With mid-term elections behind us, it's clear there's a movement afoot that has the potential to make public employment even more unattractive. Layoffs, benefit cuts, and threatened pension structures have led public employees to be wary of their employers. Last month's local ballot measures continue to chip away at the public sector employer/employee relationship. The City of Phoenix is just one locale to recently attempt pension reform.  

At the same time, a recent survey from the American Psychological Association found that one in three workers say their employer is not always honest and truthful with them. About a quarter of workers don't trust their employers at all. This is concerning because the Gallup Organization has found that organizations with engaged employees outperform others by as much as 202 percent. Engaged employees are also less likely to leave.  

If the trends are not in our favor in the public sector, how can we build a culture of trust and openness? What steps can leaders take to stem the tide of cynicism and create workplaces where employees feel valued and motivated to do their best? Here are three ideas to consider.