Effects of information on salary satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: an equity-based mediation model

PurposeThis research aims to study the effects of information (on salary, salary reductions and the pandemic's impact on the organization) on the salary satisfaction of workers whose salary had been cut during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, analyzing the mediating role of salary equity in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachInformation was acquired with a structured questionnaire sent by email in May 2021 from 251 employees in Spain during the “third wave” of COVID-19. The model was estimated using the weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted (WLSMV).FindingsResults collected reveal that workers' perceptions of equity fully mediated the relationship between salary information, information on salary cuts and salary satisfaction.Practical implicationsLearning more about the effects of information on salary satisfaction can contribute to communication policies that reduce the negative impact of sensitive salary decisions, practical implications for employees, organizations and policymakers.Originality/valueThis study examines the central role of organizational information as a mechanism for managing problems arising from the pandemic-induced unfavorable working conditions. This study analyzes how this information affects workers' attitudes, highlighting the role of equity as a mediator in this process.