Greening the workforce in higher educational institutions: The pursuance of environmental performance

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-12, Vol.30 (60), p.124474-124487
• Main Authors: Ali, Qazi Muhammad, Nisar, Qasim Ali, Abidin, Rana Zain ul, Qammar, Rabia, Abbass, Kashif
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Behavior; Colleges & universities; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Education; Effectiveness; Environment; Environmental behavior; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental management; Environmental performance; Green Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0 for a Greener Future; Higher education institutions; Human resource management; human resources management; Humans; labor force; Motivation; Pakistan; questionnaires; Schools; Self-efficacy; Universities; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Workforce
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19888-3

The research aims to examine the role of green human resource management (GHRM) in the university’s environmental performance. Furthermore, this research also focuses on the mediating effect of green commitment and pro-environmental behavior. It also aims to check how green self-efficacy moderates the relationship between green commitment and pro-environmental behavior. The paper opted for a quantitative design using the convenience sampling technique/approach by collecting the data through a structured questionnaire on 208 academic staff currently employed in the university. The data were collected from August until December 2021 on two campuses (Gujranwala, Jhelum) of the University of Punjab in Pakistan. The current study results give empirical insights that show how green human resource management practices lead to environmental performance at a greater level in a university setting. Study results proposed that change in behavior of employees through human resource management practices can ultimately affect the organization’s environmental performance. Further results also demonstrate that green self-efficacy moderates the relationship between green commitment and pro-environmental behavior. This study highlights the role of the university staff’s level of commitment and self-efficacy, which are beneficial for enhancing the university’s environmental performance. The originality of this study fills the gap in how green commitment mediates the relationship of green human resource management and environmental performance further; it fulfills the gap of green self-efficacy that moderates the relationship of pro-environmental behavior and green commitment. The study sheds light on green human resource management practices in the higher education sector. It emphasizes the vital role of academic staff’s environmentally conscious behavior in enhancing a university’s environmental performance. The further study highlighted the increasing concept of green human resource management as a set of building the ability, enhancing motivation, and providing opportunities to influence workers’ pro-environmental behaviors. The conclusion of the current research was capable of validating the positive concerns of green GHRM, behaviors, and commitments for environmental performance.