Workplace injustice impacts employee motivation and morale

Perceived injustice in the workplace, such as arbitrary project assignments or promotions based on sympathy rather than performance, can lead to significant long-term consequences. These include increased frustration, decreased motivation, and a loss of job satisfaction, which may ultimately result in employees performing only the bare minimum required by their contracts.

Isabel Strubel, a professor of social psychology at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, identifies these issues as problems of ‘distributive justice.’ This concept involves how individuals assess the relationship between their personal contributions and the rewards they receive, particularly in comparison to their colleagues. Because humans possess an inherent ‘justice motive,’ perceived unfairness regarding promotions, salary increases, or task distribution can be deeply distressing and may impact an individual's sense of status within a group.