Research: employees’ loyalty to workplace damaged by unfair treatment

Fort Worth, TX

9/11/2009

In organizational settings, managers as well as others in leadership roles should perhaps think twice before ridiculing subordinate employees on their choice of lunch, attire or habits, or generally acting disrespectfully towards them. Recent research by Michael S. Cole, Ph.D., assistant professor of management at the Neeley School of Business at TCU, shows that when an employee believes that he or she has been treated unfairly, the employee is not likely to forgive and forget.

The research, to be published in the October 2009 issue in the Journal of Management Studies, tracks the downward spiral process which is triggered when an employee experiences perceived injustices at the work. Such events create a major stressor which may potentially lead to damaged psychological well being and extreme emotional exhaustion, which directly affect a worker’s ability to cope with workload demands and performance-related expectations.

These individuals are also likely to feel singled out within their work environment and may start to feel unhappy about their jobs as a whole, leading to a change in job-related attitudes and behavior. This, in turn leads to a general depletion in their sense of commitment to the organization, and in the worst-case scenario, an increased risk of voluntary termination and high turnover within organizations.

Dr. Cole can be reached for questions at m.s.cole@tcu.edu.