Research Article
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Workforce in Green Transformation: Perspectives of Employees in Environmentally Friendly Sectors on Green Human Resources Management

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 246 - 258, 31.05.2025
https://doi.org/10.30613/curesosc.1648165

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the perceptions of employees working in environmentally friendly sectors, focusing on the opportunities and challenges related to green transformation. It aims to uncover the effects of the rapidly expanding green job market on employees, alongside the benefits and risks they perceive. Employing a phenomenological qualitative design, the research involved employees from 14 distinct positions within green companies located in Ankara's Çankaya and Yenimahalle districts. Data were gathered using a semi-structured interview form comprising eight questions. The findings highlight that Green Human Resources (GHR) practices enhance employees' sense of environmental responsibility and positively influence job satisfaction. Participation in sustainability projects has fostered stronger commitment among employees, while training programs have been instrumental in enhancing skills and raising environmental awareness. The study concludes that environmentally friendly projects significantly boost employee motivation and job satisfaction. However, to ensure the long-term sustainability of these initiatives, it is crucial to raise public awareness, strengthen governmental support, and implement cost-reduction strategies. Overall, the research underscores the importance of adopting a comprehensive perspective towards experiences in green sectors and emphasizes the necessity of integrating sustainability policies into business processes for the future of the business world.

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışmanın etik olduğu, 05/11/2024 tarihinde Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Trabzon Tıp Fakültesi Bilimsel Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu tarafından onaylanmıştır

