Trust Fall: How Workplace Relationships Fail Us

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Univ of California Press, Nov 11, 2025 - Business & Economics - 302 pages
How do millions of Americans navigate today’s demanding and unpredictable work terrain without the protection of strong labor laws, unions, or a reliable social safety net? They turn to trusted colleagues and supervisors to help find a way through the chaos. But is interpersonal trust truly a solution, or just another source of vulnerability?

In Trust Fall, Sarah Mosseri delves into the intricate web of workplace trust. Drawing on years of immersive research across diverse industries—from bustling restaurants and tech startups to marketing agencies and ride-hail circuits—she uncovers how the very bonds workers rely on to manage instability and insecurity often deepen their exposure to risk and exploitation.

Blending vivid storytelling with sharp sociological insight, Trust Fall reveals the seduction and costs of workplace trust. It gives readers the language to recognize and challenge the unspoken bargains workers make to belong, thrive, and survive in today’s precarious labor landscape.
 

Contents

of Trust at Work
27
Trust Building
47
Building Trust While
68
Building Trust
90
Trust in Unequal Contexts
110
The Margins of Workplace
132
Exposing the Trust Fall
154
Conclusion
172
Acknowledgments
189
Bibliography
237
Index
283
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About the author (2025)

Sarah Mosseri is a sociologist and writer whose insights are shaped by years spent working on both sides of the labor divide—from the service counter to the strategy room.

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