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Work and Quality of Life pp 237–249Cite as

Perceptions of Justice in Employee Benefits

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Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

Abstract

Research has found that benefits are relevant in the fairness assessments of employees (Arnold T, Spell C, J Bus Psychol 20:599–620, 2006; Tremblay M, Sire B, Pelchet A, Hum Relat 51:667–688, 1998). Also, research has shown that employee perceptions of how fairly they are being treated have important implications for many business-related outcomes, including productivity and satisfaction (Greenberg J, J Manage, 16:399–432, 1990), mental health (Tepper BJ, Organ Behav Hum Decis Process 86:197–215, 2001), and conflict (Cropanzano R, Bowen DE, Gilliland SW, Acad Manage Perspect 21(4):34–48, 2007). We, therefore, discuss three contemporary issues associated with justice and benefits. First, while benefits represent a significant business expense, the costs of minimizing benefits may ultimately be more costly if the level of benefits is seen as unfair. Second, the relevance of justice perceptions with respect to benefits is less clear compared to what we know about other types of compensation. Third, we consider group as well as individual level effects on perceptions of justice related to benefits. Finally, recommendations are made for alleviating the detrimental effects of injustice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, Camden, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    Chester S. Spell

  2. Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, 95053, USA

    Katerina Bezrukova

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  1. Chester S. Spell
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  2. Katerina Bezrukova
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Correspondence to Chester S. Spell .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Psychology, Radford University, Radford, 24142, Virgin Islands, USA

    Nora P. Reilly

  2. Pamlin College of Business, Dept. Marketing, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Pamplin Hall 2025, Blacksburg, 24061-0236, Virginia, USA

    M. Joseph Sirgy

  3. , Psychology, Radford University, Russell Hall 444, Radford, 24142, Virginia, USA

    C. Allen Gorman

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Spell, C.S., Bezrukova, K. (2012). Perceptions of Justice in Employee Benefits. In: Reilly, N., Sirgy, M., Gorman, C. (eds) Work and Quality of Life. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4059-4_13

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