Ethical leadership in action: Understanding the mechanism of organizational justice.

Lee, J.-H., Kim, J.-H., Yoon, S.-H., Hur, W.-M., & Park, H.-C. (2024). Ethical leadership in action: Understanding the mechanism of organizational justice. Journal of Management Inquiry, 33(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/10564926231195328

This research article investigates the mechanisms through which ethical leadership influences perceptions of organizational justice and employee behavior. The authors argue that when leaders demonstrate integrity and fairness, employees are more likely to perceive the organization’s distribution of resources and procedures as equitable. This perception of justice, in turn, fosters higher levels of organizational commitment and reduces counterproductive work behaviors. The study utilizes a multi-wave survey design to provide evidence of the link between ethical conduct at the executive level and the psychological well-being of the workforce. The findings provide critical insights for organizations aiming to build trust and long-term stability by embedding ethics into their leadership selection and training processes.