Perceived Fairness of Non-Material Recognition toward Employee Commitment

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Published: 2025-07-08
Keywords:
Fairness perception, Non-material rewards, Employee commitment, Organizational justice, Recognition

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M. Abid Fared
Institute of Commerce and Business Administration of Layyah, Pakistan

Abstract

Fairness in distributing non-material recognition shapes how employees perceive organizational values and influences their decision to remain committed. This study examines how fairness perceptions in non-monetary awards affect employee commitment. A qualitative literature review method was employed following systematic procedures for article identification and thematic synthesis. The analysis reveals that procedural and distributive justice in recognition programs build foundations for affective commitment through social exchange mechanisms. Employees who perceive recognition as fair develop stronger trust in management and greater emotional attachment to the organization. Authentic and ethical leadership enhances fairness perceptions by modeling transparent recognition processes. Effective communication about recognition criteria and procedures reduces perceptions of unfairness and strengthens commitment. Non-material recognition that is perceived as fair strengthens intrinsic motivation and organizational citizenship behavior. Organizations that neglect fairness in recognition face challenges in retaining talent and building positive organizational culture. Recognition programs designed with attention to perceived justice deliver higher returns through improved retention and performance. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to track changes in fairness perceptions and commitment over time across different organizational contexts and cultural settings.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Social Science Studies (JOS3)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Fared, M. A. (2025). Perceived Fairness of Non-Material Recognition toward Employee Commitment. Journal of Social Science Studies, 5(2), 25-32. https://jos3journals.id/index.php/jos3/article/view/404

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