Which type of justice focuses on the perceived fairness of rewards relative to performance?

Distributive Justice is centered on the perceived fairness of the allocation of rewards, which directly ties into how individuals assess the distribution of outcomes based on their performance. In organizational contexts, it reflects the idea that when rewards—such as promotions, pay raises, and recognition—are proportional to the contributions and efforts of employees, they are more likely to feel satisfied and valued.

The emphasis on fairness in outcomes motivates individuals to enhance their performance, knowing that their efforts will be recognized appropriately. When there is a fair balance between inputs (like effort and skill) and outputs (like rewards), employees are more likely to experience higher morale and commitment to the organization. This concept is crucial in leadership development, as leaders must strive to implement fair reward systems to foster a productive work environment.

In contrast, interactional justice deals with the fairness of interpersonal treatment and communication during the process; procedural justice concerns the fairness of the processes that lead to outcomes; social justice focuses on broader societal issues regarding equity and rights. Each of these forms of justice serves an important role, but they do not specifically address the fairness of the reward distribution itself, which is the cornerstone of distributive justice.