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What Is Workplace Fairness?

Workplace Fairness is defined as the harmony of Justice, Efficiency, Engagement and Resource Sufficiency in Workplace Conflict Management Systems. Each of these four Fairness Quotients: Justice, Efficiency, Engagement, and Resources consist of a number of elements or focuses as listed in the table below. These are the constituent parts of workplace fairness.

Workplace Fairness is that commodity most sought after by employees, managers and employers. Where a workplace meets the standards of fairness listed above, it will be a healthier, happier and more productive workplace.


Donais Fairness Theory

According to the Donais Fairness Theory, Fairness Excellence can be measured and achieved in any workplace. If your accountant can measure and predict the company's financial forecast, why not use experience and informed decision-making to assess the fairness of your company's conflict management system? We offer tools to understand and effectively modify your workplace fairness system.


The Cost and Value of Workplace Conflict

Workplace Conflict can be both positive and negative for an organization.


The Cost

Workplace conflict, improperly managed, can have a tremendous cost on the health of any workplace. These costs include:

  • Expense of formal dispute resolution.
  • Decreased individual competence
  • Ineffective working relationships.
  • Toxic communication
  • Impaired staff and team development.
  • Increased absenteeism
  • Increased resignations and dismissals
  • Emotionally charged workplaces.
  • Tarnished image
  • Decreased productivity.
  • Breakdown in trust of hierarchy.

Many of these factors have an effect on the bottom line of a company's performance. Conflict wastes the time of managers, human resources professionals, labour representatives and employees themselves. It effects the quality of decisions that are made because people in conflict are less likely to share vital information and more likely to get into power struggles. Poorly managed conflict can result in the loss of valuable employees and the expense of hiring and retraining new ones. It can lead to costly restructuring and even sabotage, theft and property damage. In addition, poorly managed conflict effects the health of workplace participants causing increased stress levels, and increased usage of sick leave and disability claims. In the end, conflict can lead to compromised job satisfaction, poor motivation and lack of engagement among employees, and thus low human performance.


The Value

While conflict can come at great cost to any workplace, it can also have tremendous benefits when managed properly. Conflict can be used as a catalyst for healthy competition in workplaces that rely upon competition to promote excellence. Conflict can bring underlying workplace issues into the open so that they can be resolved. Conflict can promote a better understanding of differences. When brought to the surface it can dissipate anger and raise awareness of other peoples' needs. It can also be used as a way of placing focus upon common goals. It can be lead to increased team spirit. Properly managed conflict fosters healthy dialogue and can motivate people to raise issues and discuss new ideas. Conflict challenges existing inadequacies in the workplace and can lead to a reassessment of workplace structures. Thus while poorly managed conflict is destructive, properly managed conflict can lead to workplace renewal.

At the Workplace Fairness Institute we are dedicated to helping your workplace minimize negative conflict and channel positive conflict into productive avenues for workplace excellence.

 

The Elements of Workplace Fairness

Justice

Access
Applicability
Independence
Protection
Support
Procedures
Enforcement
Legal

 

Efficiency

Interests
Alternatives
Self-Help
Cost
Flexibility
Education
Timeliness
     

Engagement

 

Resource

Buy-In
Involvement
  Human
Facilities
Financial
Improvement
     
     
     

International Speaking Engagements r Blaine Donais

     
Melbourne   Sept 2008
NewZealand   Sept 2008
   
     
     
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
       
         
 

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Published through Canada Law Book.

     
         
           
     
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