Victims' perceptions of interactional justice in post-bullying corrective actions: a qualitative inquiry

Purpose While research on workplace bullying has largely examined its occurrence, less attention has been given to how victims perceive justice following formal grievance procedures. This study explores how interactional justice perceptions are shaped through multi-level interactions during post-bullying corrective actions. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a two-phase qualitative design, Phase 1 used a phenomenological lens to capture the lived experiences of 11 faculty at a U.S. university who filed bullying complaints. Phase 2 employed grounded theory with 24 faculty from multiple U.S. universities who reported bullying through formal channels, thereby offering both depth and broader conceptual insights into post-bullying justice. Findings Findings revealed a multi-level interaction framework across peer, management and collective domains. At the peer level, victims reported Apathetic Disconnection, Rational Support and Empathetic Alliance. At the management level, themes included Perceived Retaliation, Abandonment, Delayed Justice and Systemic Disillusionment. At the collective level, unions and shared advocacy contributed to Collective Empowerment. Across these levels, an “empathy continuum” highlighted how emotional attunement shaped justice experiences. Research limitations/implications The study extends Fairness Heuristic Theory by framing corrective action as a phase-shifting event that reshapes justice judgments through affective exchanges. Delays intensified trauma and unfairness perceptions, aligning with Kotter's sense of urgency and McGregor's Hot Stove Rule, underscoring the importance of timeliness, consistency and credibility in grievance redressal. Practical implications Practically, the study stresses the need for empathy-driven mechanisms, timely processes and collective support to prevent re-victimization. Originality/value By shifting focus from bullying itself to corrective actions, it introduces the empathy continuum as a lens for understanding justice enactment across relational levels.