Sexual relationships have been studied extensively in the context of organizations, including their impact on employee perceptions of justice and fairness.
There is a lack of consensus among scholars regarding how these relationships affect these important outcomes. This article explores the literature to determine to what extent sexual relationships alter employees' perceptions of organizational justice and equity.
Sexual Relationships in Organizations
Organizations are social systems characterized by hierarchies, power dynamics, and interactions between individuals. These characteristics make them fertile ground for sexual relationships to emerge. In addition, organizations often provide opportunities for people to develop personal relationships that can extend beyond work boundaries. Employees may engage in sexual relationships with co-workers, supervisors, or subordinates. The prevalence of such relationships varies across industries, demographics, and cultural settings. Research has shown that they can lead to both positive and negative consequences for those involved and the organization as a whole.
Impact on Perceptions of Justice
One key outcome of sexual relationships in organizations is how they influence employees' perceptions of justice. Justice refers to the distribution of rewards and resources within an organization. It involves fair treatment and equal access to opportunities. When employees perceive that they are being treated fairly, they tend to be more satisfied and committed to their jobs. On the other hand, when they feel that they are not getting what they deserve, they may become disengaged and look for alternatives.
Research suggests that sexual relationships can distort perceptions of justice and create inequitable situations.
If two employees are romantically involved and one receives preferential treatment over another, this can create feelings of unfairness among the latter. Similarly, if a manager promotes an employee because of their relationship status rather than their performance, it can undermine the integrity of the promotion process. Such actions may also create a sense of favoritism and resentment among other employees who do not have similar relationships.
Impact on Equity
Equity is related to justice but focuses on equality of outcomes rather than processes. In other words, equity means treating individuals equally even if they receive different rewards. Sexual relationships can impact equity by creating imbalances in power dynamics between employees.
If a supervisor has a sexual relationship with a subordinate, they may exert more control over them or use their position to advantage themselves. This can lead to unequal treatment and unequal outcomes, which can be detrimental to organizational productivity and morale.
Sexual relationships can lead to conflicts of interest that undermine equity.
If an employee's partner becomes jealous of another co-worker receiving recognition or resources, it can strain their relationship and affect their job performance. This can create tension within teams and negatively impact the organization's functioning.
While sexual relationships can offer personal and emotional benefits for some employees, they can also alter perceptions of justice and equity within organizations. Scholars should continue researching these complex phenomena to better understand how to manage them effectively.
To what extent do sexual relationships alter perceptions of organizational justice and equity?
Research has shown that sexual relationships can alter perceptions of organizational justice and equity. When individuals engage in romantic or intimate relationships within their workplace, it may lead to favoritism, bias, and preferential treatment, which could result in feelings of unfairness among co-workers not involved in the relationship.