Fairness

"No fair!" A child's chant heard across playgrounds and inside homes everywhere. When a child's wishes or wants go unacknowledged or unfulfilled, the child expresses injustice. We harbor that child inside all of us and do not seem to outgrow the chant: "No fair!" Human Resources offices and courts overflow says, "No fair." Someone gets promoted, and someone else says, "No fair." A company downsizes: "No fair." Mandatory training: No fair. Can't get your first choice for vacation: No fair. Decades ago, a mentor told me, "Fair is getting what you want, and unfair is not getting it." So, how do we define fairness in the workplace? Equal opportunity? Equitable treatment? Taking turns? Being recognized for good performance or results? Being paid a living wage? Being paid for experience or responsibility? Certainly, fairness implies teamwork, or at least acceptance of the criteria within the boundaries of the law and policies. As team members have input in the fairness criteria, they will have fewer complaints regarding limited resources and fulfillments. This is an area managers can share control to show they care. "It's only fair."