When asked whether a variety of different characterizations describe the management who run where they work, of those surveyed:

* 90 percent say they are trying to do what is best for the company's customers.

* 86 percent say they are honest and ethical.

* 81 percent say they are good leaders.

* 72 percent say they are trying to do what is best for the company's employees.

* 71 percent say they are worth the money they earn.

* 68 percent say they are trying to do what is best for the company's stockholders.

Collectively, the results show that 86 percent of the nation's employees have a great deal or moderate amount of trust in the people who run the companies for which they work, according to the study.

And roughly 87 percent say they have a great deal or moderate amount of trust in the people who handle the finances and accounting at their companies.

"This is really good news for both Wall Street and Main Street," said Dr. Dennis Jacobe, Gallup's chief economist. "It suggests that employees, who know the companies they work for far better than any outsider, do not believe that the accounting and reporting problems that still worry many investors on Wall Street are widespread. In fact, most employees are very positive about the financial situation at the companies where they work, and this can only be good for the U.S. economy."