Adams' Equity Theory of Job Motivation may help explain how workplace policies and procedures, non-inclusive reward and recognition programs, and unfair growth and development practices may create workplace bullies. Based on needs and expectations, employee satisfaction depends on fair inputs and outputs. When an imbalance occurs, and unfairness is perceived, employee retention drops, accidents and injuries increase, and competition for limited resources intensifies. -Dr. Stewart
The growing pressure to
become fully vaccinated leaves some individuals feeling bullied and without
reasonable choices and personal freedoms. For example, employers may mandate
vaccination, or employees may face mandatory testing or other penalties if they
are not vaccinated. During these difficult times of feeling pressured to
conform, how do we make good decisions based on the greater good? Psychology
informs us that conformity is neither good nor bad until we assign a social
reward, threat level, or fear type. As we calculate losses and gains in a
decision driven by self-regard and the regard for others, polar conflicts
between reason and emotion happen that may challenge personal identity and
purpose. Feeling bullied is a reasonable emotion from such conflict unless you
genuinely examine the meaning you assign to conformity and why it matters in
self-regard and the regard of others.
-Dr. Stewart
