Employees trust their employer more than any other institution—and nearly half would still rather switch teams than sit with someone who sees things differently. That paradox isn't a contridiction. It's what happens when leadership measures compliance and calls it trust.

Every layoff solves a number on one ledger. Few leaders track what it costs on the other. A look at the belief-level damage behind 2026's layoff wave — and what it means for the deals and transitions built on top of it.