Fairness

Having FAIRNESS as a core motive means justice and equality are key incentives and values for you in the workplace. All human beings have a strong desire for relational FAIRNESS. As someone with FAIRNESS as a motive, your sensitivity is heightened. You are motivated at work when you can see equal treatment, clarity, and transparency in decision-making. This motive also drives your belief that others are responsible for treating one another honorably and respectfully. The FAIRNESS motive can manifest as down-to-earth and practical, or as fiercely principled and idealistic (and sometimes both at once). FAIRNESS is in the Comfort Domain, because one dimension of comfort is the guarantee that you will be treated with respect, rewarded proportionate to the work you do, and free from discrimination or favoritism. When it comes to opportunities, you want everyone to have a fair chance. You dislike workplace politics and maneuvering. You like to know your responsibilities and the expectations of your company, and you’re encouraged when you know the rules won’t be disregarded or mismanaged. You work your best when you feel valued, and when you can see that you’re evaluated on the same rubrics as your peers. You dislike favoritism, bias, and anything else that elevates one person over another for reasons beside their efforts and performance. Your sense of wellbeing is strongest in a professional setting that breaks down barriers to equal opportunities, avoids cliques, and promotes equity. When you feel your work situation is fair, you are loyal, committed, and strive to add as much value as possible.

 You feel this motive being met when…

+ You feel your performance at work is evaluated fairly.

+ You don’t feel you need to “play the game” or people-please to get ahead.

+ You are fairly compensated and valued for the work that you do, as are your colleagues.

+ Your team, manager, and/or company welcomes conversations about FAIRNESS and equity and is prepared to handle these conversations meaningfully, productively, and with sensitivity.

 This motive is at risk when…

– Work politics is a dominant and impenetrable force in your company’s culture.

– Your company, manager, or colleagues play favorites (which may disturb the FAIRNESS motive even if you are one of the favorites).

– You feel you have been treated unjustly, and you have been unable to solve this problem even with repeated efforts over time.

A Work Wellness Check-In for FAIRNESS

1. What does being treated fairly look like to me? Does my current experience at work line up with my concept of FAIRNESS?
2. Does my boss or manager typically play favorites? Do members of my team play favorites?
3. Would I describe my work environment as being cliquish? Am I aware of being part of an “in” or an “out” crowd, or are there no such barriers?
4. What are the performance metrics at my company? Do I know what they are? Do I feel like I’m evaluated the way I expected I would be when I started this job?

5. Do I experience discrimination at work because of something other than my job performance or ability to contribute?
6. Are inclusion and workplace diversity important to me? If so, is my employer inclusive and accepting of diversity in its employees? Is there anything I can do to promote inclusion in my workplace?
7. Is my workplace open to conversations surrounding FAIRNESS? If I question whether something is fair, how does my manager or HR respond? How do my peers respond?
8. When I experience or witness discipline or criticism in my workplace, do these actions usually seem just to me?

9. Are there people who hold unfair biases against others based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other things? Is this something that has been addressed or brought to others attention? If not do I feel this is something I can do, why or why not? 
10. Have I ever heard others complain about a lack of FAIRNESS in our workplace? How often? Do I agree with them?
11. Do I feel like I do my part to uphold a standard of FAIRNESS at work? Is there more I would like to do? Do I need support?
12. If I feel like FAIRNESS is threatened in my current situation, can I name two specific things that seem most unfair? Have I brought this to anyone’s attention? Do I feel safe enough to raise the question?
13. Do I feel like I do my part to uphold a standard of FAIRNESS at work? Is there more I would like to do? Do I need support?
14. Even if at times my workplace or work peers aren’t perfect in meeting this motive, are their intentions good? Are they open to feedback and ideas? Can I appreciate this?