The Dynamic Nature of Justice: Influential Effects of Time and Work Outcomes on Long-Term Perceptions of Justice

Abstract

Competing hypotheses are used to test whether justice perceptions change over time, and if so, whether the changes become more polarized over time (more positive or negative) or whether the changes fluctuate over time based on subsequent work outcomes. Results suggest there is no polarizing or fluctuating effect in perceptions of interpersonal justice over time and no polarizing effect in perceptions of procedural justice for individuals with high initial perceptions of procedural justice. However, individuals with low initial perceptions of procedural justice increased procedural justice perceptions over time, resulting in a polarizing effect in the opposite direction of the prediction. Hierarchical regression analysis indicates initial perceptions of procedural justice tend to fluctuate over time due to intervening work decision outcomes, although in the opposite direction of what was predicted.

An integrative conceptualization of organizational compassion and organizational justice: a sensemaking perspective

“…In our article, we emphasize how both compassion and justice are based on interpretations within the social context that require the use of cognitive and emotional cues (Holtz & Harold , Lilly et al . , Jones & Skarlicki ), thereby providing the theoretical foundations for their integration. Future research could develop a more formal model explicating the cyclical interactions between emotion and cognition in both processes.…”

Effects of managerial communication as moderated by LMX and trait NA

“…A third limitation is the use of recall. While some argue that retrospective judgment of emotion is likely to tap into beliefs about emotions, rather than into the emotions themselves (Robinson & Clore, 2002), recent evidence from organizational justice research reveals that the recall of experiences may be more robust and enduring than previously thought (Lilly, Virick, & Hadani, 2010). In order to examine this and the impact on discrete emotions (Bauer & Spector, 2015) future research could measure managerial communication and emotion contemporaneously (Ruef & Levensen, 2007).…”

It is time for justice: How time changes what we know about justice judgments and justice effects

“…Justice perceptions can increase or decrease over time because of memory effects (Lilly et al, 2010), the communication medium (e.g., computer-mediated versus face-to-face, Tangirala & Alge, 2006), and the presence or absence of group discussion (Lind et al, 1998). Contextual factors may contribute to decreased variance over time in team members' justice judgments and, hence, stronger justice climates (Roberson, 2006).…”

“…The authors also point out that changes can occur over time in how people interpret a rating scale or justice construct. Lilly, Virick, and Hadani () examined how fairness perceptions regarding a change in the workplace (e.g., promotion and transfer) evolve over 18 to 24 months as post‐change work outcomes are experienced. Whereas perceptions of interpersonal justice remained stable over time, procedural justice perceptions increased over time for those whose initial perceptions of procedural justice were low.…”