Human resource differentiation: A theoretical paper integrating co-workers' perspective and context

Rofcanin, Yasin; Berber, Aykut; Marescaux, Elise; Bal, P. Matthijs; Mughal, Farooq; Afacan Findikli, Mine

Abstract

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd This paper conceptualises “human resource (HR) differentiation” as a set of deliberate and differentiating HR practices across individuals within the organisation to address employees' unique work needs and preferences as well as reward them for their input. Despite the importance of HR differentiation, research has mainly focused on the recipients of such practices, overlooking the consequences of HR differentiation from co-workers' perspective. This is a significant omission because a growing concern suggests that HR differentiation might be a double-edged sword, as the presumed positive effects might only be confined to employees benefiting from it. Taking a first step, this paper offers a conceptual model that explains how co-workers of a focal employee, who is entitled to an advantageous outcome through HR differentiation, are likely to react, either positively by showing contentment or negatively by showing anger, with behavioural consequences towards the focal employee and organisation. In so doing, we rely on deontic justice theory and explore contextual conditions at the individual and team level under which co-workers react. As a result, our model can inspire future research by adopting a broader and more inclusive approach to HR differentiation, underlining the need for caution when implementing HR differentiation in a team setting.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 11, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Dec 18, 2018
• Publication Date: Apr 15, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 18, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 19, 2020
• Journal: Human Resource Management Journal
• Print ISSN: 0954-5395
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-8583
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 270-286
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12224
• Keywords: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/2962796
• Contract Date: Sep 19, 2019