Green (environmental) HRM: aligning ideals with appropriate practices
ISSN: 0048-3486
Article publication date: 30 May 2019
Issue publication date: 22 July 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how Green (environmental) Human Resource Management (GHRM) policies can elicit green employee behaviours. This study explores the role of sustainability advocates, who are leaders and managers in pursuit of their firm’s environmental agenda, in the design and delivery of GHRM policies, communication, recruitment and selection, environmental training, rewards and incentives.
Design/methodology/approach
In this qualitative study, eighteen semi-structured interviews with sustainability advocates in European firms were conducted and analysed.
Findings
GHRM practices are not in themselves peripheral, intermediate or embedded, but shaped by contextual situations. Sustainability advocates’ intentions do not seem to match GHRM policy design, i.e. they try to elicit value-based behaviours by using self-interest-based approaches, leading to misalignments between the attitudes and behaviours policies attempt to elicit, and the type of behaviours they elicit in practice.
Research limitations/implications
This study explores GHRM practice implementation experienced by leaders and managers. Further research on the role of the HR function and recipients of GHRM is needed.
Practical implications
Practitioners need to be aware that organisational incentives (GHRM policies) that reflect self-interest can lead to self-interest-based behaviour and may be short-lived. A careful consideration of contextual factors will inform the selection of suitable GHRM policies. Environmental training completion rates seem an unsuitable metric for senior management bonuses.
Originality/value
This paper investigates the design and implementation stage of GHRM, leading to an identification of GHRM policies as peripheral, intermediate or embedded. This creates an in-depth knowledge on the efficacy of GHRM policies and their relation to the environment.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would thank the unnamed reviewers for their valuable comments and recommendations.
Citation
Leidner, S., Baden, D. and Ashleigh, M.J. (2019), "Green (environmental) HRM: aligning ideals with appropriate practices", Personnel Review, Vol. 48 No. 5, pp. 1169-1185. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-12-2017-0382
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited