More than before, it’s in bosses we trust
President Ronald Reagan liked to say government was the problem and private enterprise was the solution. Americans have bought in, lock, stock and barrel.
We trust business leaders more than government or media, and we expect our workplaces to reflect our values and give our lives meaning, according to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer survey.
Our shattered society, fractured by an epidemic of misinformation and disinformation, is leading to corporatocracy.
I’ve written about how Americans trust their bosses more than their political leaders or any form of media. But after the COVID-19 pandemic, 61 percent of those surveyed said they trust business leaders the most. Only 53 percent trust government, and 51 percent believe traditional media.
With great faith, though, comes great expectations.
More than 85 percent of the 33,000 people surveyed in 28 countries said they expect CEOS to publicly speak out about the issues they care about. Nothing matters more to them than remaining safe from COVID-19.
Almost 60 percent said they want CEOS to prioritize employee safety and impose pandemic protocols, including requiring masks and vaccinations. More than half want routine job skills training and regular communication with the top dog. Fifty percent want a diverse workforce representative of their community.
Workers may no longer have faith in their democratically elected leaders, but they definitely want more democracy in the workplace. More than 60 percent of employees say they want a seat at the table in strategic decision-making, and 50 percent say they are more likely to speak up or protest, compared with a year ago.
A more specific Edelman survey reveals that employees expect more personal fulfillment from their jobs than ever before. While in the past, you worked to live, today’s employees live to work.
More than 70 percent of 7,000 workers in seven countries, including the United States, told Edelman that a prospective employer must
trustee to provide accountings to your stepsiblings.
It would be a felony offense for your aunt to misapply trust funds, and she could be held personally liable if she were ever caught.
If your stepsiblings were to sue her, they could be awarded exemplary damages that could double the amount they are owed. If the money is improperly given to you and your sister, you would likely be ordered to hand it over to your stepsiblings.
Clearly, it would be foolish for your aunt to fail to carry out her duties as trustee.
Q: How are expenses associated with an unoccupied home met when an estate is being probated? A home has taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs and other expenses associated with upkeep. Will the executor have access to bank accounts to meet the expenses, or must the executor cover the expenses with their own funds and get repaid later? Also, is it necessary to notify the credit
reporting agencies that a person has died to prevent someone from using the identity of the deceased to open accounts?
A: Most of the time, an executor or other family member will pay some expenses, knowing that within a short amount of time, accounts in the deceased person’s name will be accessible and available to reimburse the person who made the advances.
It is a good idea to notify each of the credit bureaus of a person’s death to prevent accounts from being opened or tax returns from being filed illegally.
The information in this column is intended to provide a general understanding of the law, not legal advice. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances. Ronald Lipman of the Houston law firm Lipman & Associates is board-certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Email questions to stateyourcase @lipmanpc.com.