Does Lack of Communication Regarding Pay Negatively Affect Perceived justice in the Workplace?

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the role communication plays on perceived justice within an organization. This study utilized an experimental 3x2 between-subjects factorial design to examine the effects of informational content received at work on perceived justice regarding pay. The independent variable was the level of information provided for the pay difference (full explanation, some explanation, no explanation), and the organization’s communication policy (pay secrecy system, open communication system). The dependent variable was the perceived fairness of the situation. 111 participants were recruited through Middle Tennessee State University’s research pool. Results indicated that information level was significantly related to perceptions of fairness, while type of policy was not. Results also indicated that while equity and equality score did not impact perceptions of fairness, however, negative affect and positive affect score did indicate to impact perceptions of fairness.