Toward Inclusive Green Human Resource Management: An Identity-Based Analytical Framework

Abstract

The concept of green human resource management (HRM) has evolved significantly over the past decades, transitioning from isolated organizational practices to an integral part of strategic HRM systems aimed at environmental sustainability. However, despite the proliferation of green initiatives, employees often feel excluded from these efforts, as firms struggle to embed these practices across all levels of the workforce. We address this inclusivity gap by introducing an identity-based analytical framework for green HRM. By recognizing and integrating multiple social identities, such as self-identity, social identity, and nature-related identity, this framework provides a structured approach to understanding and enhancing inclusive green HRM practices. It highlights key mechanisms, including changing stereotypes, facilitating identity verification and identity complementarity, and building toward the common good. Recognizing the complexities of various diversity dimensions and their intersections, the paper offers a roadmap for organizations to tailor their green HRM practices effectively. Ultimately, this approach bridges the gap between green HRM scholarship and practical implementation, challenging existing limitations in GHRM practices and advancing an inclusive approach to embedding sustainability in the workplace.