Implications of HR managers' green attitude: a study of Indian hospitality sector

PurposeThe paper examines the influence of green attitude of HR managers on the other key HRM variables in an organizational context. Specifically, the objective of the paper was to determine if HR managers’ green attitude influences the green behavior of employees in an organization, while accounting for the mediating and moderating effect of contingent variables.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from 175 human resources managers of Indian hotels using a structured instrument and subjected to partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis, using SmartPLS 3.0 software.FindingsWhile the green attitude of human resource managers was found to positively influence the green behavior of employees, it was observed that the extent of green rewards played a mediating role in the relationship. Top management support was found to moderate the relationship between green attitude of human resource managers and green human resource management practices.Practical implicationsThe study identifies how green behavior of employees can be improved by focusing primarily on the green attitude of HR managers. Thus, recruiting HR managers with high green orientation, contingent on the exogenous factors mentioned in the study being considered, will result in greater pro-environment employee behavior.Originality/valueOur unique contribution was viewing greening practices in the organization through the HR managers’ lens, who are critical in implementing green practices in an organization, thus providing novel insights compared to earlier studies in the field.