At. Cobb et Fm. Frey, THE EFFECTS OF LEADER FAIRNESS AND PAY OUTCOMES ON SUPERIOR SUBORDINATE RELATIONS/, Journal of applied social psychology, 26(16), 1996, pp. 1401-1426
This study assessed the effects of procedurally fair leadership and pa
yment outcomes on subordinate reactions to the supervisor in a pay-for
-performance task. Procedurally fair leadership was operationalized by
the extent to which supervisors enacted three specific behaviors: fac
ilitation of voice, accuracy, and adherence to formal policies and pro
cedures. The payment outcomes were high and low cash payments for perf
ormance evaluated as above or below average. Subordinate reactions to
these treatments focused on perceptions of supervisory fairness (both
procedural and distributive) and the subordinate's relationship with h
is or her supervisor (in terms of both satisfaction and commitment). P
rocedurally fair leadership showed a main effect on subordinate percep
tions of leader fairness and on their relationship with the leader. No
other effects were noted. Implications are discussed.