Being a fair boss is hard work

Managing an organized, productive work environment is hard enough. Doing so in a manner that's fair and balanced is even more draining. That's the conclusion of a study conducted by Russell E. Johnson, assistant professor of management at Michigan State University. Bosses who are especially fair and impartial make their employees happier and more productive, but they do so at a price. Johnson found that effort required to ensure equity in all workplace decisions can erode a boss's energy, mentally and emotionally. "Structured, rule-bound fairness, known as procedural justice, is a double-edged sword for managers," said Johnson. "While beneficial for their employees and the organization, it's an especially draining activity for managers. In fact, we found it had negative effects for managers that spilled over to the next workday." Johnson and his fellow researchers found that, in monitoring the emotional well-being and productivity of 82 bosses over the course of several weeks, those who reported stress or mental exhaustion from work situations involving fairness were less engaged and cooperative the following day. "Essentially managers have to run around making sure their subordinates' perceptions remain positive, whether the threat to the atmosphere of the workplace is real or imagined. Dealing with all of this uncertainty and ambiguity is depleting," Johnson said. Johnson doesn't want his findings to suggest bosses shouldn't work hard to be fair. He says that managers just need to be better prepared to deal with stress and overcome exhausting situations. Sufficient sleep, a healthier work-life balance, healthy diet, and exercise can all help a boss be better prepared to maintain a fair and balanced workplace. The details of Johnson's study were recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.