Supporting Institution

Çalışmayı destekleyen herhangi bir kurum yoktur

References

  • Acar, S. (2021). The effect of organizational learning on sustainable human resources management: A research on companies included in the BIST sustainability index (Doctoral Dissertation). Afyon Kocatepe University Institute of Social Sciences.
  • Baş, D., & Kesen, M. (2024). The effect of green human resources management practices on organizational identification and organisational commitment. Alanya Academic View, 8(1), 174-194. https://doi.org/10.29023/alanyaakademik.1300910
  • Casler, A., Gundlach, M. J., Persons, B., & Zivnuska, S. (2010). Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s thirty-year journey toward sustainability. People & Strategy, 33, 44–51.
  • Cherian, J., & Jacob, J. (2012). A study of Green HR practices and its effective implementation in the organization: A review. International Journal of Business and Management, 7, 25–33.
  • Clement, K. (1997). Multi-disciplinary teams and environmental integration: European programmes. Team Performance Management, 3, 261–269.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd Edition ed.): Sage publications.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th Edition ed.): Sage publications.
  • Daly, H. E. (2005). Ecological economics and sustainable development: Selected essays of Herman Daly. Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Daily, B. F., Bishop, J., & Steiner, R. (2007). The mediating role of EMS teamwork as it pertains to HR factors and perceived environmental performance. Journal of Applied Business Research, 23, 95–109.
  • Daily, B. F., Bishop, J. W., & Govindarajulu, N. (2009). Conceptual model for organizational citizenship behavior directed toward the environment. Business & Society, 48(2), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650308315439
  • Deshwal, P. (2015). Green HRM: An organizational strategy of greening people. International Journal of Applied Research, 1(13), 176–181.
  • Dunlap, R. E., Van Liere, K. D., Mertig, A. G., & Jones, R. E. (2000). Measuring endorsement of the new ecological paradigm: A revised NEP scale. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 425–442. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00176
  • Dutta, S. (2012). Greening people: A strategic dimension. ZENITH. International Journal of Business Economics & Management Research, 2(2), 143–148.
  • Ehnert, I. (2009). Sustainable human resource management: A conceptual and exploratory analysis from a paradox perspective. Physica-Verlag.
  • Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Capstone Publishing. Erdoğan, S., Nahcivan, N., & Esin, M. N. (2014). Nursing research: Process, application, and critique. Nobel Medical Bookstore.
  • European Commission. (2020). Circular economy action plan: For a cleaner and more competitive Europe. European Union.
  • Freitas, W. R., Jabbour, C. J. C., & Santos, F. C. A. (2011). Continuing the evolution: Towards sustainable HRM and sustainable organizations. Business Strategy Series, 12(5), 226-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/17515631111166861
  • Gedik, Y. (2020). Sustainability and sustainable development in social, economic, and environmental dimensions. International Journal of Economics, Politics, Human and Social Sciences, 3(3), 196-215.
  • Govindarajulu, N., & Daily, B. F. (2004). Motivating employees for environmental improvement. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 104, 364–372.
  • Grolleau, G., Mzoughi, N., & Pekovic, S. (2012). Green not (only) for profit: An empirical examination of the effect of environmental-related standards on employees recruitment. Resource and Energy Economics, 34, 74–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reseneeco.2011.10.002
  • Hart, S. (1997). Beyond greening: Strategies for a sustainable world. Harvard Business Review, 75, 66–76.
  • Jabbour, C. J. C., & Santos, F. C. A. (2008). Relationships between human resource dimensions and environmental management in companies: Proposal of a model. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16, 51–58.
  • Jabbour, C. J. C., Santos, F. C. A., & Nagano, M. S. (2010). Contributions of HRM throughout the stages of environmental management: Methodological triangulation applied to companies in Brazil. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(7), 1049–1089. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585191003783512
  • Jabbour, C. J. C., Jabbour, L. S., Govindan, K., Teixeira, A. A., & Freitas, W. R. (2013). Environmental management and operational performance in automotive companies in Brazil: The role of human resource management and lean manufacturing. Journal of Cleaner Production, 47, 129–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.010
  • Jackson, S., Renwick, D., Jabbour, C. J. C., & Muller-Camen, M. (2011). State-of-the-art and future directions for green human resource management. Zeitschrift für personalforschung. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, 25, 99–116.
  • Lapan, S. D., Quartaroli, M. T., & Riemer, F. J. (Eds.). (2012). Qualitative research: An introduction to methods and designs. Jossey-Bass.
  • Leavy, P. (2017). Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. The Guilford Press.
  • Lee, K. H. (2009). Why and how to adopt green management into business organizations: The case study of Korean SMEs in manufacturing industry. Management Decision, 47(7), 1101–1121.
  • Mandip, G. (2012). Green HRM: People management commitment to environmental sustainability. Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 1, 244–252.
  • Massoud, J. A., Daily, B. F., & Bishop, J. W. (2008). Reward for environmental performance: Using the Scanlon Plan as catalyst to green organisations. International Journal of Environment, Workplace and Employment, 4, 15–31.
  • Mathapati, C. M. (2013). Green HRM: A strategic facet. Tactful Management Research Journal, 2(2), 1–6. May, D. R., & Flannery, L. B. (1995). Cutting waste with employee involvement teams. Business Horizons, 38(5), 28–38.
  • McDonagh, P., & Prothero, A. (1997). Green management: A reader. Dryden Press.
  • Mehta, K., & Chugan, K. P. (2015). Green HRM in pursuit of environmentally sustainable business. Universal Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 3(3), 74–81. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujibm.2015.030302
  • Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Milfont, T. L., & Duckitt, J. (2010). The environmental attitudes inventory: A valid and reliable measure to assess the structure of environmental attitudes. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(1), 80-94.
  • Müller-Christ, G., & Remer, A. (1999). Business strategy for sustainable HRM. Zeitschrift für Personalforschung, 13(1), 65-88.
  • Özgül, B., & Gürol, Y. (2019). A content analysis on the role of sustainable human resource management in corporate sustainability. Doğuş University Journal, 20(1), 107-126.
  • Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). Creating shared value: How to reinvent capitalism and unleash a wave of innovation and growth. Harvard Business Review, 89(1/2), 62-77.
  • Renwick, D. W. S., Redman, T., & Maguire, S. (2013). Green human resource management: A review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(1), 1-14.
  • Saldana, J. (2011). Fundamentals of qualitative research. Oxford University Press.
  • Sharma, R., & Gupta, N. (2015). Green HRM: An innovative approach to environmental sustainability ISBN: 978-81-924713-8-9, https://www.academia.edu/10479594/Green_HRM_An_Innovative_Approach_to_Environmental_S ustainability
  • Smith, A. (1776). Ulusların zenginliği (The Wealth of Nations).
  • Şen, H., & Uğrak, U. (2024). Reasons for leaving employment in health services: A retrospective study in a private hospital. Third Sector Social Economy Review, 59(4), 3157–3174.
  • Takalo, S. K., Tooranloo, H. S., Parizi, Z. S. (2017). Green innovation: A systematic literature review https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122474
  • Thomas, S. P., & Pollio, H. R. (2002). Listening to patients: A phenomenological approach to nursing research and practice. Springer Publishing Company.
  • Tıraş, H. H. (2012). Sustainable development and the environment: A theoretical analysis. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Journal of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 2(2), 57-73.
  • Tracy, S. J. (2019). Qualitative research methods: Collecting evidence, crafting analysis, communicating impact (2th Ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Ugrak, U., Akyüz, S., & Aksungur, A. (2025). Job Gratitude Scale: A study of Turkish validity and reliability among healthcare workers. Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences of Erzurum Technical University, 21, 101–112.
  • United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. United Nations.
  • Van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. Phenomenolo + Pedago, 8, 361-366.
  • World Bank. (2021). Financing sustainable development: Challenges and solutions. World Bank Publications.
  • Yavuz, V. A. (2010). The concept of sustainability and sustainable production strategies for businesses. Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 7(14), 63–86.

