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Workplace Dignity: Communicating Inherent, Earned, and Remediated Dignity

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  • Kristen Lucas

Abstract

Extant research on dignity at work has revealed conditions that contribute to indignity, employees’ responses to dignity threats, and ways in which employees’ inherent dignity is undermined. But while dignity – and specifically indignity – is theorized as a phenomenon subjectively experienced and judged by individuals, little research has privileged workers’ own perspectives. In this study, working adults reveal how they personally experience and understand meanings of dignity at work. I describe three core components of workplace dignity and the communicative exchanges through which dignity desires commonly are affirmed or denied: inherent dignity as recognized by respectful interaction, earned dignity as recognized by messages of competence and contribution, and remediated dignity as recognized by social interactions and organizational practices that conceal the instrumental and unequal nature of work. Based on theoretical insights drawn from examining the relationships between these components, I argue that workplace dignity is a phenomenon theoretically distinct from human dignity.

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  • Kristen Lucas, 2015. "Workplace Dignity: Communicating Inherent, Earned, and Remediated Dignity," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(5), pages 621-646, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:52:y:2015:i:5:p:621-646
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pamela Lutgen‐Sandvik & Sarah J. Tracy & Jess K. Alberts, 2007. "Burned by Bullying in the American Workplace: Prevalence, Perception, Degree and Impact," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(6), pages 837-862, September.
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    5. Kristen Lucas & Dongjing Kang & Zhou Li, 2013. "Workplace Dignity in a Total Institution: Examining the Experiences of Foxconn’s Migrant Workforce," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(1), pages 91-106, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Masoud Shadnam & Andrey Bykov & Ajnesh Prasad, 2021. "Opening Constructive Dialogues Between Business Ethics Research and the Sociology of Morality: Introduction to the Thematic Symposium," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(2), pages 201-211, May.
    2. Dana Kabat-Farr & Benjamin M. Walsh & Alyssa K. McGonagle, 2019. "Uncivil Supervisors and Perceived Work Ability: The Joint Moderating Roles of Job Involvement and Grit," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(4), pages 971-985, June.
    3. Peter Hamilton & Oonagh Harness & Martyn Griffin, 2022. "Life during furlough: Challenges to dignity from a changed employment status," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(6), pages 523-544, November.
    4. Aracely Soto-Simeone & Teemu Kautonen, 2021. "Senior entrepreneurship following unemployment: a social identity theory perspective," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1683-1706, August.
    5. Tuure Haarjärvi & Sari Laari-Salmela, 2022. "Examining the Role of Dignity in the Experience of Meaningfulness: a Process-Relational View on Meaningful Work," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 417-440, December.
    6. Astrid M. Villamil & Suzy D’Enbeau, 2021. "Essential Work in the U.S. during COVID-19: Navigating Vulnerability–Sustainability Tensions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    7. Maira A. Areguin & Abigail J. Stewart, 2022. "Latina farmworkers' experiences: Maintaining dignity in an oppressive workplace," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 988-1007, July.
    8. Atte Vieno, 2023. "‘It’s as if I’m Worth Nothing’—Cost-Driven Restructuring and the Dignity of Long-Term Workers in Finland’s State-Owned Postal Service Company," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(1), pages 17-31, September.
    9. Kushagra Bhatnagar & Julien Cayla & Delphine Dion & Gregorio Fuschillo, 2024. "Consumer Sovereignty and the Ethics of Recognition," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 192(1), pages 1-19, June.
    10. Sarah Bankins & Paul Formosa & Yannick Griep & Deborah Richards, 2022. "AI Decision Making with Dignity? Contrasting Workers’ Justice Perceptions of Human and AI Decision Making in a Human Resource Management Context," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 857-875, June.
    11. Zawadzki Michał, 2018. "Dignity in the Workplace. The Perspective of Humanistic Management," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 26(1), pages 171-188, March.
    12. Ernesto Noronha & Nidhi S. Bisht & Premilla D’Cruz, 2022. "From Fear to Courage: Indian Lesbians’ and Gays’ Quest for Inclusive Ethical Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(4), pages 779-797, May.
    13. Michael Pirson, 2020. "A Humanistic Narrative for Responsible Management Learning: An Ontological Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 775-793, April.
    14. Ernesto Noronha & Saikat Chakraborty & Premilla D’Cruz, 2020. "‘Doing Dignity Work’: Indian Security Guards’ Interface with Precariousness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 553-575, March.

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