Cross-level effects of procedural justice perceptions on faculty trust

The progression in the organisational justice literature has extended beyond the individual employee level towards recognising the importance of one's work unit and its potential to affect individual reactions to unfairness. This study contributes to existing multilevel justice research by assessing whether aggregate (i.e. unit-level) fairness perceptions influence the relationship between individuals' perceived violation of procedural justice and trust in management. Hypotheses were tested within a sample of faculty nested within different departments of a university undergoing an institution-wide budget cuts allocation process. Results largely supported our expectations: (1) the previously established individual-level relationships between procedural justice and trust were replicated in the faculty sample; (2) department-level procedural justice perceptions were related to trust in administration and (3) department-level procedural justice perceptions were shown to moderate the relationship between individual-level procedural justice perceptions and trust in management. Theoretical and practical implications of considering the context of individual-level procedural justice perceptions and reactions are discussed.