Sexual favoritism is defined as an unequal treatment given to employees based on their gender, age, race, religion, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical attributes. Organizational justice refers to the perception that employees have about the fairness of the organization's policies and practices. When employees perceive unfairness in the workplace, they may experience negative emotions such as anger, frustration, and stress which can lead to decreased job satisfaction and commitment. In this article, we will discuss the risks of sexual favoritism on organizational justice perceptions.
Risk 1: Low morale
Employees who feel that they are being treated unfairly due to their gender, age, race, religion, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical attributes tend to lose motivation to perform their duties. They may become less engaged in their jobs, leading to lower productivity levels. This can impact the organization's overall performance, revenue, and profitability. The low morale can also spread to other employees, creating a culture of distrust and resentment within the company.
Risk 2: Employee turnover
Employees who perceive sexual favoritism may feel discouraged and demotivated, causing them to leave the organization. High employee turnover rates can be costly for businesses as it requires time and resources to recruit, hire, train, and retain new talent. It also leads to disruptions in workflow and loss of institutional knowledge.
Risk 3: Legal liabilities
Sexual favoritism can lead to legal action against the employer if an employee files a lawsuit alleging discrimination based on their gender, age, race, religion, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical attributes. The costs of defending such cases can be high, including settlements, attorney fees, and damage to the company's reputation.
The organization may have to pay compensatory damages, punitive damages, back pay, front pay, emotional distress damages, and reinstatement or promotion remedies.
What are the risks of sexual favoritism on organizational justice perceptions?
Sexual favoritism is defined as giving preferential treatment based on an individual's gender. This phenomenon can have significant implications for workplace relationships and job satisfaction among employees. From a psychological perspective, when individuals perceive that their organization treats them unfairly due to their sex, it may lead to feelings of anger, frustration, and resentment.