{
  "title": "Unfavourable decisions: what a manager's explanations can change",
  "url": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/decision-defavorable-manager-explications-justice-en",
  "language": "en",
  "datePublished": "2026-02-06",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "SHR — Swiss Human Resources",
    "url": "https://www.shr.swiss",
    "address": "Esplanade de Pont-Rouge 9A, 1212 Lancy, Suisse"
  },
  "summary": "A disappointing decision does not necessarily damage the relationship with a manager. Research suggests distinguishing the outcome, the decision-making procedure and the way the decision is explained.",
  "section": "Research",
  "topic": "Building an Effective Relationship with Your Manager",
  "place": {
    "name": "Lausanne",
    "region": "Vaud",
    "country": "CH"
  },
  "keyPoints": [
    {
      "heading": "What the literature establishes",
      "point": "Jason A."
    },
    {
      "heading": "What an explanation can change",
      "point": "Jerald Greenberg (1990, Journal of Applied Psychology) studied employee theft in the context of a temporary pay reduction."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The premature conclusion",
      "point": "It would be tempting to conclude that explaining a refusal well is enough to make it fair."
    },
    {
      "heading": "What the evidence cannot promise",
      "point": "Validating a justice measure does not establish that an explanatory conversation alone improves a reporting relationship."
    },
    {
      "heading": "A practical check in Lausanne",
      "point": "As part of SHR's « Construire une relation efficace avec son manager » programme, an exercise could be offered in Lausanne, in a medtech company, a higher education institution, an international sports organisation or a scale-up in the Lake Geneva region: after an unfavourable decision, write down the stated criterion and the constraint cited, then ask the manager to check that understanding."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "authors": "Colquitt",
      "year": "2001",
      "source": "Journal of Applied Psychology"
    },
    {
      "authors": "Greenberg",
      "year": "1990",
      "source": "Journal of Applied Psychology"
    }
  ],
  "wordCount": 406,
  "image": "https://www.shr.swiss/img/blog-editorial-2026-02-06-en.jpg?v=4",
  "translations": {
    "fr": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/decision-defavorable-manager-explications-justice",
    "en": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/decision-defavorable-manager-explications-justice-en",
    "de": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/decision-defavorable-manager-explications-justice-de",
    "it": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/decision-defavorable-manager-explications-justice-it"
  },
  "relatedPages": {
    "programme": "https://www.shr.swiss/formation/relation-avec-son-manager/lausanne",
    "city": "https://www.shr.swiss/formations-ville/lausanne",
    "blog": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog"
  },
  "citationPolicy": "Citation autorisée avec mention « SHR — Swiss Human Resources » et lien vers l'article."
}