Yeşil Dönüşümde İşgücü: Çevre Dostu Sektörlerde Çalışanların Yeşil İnsan Kaynakları Yönetimine Bakışı

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 246 - 258, 31.05.2025
https://doi.org/10.30613/curesosc.1648165

Abstract

Bu nitel çalışma, çevre dostu sektörlerde çalışanların yeşil dönüşümle ilgili fırsat ve zorluklara yönelik algılarını analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma kapsamında, hızla büyüyen yeşil işlerin çalışanlar üzerindeki etkileri ile onların algıladığı fayda ve risk unsurlarını ortaya koymak hedeflenmiştir. Fenomolojik nitel desene sahip olan araştırma, Ankara'nın Çankaya ve Yenimahalle ilçelerinde bulunan yeşil şirketlerde, 14 farklı pozisyonda istihdam edilen çalışanların katılımıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler, sekiz sorudan oluşan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde Yeşil İnsan Kaynakları (YİK) uygulamalarının çalışanların çevresel sorumluluklarını artırarak iş tatminine olumlu katkı sağladığı görülmüştür. Çalışanların sürdürülebilirlik projelerine katılımı, işlerine olan bağlılıklarını güçlendirmiştir. Ayrıca, eğitim programlarının çalışanların becerilerini geliştirmek ve çevresel farkındalıklarını artırmak açısından önemli bir rol oynadığı belirlenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonucunda, çevre dostu projelerin çalışan motivasyonu ve iş tatmini üzerinde olumlu etkiler yarattığı tespit edilmiştir. Ancak, bu projelerin sürdürülebilirliği için toplum bilincinin artırılması, devlet desteklerinin güçlendirilmesi ve maliyetlerin azaltılmasına yönelik adımlar atılması gerektiği sonucuna varılmıştır. Çalışma, çevre dostu sektörlerdeki deneyimlerin daha geniş bir perspektifle ele alınması gerektiğini ve sürdürülebilirlik politikalarının iş süreçlerine entegrasyonunun, geleceğin iş dünyası için vazgeçilmez olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

