Perceptions of Justice in Workplace Investigation

Organizational justice refers to individuals’ perceptions of fairness in decisions, procedures, and interpersonal treatment within an organization (Cropanzano et al., 2001). While workplace investigators aim to conduct investigations that are impartial and just, perceptions of fairness can vary widely among participants. Drawing on data from 293 North American individuals—including complainants, respondents, professional investigators, and members of the general public—this presentation explores how people rate the fairness of workplace investigations and how these perceptions influence their ratings of both their past and future reporting. The session concludes by positioning these findings within the cognitive psychology literature and considers strategies investigators may use to enhance participants’ sense of justice throughout the investigation process.