Does organizational context matter? : An examination of the factors influencing employees’ judgments of minimum wage increases

Dütsch, MatthiasMatthiasDütsch0000-0003-0936-2422Senghaas, MonikaMonikaSenghaasStephan, GesineGesineStephanStruck, OlafOlafStruck0000-0002-7631-63652025-07-242025-07-2420252510-5027https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/109213This article presents novel fndings on company factors that determine judgments regarding the fairness of minimum wage increases. Drawing on minimum wage and organizational justice research, we conducted a factorial survey among German employees. It seems that the internal wage structure plays a crucial role because raising only the pay of minimum wage workers and not that of other employees causes a minimum wage increase to be rated as less fair. While a hiring freeze does not negatively infuence fairness judgments, layofs do. Finally, if a minimum wage increase adversely afects a company’s economic situation, respondents assess it as less fair.engDistributive justiceFairness judgmentMinimum wageFactorial surveyDoes organizational context matter? : An examination of the factors influencing employees’ judgments of minimum wage increasesarticle10.1186/s12651-025-00392-3