Organizational Justice: Fairness in the Workplace

Organizational Justice 1
Organizational Justice
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Institution of Affiliation
Date

Organizational Justice 2
Organizational Justice
Every employee envisions working in an environment that encourages both fair and
equal treatment of its workforce. As such, the decision arrived by the organization should
showcase the spirit of fairness which is only achievable through active communication
among workers in all levels of management. An article by the Guardian highlight the
reactions by a group of Tesco employees after the company decides to implement a pay cut
strategy targeting specific employees (Topham 2016). The move by the organization is met
with opposition from the affected employees who feel they have been unfairly treated. In a
bid to counter the organization decision, they opted to file legal proceeding against their
employer in an attempt of restoring the status quo thus restoring the initial wages. Ultimately,
those affected feel they have been unfairly targeted regardless of their long dedicated service
to the company.
The case of Tesco UK is an example of organizational challenges that may arise if all
parties are not involved in the dialogue before arriving at the ultimate decisions affecting
workers. The affected workers feel segregated owing to their long service to the company
hence feel they are entitled to their previous compensation. For their perspective, their
decision might be justified considering the company had increased other employees apart
from a small group that had joined the firm before 1999 (Topham 2016). Hence, the move by
the firm may easily be viewed as discriminative and unfair by the affected group. According
to Brockner, employees tend to positively adapt to changes that affect them negatively in the
organization if they are allowed to be part of the decision-making process that directly
impacts them (Brockner 2006, p.125). Despite the 17 workers who joined the organization
before 1999 being offered compensation scheme that will cover the deficit over 18 months
they still feel unfairly treated. This may have occurred as a result of the workers feeling that
the decision was forced down on them by the management.

Organizational Justice 3
Claims against an organization not only increase the cost of its operations but also
reduce productivity those involved due to low morale. Adopting a fairness process enable
employees from every level to understand and appreciate the reason the organization has
taken specific measures. Martin and Harder suggest that organizations should consider other
non-financial and socio-emotional methods of rewarding employees (1994 p.242). For
instance, the affected Tesco workers lawsuit might not be solely based on financial
compensation but rather failure by the company to appreciate their loyalty to the company.
Salary cuts targeting only a particular group in the organization sends a message that shows
the organization does not understand their dedication to the company. As such, it affects their
psychological well-being since they feel like outsiders that they have dedicated most of their
lives to serve.
In the current economy, many companies face numerous lawsuits that emanate from
employee filling claims for wrongful termination or compensation they consider is unfair to
them. Some of the applications might not be legitimate, but regardless of their outcomes, they
have negative impacts on the performance of the company. Any litigation request costs the
company time and money. It also exposes the company to adverse publicity that may
influence how the general public views the company. The likelihood of an employee taking
legal measure against their employer is controlled by how they are treated during their tenure
in the organization (Lind, Greenberg, Scott, & Welchans 2000, p.561). The phenomenon
referred to as the vendetta effects arise when employees feel they have been unfairly treated
thus prompting them to seek retribution by opting to undertake legal measures to get back at
the organization. The case can be observed in Tesco employees who feel underappreciated
and unjustly treated hence suing their employer in a bid to correct the perceived injustice.
Treating all employees fairly enhances their loyalty to their company. It also
heightens their understanding of changing dynamics in the financial needs of the company