![\"Employee](\"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Seeking-employee-feedback-study.jpg\" "\\"Employee")
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Most managers want to be fair and do the right thing, but there\u2019s often a gap between what the manager and employee think of as \u201cfair\u201d.<\/p>\n
For example: an employee may see a challenging assignment as the manager \u201cdumping more work on me\u201d while the manager meant it as recognition of the employee\u2019s superior skills.<\/p>\n
New research from FIU Business finds that employees\u2019 perception of \u201cunfairness\u201d may be influenced by managers\u2019 limited attention – failing to notice a situation due to time pressure or extra responsibilities – as well as by limited information, or not being aware of how an employee feels.<\/p>\n
Yet the research also shows that there\u2019s a way to improve that perception.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen managers seek feedback, they may become aware of fairness issues that they did not pay attention to,\u201d said\u00a0Ravi Gajendran<\/a>, chair of the\u00a0Department of Global Leadership and Management<\/a>. \u201cThey may also gain information about acting justly so that their actions not only are fair but are also acknowledged as fair by employees.\u201d<\/p>\n Managers looking to improve their performance and managerial skills must increase their quest for employee feedback, especially when the topic is fairness. The exchange of information gives employees a more prominent role in enhancing fairness in the workplace.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t assume that employees will come to the manager; they are hesitant to speak up,\u201d Gajendran said. \u201cAs managers, you have to let your employees know that you\u2019re open to receive input from them and it\u2019s safe to discuss fairness issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Researchers found that managers who regularly seek feedback from employees pay more attention to fairness concerns, learn the right way to address unfairness and can apply it to other employees, and improve their performance.<\/p>\n However, for this to work, \u201cemployees have to actually provide feedback,\u201d Gajendran said. \u201cIf they don\u2019t do it, the situation will definitely not change.\u201d<\/p>\n