So what do people when they perceive inequity. They alter there work. Those exhaust the possibilities. All of this can be summed up in a simple two by two table. Let's work through it.
Research does support the theory.
The effect is especially strong with under paid workers. Supervises 35 faculty members and 4 secretaries. We were drinking a beer at a meeting in LA, and talking about equity theory. I said how much more do you work in a week than the professors you supervise. He responded at least 15 on average maybe more.