Effects of Event Intensity and Frequency on Judgements of Procedural Justice in (Un)Fair Situations

This study aimed to systematically investigate the effects of event intensity and frequency on the judgment of procedural justice in fair and unfair situations. Data were collected using Qualtrics online survey questionnaires from 420 employees across different industries in the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three frequency conditions (high, medium, and low), and within each frequency condition, two conditions of event intensity (high and low) were applied. Additionally, participants were randomly assigned to either fair or unfair situations. The findings indicated that frequent exposure to fair procedures had a positive impact on perceived procedural justice, underscoring the significance of maintaining fair practices for employee perceptions of justice. Conversely, the intensity of the event significantly influenced judgments of procedural justice. Unfair procedures in high-importance events could negatively affect employees’ perceptions of procedural justice. The study also revealed that specific combinations of procedural justice rules seemed to be applied based on the interaction of fairness, frequency, and intensity. Based on these findings, managers and supervisors should not overlook seemingly insignificant daily practices, as their cumulative effect can significantly affect employee perceptions of procedural justice.