The role of green human resources management practices in organizational environmental citizenship behavior

The growing interest on environmental issues by companies has made the concept of green orientation a point focus and attention for researchers and those interested, which made companies take many green initiatives such as green management, green marketing, green supply chain and green human resources management. In light of the vital role played by officials of human resources management in supporting green practices, the current study focused on clarifying the important role that Green HRM practices play in promoting organizational environmental citizenship behaviors among employees in the workplace, and an empirical research conducted with Libyan Iron and Steel Company (LISCO) and Ahlia Cement Company (ACC), which face many environmental issues in their production operations. As a known, the manufacturing processes in these companies pass through many stages, these processes result in air emissions that pollute the environment such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide emissions, dust particles, waste and noise... etc. Accordingly, this study has developed a model that illustrates the effect of green human resources management practices on organizational environmental citizenship behavior. Data of the study was collected through a questionnaire prepared for this purpose and regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings shown that two dimensions of Green HRM practices (green performance management and green involvement) have a significantly positive effect on patterns of organizational environmental citizenship behavior (self-enacted, co-worker and organizational). According to the findings obtained, the study recommends the surveyed companies to focus on spreading a culture of environmental awareness among employees in the workplace and outside, encouraging employees to adopt the green approach while performing their work, and clarifying the importance of practicing these environmentally friendly activities through workshops, lectures and posters. In addition, encouraging employees to engage in environmentally friendly activities while they are in the company or outside is vital for sustainability of the companies.