Broadening Our Understanding of ""Doing Justice"" in Organizations

Abstract

Many of society’s pressing challenges — conflict, discrimination, well-being — can be linked to injustice within organizations. Effectively addressing workplace injustice requires scholars to broaden our understanding of what it means to “do justice” in organizations. In this symposium, we aim to “broaden our sight” (Academy of Management, 2020) by bringing together a diverse panel of leading scholars who are tackling critical questions related to the obstacles and challenges associated with fostering justice and fairness in the workplace. Using disparate methodologies (e.g., experiments, field studies, interviews) and theoretical frameworks (e.g., appraisal theory, fairness theory, goal prioritization, moral disengagement), our presenters provide insight into (a) the situational factors that can impact whether managers act justly, (b) who is likely to enact justice and the role of emotions in the process of enactment, (c) how managers make sense of having acted unjustly, (d) how perceptions of unfairness can stem from a mismatch between the amount of trust one desires and receives, and (e) the process by which managers are personally blamed and held accountable for unfair situations. The symposium will conclude with an interactive discussion that highlights key themes and directions for future research as well as practical insights into how managers and organizations might promote fairer workplaces by encouraging justice enactment among managers and effectively managing fairness for employees. Are Managers Strategic About Behaving Fairly? Subordinate Uncertainty and Manager Fairness Enactment Presenter: Midori Nishioka; U. of Waterloo Presenter: James W. Beck; U. of Waterloo Presenter: Ramona Bobocel; U. of Waterloo Understanding Interpersonal Justice Enactment by Integrating the ‘Who’ and the ‘Why’ Presenter: Annika Hillebrandt; Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson U. Presenter: Maria Francisca Saldanha; UCP - Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics Presenter: Daniel Brady; Wilfrid Laurier U. Quo Vadis? Three Moral Journeys of Justice Enactment During Organizational Change Presenter: Julia Zwank; EBS Presenter: Marjo-RIitta Diehl; EBS International U. Presenter: Marion Fortin; U. of Toulouse I, Capitole Under, Over, or “Just Right”? The Fairness of (In)congruence Between Trust Wanted and Trust Received Presenter: Michael Baer; Arizona State U. Presenter: Emma Laier Frank; U. of Georgia Presenter: Fadel Khalil Matta; U. of Georgia Presenter: Margaret M. Luciano; Arizona State U. Presenter: Edward McClain Wellman; Arizona State U. Gendered Blame and its Implications for Managers in the Aftermath of Unfair Situations Presenter: Christianne Varty; Wilfrid Laurier U. Presenter: Laurie Barclay; Wilfrid Laurier U. Presenter: Daniel Brady; Wilfrid Laurier U.