References

  • Acar, S. (2021). The effect of organizational learning on sustainable human resources management: A research on companies included in the BIST sustainability index (Doctoral Dissertation). Afyon Kocatepe University Institute of Social Sciences.
  • Baş, D., & Kesen, M. (2024). The effect of green human resources management practices on organizational identification and organisational commitment. Alanya Academic View, 8(1), 174-194. https://doi.org/10.29023/alanyaakademik.1300910
  • Casler, A., Gundlach, M. J., Persons, B., & Zivnuska, S. (2010). Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s thirty-year journey toward sustainability. People & Strategy, 33, 44–51.
  • Cherian, J., & Jacob, J. (2012). A study of Green HR practices and its effective implementation in the organization: A review. International Journal of Business and Management, 7, 25–33.
  • Clement, K. (1997). Multi-disciplinary teams and environmental integration: European programmes. Team Performance Management, 3, 261–269.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd Edition ed.): Sage publications.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th Edition ed.): Sage publications.
  • Daly, H. E. (2005). Ecological economics and sustainable development: Selected essays of Herman Daly. Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Daily, B. F., Bishop, J., & Steiner, R. (2007). The mediating role of EMS teamwork as it pertains to HR factors and perceived environmental performance. Journal of Applied Business Research, 23, 95–109.
  • Daily, B. F., Bishop, J. W., & Govindarajulu, N. (2009). Conceptual model for organizational citizenship behavior directed toward the environment. Business & Society, 48(2), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650308315439
  • Deshwal, P. (2015). Green HRM: An organizational strategy of greening people. International Journal of Applied Research, 1(13), 176–181.
  • Dunlap, R. E., Van Liere, K. D., Mertig, A. G., & Jones, R. E. (2000). Measuring endorsement of the new ecological paradigm: A revised NEP scale. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 425–442. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00176
  • Dutta, S. (2012). Greening people: A strategic dimension. ZENITH. International Journal of Business Economics & Management Research, 2(2), 143–148.
  • Ehnert, I. (2009). Sustainable human resource management: A conceptual and exploratory analysis from a paradox perspective. Physica-Verlag.
  • Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Capstone Publishing. Erdoğan, S., Nahcivan, N., & Esin, M. N. (2014). Nursing research: Process, application, and critique. Nobel Medical Bookstore.
  • European Commission. (2020). Circular economy action plan: For a cleaner and more competitive Europe. European Union.
  • Freitas, W. R., Jabbour, C. J. C., & Santos, F. C. A. (2011). Continuing the evolution: Towards sustainable HRM and sustainable organizations. Business Strategy Series, 12(5), 226-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/17515631111166861
  • Gedik, Y. (2020). Sustainability and sustainable development in social, economic, and environmental dimensions. International Journal of Economics, Politics, Human and Social Sciences, 3(3), 196-215.
  • Govindarajulu, N., & Daily, B. F. (2004). Motivating employees for environmental improvement. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 104, 364–372.
  • Grolleau, G., Mzoughi, N., & Pekovic, S. (2012). Green not (only) for profit: An empirical examination of the effect of environmental-related standards on employees recruitment. Resource and Energy Economics, 34, 74–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reseneeco.2011.10.002
  • Hart, S. (1997). Beyond greening: Strategies for a sustainable world. Harvard Business Review, 75, 66–76.
  • Jabbour, C. J. C., & Santos, F. C. A. (2008). Relationships between human resource dimensions and environmental management in companies: Proposal of a model. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16, 51–58.
  • Jabbour, C. J. C., Santos, F. C. A., & Nagano, M. S. (2010). Contributions of HRM throughout the stages of environmental management: Methodological triangulation applied to companies in Brazil. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(7), 1049–1089. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585191003783512
  • Jabbour, C. J. C., Jabbour, L. S., Govindan, K., Teixeira, A. A., & Freitas, W. R. (2013). Environmental management and operational performance in automotive companies in Brazil: The role of human resource management and lean manufacturing. Journal of Cleaner Production, 47, 129–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.07.010
  • Jackson, S., Renwick, D., Jabbour, C. J. C., & Muller-Camen, M. (2011). State-of-the-art and future directions for green human resource management. Zeitschrift für personalforschung. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, 25, 99–116.
