Distributive justice is fostered when authorities utilize appropriate allocation norms when doling out key outcome (Leventhal 1976) In most business contexts the appropriate norms is equity where outcomes are allocated in accordance with relevant inputs (Adam 1965; Leventhal 1976) Distributive justice is likely to be relevant to affect-based trust because equity has important affective consequences Adams suggested that inequitable allocations will trigger a sense of equity distress with anger resulting from underpayment inequity and guilt resulting from overpayment inequity Those negative emotions are associated with action tendencies suct as retaliation or withdrawal (Lazarus & Cohen Charash 2001) both of which could undermine the development of reciprocal sentiments and invesment Distributive justice should also be relevant to cognition-based trust Making decisions about performance evaluations salary increases bonuses job assignments and informal spot rewards represents a key job duty for many organizational authorities As such failing to make such decisions in an equitable fashion could lead to doubts about an authority's competence dedication reliability and professionalism.