Green human resource management practices: scale development and validity

• Published in: Asia Pacific journal of human resources 2018-01, Vol.56 (1), p.31-55
• Main Authors: Tang, Guiyao, Chen, Yang, Jiang, Yuan, Paillé, Pascal, Jia, Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: environmental management; green human resource management; Human resource management; Performance management; scale development
• ISSN: 1038-4111; 1744-7941
• DOI: 10.1111/1744-7941.12147

Previous studies on green human resource management (GHRM) are mainly positioned at theoretical or qualitative level. There is urgent need to develop a valid measurement of GHRM and then to offer more insights into the implication of it on individual or organizational performance. The aim of this study was to propose and validate an instrument to measure GHRM. Based on exploratory analysis (study 1), it was established that GHRM includes five dimensions: green recruitment and selection, green training, green performance management, green pay and reward, and green involvement. Confirmatory factor analysis (study 2) was used to confirm the factor structure of study 1. The results indicated that the proposed measurement is valid. This study is the first and also the most comprehensive one to measure main human resource practices for environmental management, which can provide broader focus for further research and for practitioners. Key points This study developed a theoretically grounded and empirically validated instrument to measure GHRM. We proved that GHRM includes five dimensions: green recruitment and selection, green training, green performance management, green pay and reward, and green involvement. The dimensions and items identified in our study can help firms create GHRM policy.