Employers who want a healthy workforce should ensure that they treat their employees fairly.

According to a new study, an employee's experience of fairness at work can have a big impact, with those being treated fairly more likely to be healthy and active.

UK and Swedish researchers set out to assess the impact on health of ‘procedural justice' in the workplace. They questioned almost 6,000 workers about the decision-making processes used in their workplace to deal with issues such as pay, promotions and assignments.

The study found that if perceptions of fairness changed in the workplace, the health of employees also changed. Those who experienced more fairness tended to report better health, while those who felt their workplace was not fair had poorer health.

"Our study provides a thorough examination of how fairness at the workplace and health of employees is related over time. The findings can help raise awareness among employers and authorities that fairness at work is important to consider to increase satisfaction, wellbeing and productivity in the workplace and wider society," the researchers commented.

They pointed out that certain things can be done to improve perceptions of fairness in the workplace, such as consulting employees about changes and making sure that employees feel that their views are considered.

"People who feel fairly treated are not only more likely to be motivated at work and go the extra mile for their organisation, but they are also more likely to be healthy, have an active lifestyle and feel positive," the researchers noted.

Details of these findings are published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.