October 23, 2024
Healthy communities run on communication, fairness and respect. Research tells us that people are generally more concerned with whether the process of reaching a decision was fair, than with whether they personally benefit from it. It's not surprising, then, that if the community seems to make decisions disrespectfully or unfairly, we feel alienated. And because we need to feel safe with the social groups we're a part of, unfairness can be a significant source of stress, which in turn drives burnout.
3 kinds of common-or-garden unfairness
Research points us towards three very common kinds of unfairness at work: distributive, procedural, and interpersonal. Distributive fairness is about getting what you deserve, for example, receiving a promotion you've worked hard for. Procedural fairness is about how decisions that affect you are made, for example, leaders consulting with you before making a decision that affects your job. Interpersonal fairness is about treating each other with respect. If any of these forms of fairness is missing, it can damage our sense of being a valued member of the community, generating unnecessary stress.
Dealing with unfairness
The first thing to do in response to unfairness is to get some perspective. Check in with a trusted friend or teammate to talk through the situation and hear their thoughts. This will provide you with two valuable assets: some distance and a second opinion on the situation, which will help you respond calmly and strategically; and some social support at a stressful time when it might be tempting to withdraw.
Once you've had a chance to consider the situation from more than one angle, decide whether to address the issue directly, or set it aside and move on. Addressing the issue may not change the situation - particularly if a decision has already been made - but if you handle it well, can improve the prospects for a better outcome next time. If you decide to move on, though, be sure you're really moving on. Dwelling on the events, or hanging on to resentment for the people involved, will only drag out your stress without improving anything. Learn what you can learn from what happened, focus on what you can control, and remind yourself of everything else that's good about your community.
Legally protected fairness
Being denied opportunities on the basis of gender, race, sexuality, or other individual attributes is one of the most damaging forms of unfairness: discrimination. It's prohibited in the Australian and many other legal systems, where you'll be able to access support and decide whether to make a formal complaint. In Australia, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
