Introduction
In the 21st century, enterprises are gradually leaning towards maintaining environmental sustainability as their top priority, sparking the quest for new alternative human resource management solutions. While some organizations are working on developing sustainable and environment-friendly organizations, others are implementing them.
However, to achieve sustainability in an organization, even if it means taking baby steps, enterprises must get help from human resource professionals to make the organization sustainable.
As we commemorate Earth Day, today’s exclusive HR Tech Cube article will focus on the Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices that HR professionals can implement in the organization for better sustainability and saving the planet Earth.
The Expanding Role of Human Resource Professionals in Environmental Sustainability
Earlier HR departments focused on employee management, recruitment, and welfare. However, with the emergence of sustainability in the business world, HR professionals need to develop strategies to initiate environmental consciousness within the organization.
Let’s take a quick look at how HR can promote environmental sustainability.
1. Green Human Resource Management and Employee Green Behavior
Enterprises began to respond proactively to environmental challenges, focusing on pollution and environmental damage reduction by incorporating ecological goals into their business strategies. Therefore, to create universal awareness and improve the protection of the environment and social sustainability, businesses need to follow GHRM, i.e., the “HRM dimensions of green management,” which encourage environmentally friendly workplace behavior for employees. HR professionals can implement green management by implementing recruitment and selection, training and development, and performance management with organizational environmental goals that will improve the company’s overall environmental management system.
2. Green Recruitment and Selection
Green recruitment and selection is considered a significant part of the GHRM practices that attract and choose candidates committed to resolving environmental issues. However, to attract such candidates, the organization must establish robust environmental management in the business world, and this can only be implemented if employers practice GHRM solutions. Through green employer branding, prospective employees can make a strong connection with the company’s values and beliefs and also help enterprises improve their environmental awareness constantly.
3. Green Training and Development
Green training and development are the most crucial proactive steps that will enable employees to learn about the capabilities of environmental protection and how to achieve these objectives. The role of HR professionals here is to raise awareness among employees by instilling green values and improving their ability to implement green working practices. Implementing green training programs can help employees understand the importance of environmental protection and become more sensitive to ecological issues.
Conclusion
To sum up, the role of HR in nurturing sustainability and eco-friendly workplaces goes beyond policymaking and implementation; it focuses more on fostering a new-age cultural shift within the organization. Therefore, integrating sustainability into the HR processes of business can inspire a collective sense of social and environmental responsibility towards planet Earth.
Together, let us pledge to preserve our planet for generations to come.
HRTech Cube wishes everyone a happy Earth Day!
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