What is a restorative Just Culture?

A recovery-oriented Just Culture not only looks at rules, causes and future prevention, but also at the damage that people and relationships have experienced as a result of an event and the response to it. Questions include: who has been affected, what do they need, who has a duty to restore something and how can trust be rebuilt responsibly?

This can lead to recognition, explanation, practical help, restoration of work agreements or a guided conversation. Participation must be careful and appropriate; recovery should not become a means of pressure to enforce forgiveness, silence or renunciation of rights. The scientific literature on restorative Just Culture is growing, but the 2026 scoping review concludes that the evidence on interventions and successful implementation is still limited.