How Workplace Fairness Affects Employee Commitment

Workplace engagement is an important determinant for the level of commitment and loyalty that employees show toward their respective organizations. Executives must understand what motivates employees to excel in their jobs to reduce the risk of brain drain and, ultimately, to create sustainable organizational success. One of the crucial prerequisites for workforce well-being is that employees feel they can trust their line managers. Trust in decision-making authorities fundamentally shapes employees expectations about how they will be treated in the future. Study findings suggest that employees who expect their line managers to be untrustworthy are more likely to be disloyal toward the organization and exhibit lower levels of motivation. The research generally confirmed the view that workers who show a high level of trust in management are more committed toward their organization than those who mistrust their superiors. The findings have clear implications for managing employee well-being. Guidelines for managers are presented.