Fairness on fire: delving into the concept of “Smart Hot-Stove” and its negative organizational consequences

Purpose The traditional “Hot-Stove Rule” advocates for consistent discipline, yet many organizations deviate. This article critiques such inconsistency, introducing the “Smart Hot-Stove” concept. As a satirical metaphor, the Smart Hot-Stove illustrates how organizational disciplinary systems selectively punish some employees while overlooking similar offenses by others. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual study. Findings The Smart Hot-Stove interacts with various organizational factors: culture, unequal treatment based on tenure, leader-member exchange, the new world of work, conspiracy theories and emotional intelligence. This can lead to negative consequences such as system gaming, reduced whistleblowing, decreased innovation, groupthink, employee rumination and reputational damage. Originality/value This article offers a novel framework to analyze and critique favoritism and its detrimental effects within disciplinary processes.