The subjectivity of fairness: Managerial discretion and work-life balance

We use organisational justice theory to examine how perceptions of fairness affect the decision–making process of line managers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 35 Irish managers to explore how managers make organisational allocation decisions in cases where it is impractical to offer work-life balance accommodations to all employees. The findings suggest that firstly, managers construct the ‘life’ aspect of work-life balance within a heteronormative framework where the emphasis is upon caregiving and most usually parenting. Secondly, managers actively use their decision-making powers around both formal and informal work-life balance supports to minimize injustice within their departments. By bringing together ideas about organisational justice and managerial decision-making we indicate how managers determine fairness through a decision-making process narrowed by embedded gender-role beliefs. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.