What does “fair” at the workspace mean? What is the message that hides behind expressions such as: “That is not fair!” or “Fair enough”? And who decides all of this? Fairness is one of those words like freedom, equality, happiness that are not attached to any one singular idea, and not necessarily understood in the same way by every individual. So, how do we say what is fair and what is not?
The best way to understand and find solutions to complex issues is to break them down into smaller pieces, and start working your way up from there. It is the same way to deal with the other big words mentioned above—defining the smaller ideas they consist of with their boundaries and limits. According to dictionaries, fairness is the state, condition or quality of being free from bias or injustice. The next step, of course, would be to define what bias and injustice mean. All of this has been done from legal, economic, political, sociological, philosophical, etc., perspectives, creating rules and ideas that can be understood in the same way from every individual. Institutions in those fields perform and protect the formal execution of those rules and boundaries that create and guarantee fairness. Such as the laws against any discrimination, the fair work act, etc. The application of those is the foundation of creating a fair workspace. The process, however, does not stop there. So what more can be done on an organizational level?
Fairness, how important it is and how it is applied in an organization depends on many criteria: what is the size of the organization, the culture, the strategy and so on. The hierarchical management style of one business might look unfair compared to one with a transparent management style and vice versa. Fairness at the workspace, however, is not so much thought of and sought of as “fairness” per se, but it has been related much more with the ideas of creating a value system in the work environment, establishing trust, openness and transparency between employers and employees. To create a fair workspace is to establish clear communication and, more importantly, clear expectations of what all parties can anticipate from each other with regard to opportunities, needs, rewards and recognition, etc. In this manner bias and injustice can be eliminated because of the free choices employers and employees can have when engaging in a specific workspace.
On an individual level, we are by nature selfish creatures. If something could happen the way we want, even though it means it might not be “fair” in the eyes of others, we would most probably still enjoy this opportunity that is to our advantage—make a few more working hours, receive an easier task and so on. Furthermore, on the opposite side, the role of something being fair comes with the feeling of being in an equal situation, where nobody is a “winner” or a “loser”. The feeling that something is “fair” makes the frustrations of being at a disadvantage go away more easily, like a safe haven one can turn to. You are not losing as long as it is fair.
The paradox is that you can only create a fair workspace if you understand and accept that at some point, for someone, that fairness is going to feel unfair. However, establishing clear communication and transparent expectations for all parties involved is a great way to begin with creating a fairer workspace.
By: Iva Plocheva