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The role of fairness orientation and supervisor attributions in absence disciplinary decisions

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Abstract

The present study investigated the role of the work value of fairness and attributions regarding the causes of absence in supervisor disciplinary decisions. It was hypothesized that supervisors who valued fairness, and those who made internal attributions regarding the cause of a particular absence incident, render more severe disciplinary decisions than supervisors who value fairness less, and who make external attributions. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that the degree to which supervisors valued fairness moderates the relationship between external attributions and the severity of disciplinary decisions. Using a policy capturing approach, results were consistent with predictions. Implications of the results for research and practice are discussed.

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  1. Timothy A. Judge

    Present address: Department of Management and Organization, College of Business Administration, University of Iowa, 108 Pappajohn Business Administration Building, 52242, Iowa City, Iowa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cornell University, USA

    Timothy A. Judge

  2. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

    Joseph J. Martocchio

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Judge, T.A., Martocchio, J.J. The role of fairness orientation and supervisor attributions in absence disciplinary decisions. J Bus Psychol 10, 115–137 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02249274

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