fragile trust dynamics. Spelman warned that companies will need to continually adapt and refine their approach to balancing these four pillars.

Spelman explained that even a single factor veering off track can have a devastating impact on the entire trust infrastructure. A strong leader may be able to compensate for weaknesses in other areas, but ultimately, the integrity of all four factors is crucial.

The impact of AI on workplace dynamics cannot be overstated, and it's clear that leaders are facing a daunting challenge in maintaining trust with their employees.

According to research by Catalyst, a nonprofit focused on gender equity and workplace inclusion, the gap between leaders' intentions and employees' perceptions is significant. While 68% of leaders claim they have plans in place for reskilling employees through AI training, only 34% of employees believe their organizations make such training accessible to everyone.

This disconnect has serious consequences, as employees are closely watching how leaders navigate business disruption and technological change. When asked if their leadership teams act with integrity during these transitions, a mere one-third of employees replied in the affirmative.

The situation is even more complicated for women in the workforce, who face a double bind when it comes to AI adoption. On one hand, using AI at work may lead to questions about their credibility; on the other, not using AI may raise doubts about their capabilities.

As AI becomes increasingly widespread, technology alone will eventually lose its competitive edge, according to Francesca Cornelli, dean of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Instead, companies that prioritize investment in human capital, including reskilling and upskilling employees through AI training, will be the ones to truly thrive.

When introducing AI to the workforce, companies must consider how they present it to employees. If a leader announces that a new tool will automate tasks, it can give the impression that certain roles are becoming obsolete.

This perception can be damaging, as employees may feel their contributions are no longer valued or necessary. According to experts, framing AI as a collaborative tool that enhances employee capabilities is essential for maintaining motivation and trust.

Investing in human capital, including reskilling and upskilling employees through AI training, will become increasingly important as technology continues to advance. As knowledge and skills become more accessible, businesses will be distinguished by their ability to cultivate enduring human qualities such as empathy, curiosity, and judgment.

---
Source: [Fortune](https://fortune.com/2026/10/20/deloitte-us-human-capital-chief-warns-broken-trust-cuts-employee-motivation-by-more-than-half/)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/deloitte-s-us-human-capital-practice-leader-warns-companies-about/