Moral Boundaries and Human Judgment in Contemporary Human Resource Decisions

Moral considerations are increasingly playing an important role in contemporary human resource management (HRM) decision-making, especially in recruitment, performance appraisals, promotions, and terminations. This study aims to analyze the influence of moral boundaries on human judgment in HR decision-making and its implications for organizational justice. This research uses a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with HRM practitioners and line managers from various industry sectors, complemented by an analysis of HRM policy documents. The results showed that HR decisions are influenced by the perception of fairness, responsibility for employee welfare, and alignment with organizational ethical values. Such moral boundaries serve as implicit guidelines in managerial judgment and have the potential to result in unintentional ethical practices and biases. This research emphasizes the importance of integrating moral reasoning in the HR system to improve fairness, accountability, and organizational sustainability