(From People Management) -- A drop in living standards and job security has plunged workplace morale to record lows, according to the latest CIPD quarterly employee survey.

The study of 2,000 UK employees found that staff satisfaction, and employee confidence and trust in senior leaders have dipped as economic conditions damage job security and standards of living.

Staff satisfaction on the CIPD index - which measures the difference between positive and negative answers - dropped to +34 from +39 last quarter.

This is the lowest level recorded since the survey started in spring 2009 and a large fall from satisfaction scores of +42 just last November.