  • Lapan, S. D., Quartaroli, M. T., & Riemer, F. J. (Eds.). (2012). Qualitative research: An introduction to methods and designs. Jossey-Bass.
  • Leavy, P. (2017). Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. The Guilford Press.
  • Lee, K. H. (2009). Why and how to adopt green management into business organizations: The case study of Korean SMEs in manufacturing industry. Management Decision, 47(7), 1101–1121.
  • Mandip, G. (2012). Green HRM: People management commitment to environmental sustainability. Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 1, 244–252.
  • Massoud, J. A., Daily, B. F., & Bishop, J. W. (2008). Reward for environmental performance: Using the Scanlon Plan as catalyst to green organisations. International Journal of Environment, Workplace and Employment, 4, 15–31.
  • Mathapati, C. M. (2013). Green HRM: A strategic facet. Tactful Management Research Journal, 2(2), 1–6. May, D. R., & Flannery, L. B. (1995). Cutting waste with employee involvement teams. Business Horizons, 38(5), 28–38.
  • McDonagh, P., & Prothero, A. (1997). Green management: A reader. Dryden Press.
  • Mehta, K., & Chugan, K. P. (2015). Green HRM in pursuit of environmentally sustainable business. Universal Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 3(3), 74–81. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujibm.2015.030302
  • Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Milfont, T. L., & Duckitt, J. (2010). The environmental attitudes inventory: A valid and reliable measure to assess the structure of environmental attitudes. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(1), 80-94.
  • Müller-Christ, G., & Remer, A. (1999). Business strategy for sustainable HRM. Zeitschrift für Personalforschung, 13(1), 65-88.
  • Özgül, B., & Gürol, Y. (2019). A content analysis on the role of sustainable human resource management in corporate sustainability. Doğuş University Journal, 20(1), 107-126.
  • Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). Creating shared value: How to reinvent capitalism and unleash a wave of innovation and growth. Harvard Business Review, 89(1/2), 62-77.
  • Renwick, D. W. S., Redman, T., & Maguire, S. (2013). Green human resource management: A review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(1), 1-14.
  • Saldana, J. (2011). Fundamentals of qualitative research. Oxford University Press.
  • Sharma, R., & Gupta, N. (2015). Green HRM: An innovative approach to environmental sustainability ISBN: 978-81-924713-8-9, https://www.academia.edu/10479594/Green_HRM_An_Innovative_Approach_to_Environmental_S ustainability
  • Smith, A. (1776). Ulusların zenginliği (The Wealth of Nations).
  • Şen, H., & Uğrak, U. (2024). Reasons for leaving employment in health services: A retrospective study in a private hospital. Third Sector Social Economy Review, 59(4), 3157–3174.
  • Takalo, S. K., Tooranloo, H. S., Parizi, Z. S. (2017). Green innovation: A systematic literature review https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122474
  • Thomas, S. P., & Pollio, H. R. (2002). Listening to patients: A phenomenological approach to nursing research and practice. Springer Publishing Company.
  • Tıraş, H. H. (2012). Sustainable development and the environment: A theoretical analysis. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Journal of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 2(2), 57-73.
  • Tracy, S. J. (2019). Qualitative research methods: Collecting evidence, crafting analysis, communicating impact (2th Ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Ugrak, U., Akyüz, S., & Aksungur, A. (2025). Job Gratitude Scale: A study of Turkish validity and reliability among healthcare workers. Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences of Erzurum Technical University, 21, 101–112.
  • United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. United Nations.
  • Van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. Phenomenolo + Pedago, 8, 361-366.
  • World Bank. (2021). Financing sustainable development: Challenges and solutions. World Bank Publications.
  • Yavuz, V. A. (2010). The concept of sustainability and sustainable production strategies for businesses. Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 7(14), 63–86.
There are 52 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Harika Şen 0000-0002-3893-5587

Early Pub Date May 31, 2025
Publication Date May 31, 2025
Submission Date February 27, 2025
Acceptance Date May 26, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Şen, H. (2025). Workforce in Green Transformation: Perspectives of Employees in Environmentally Friendly Sectors on Green Human Resources Management. Current Research in Social Sciences, 11(1), 246-258. https://doi.org/10.30613/curesosc.1648165