Going green and sustainable : The influence of green HR practices on the organizational rationale for sustainability

Organizations that go green need their employees to perceive that sustainability is a priority in order to increase pro-sustainability behavior. Several factors can influence how employees perceive their organization’s com- mitment to sustainability; however, no research has yet explored how green human resource management can influence that perception. This study thus examines the role of green hiring, green training, and green com- pensation, along with age and gender, in sustaining the organizational rationale for sustainability (ORS). Results from a sample of 275 Portuguese employees, analysed through the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), shows that perceived ORS is mainly grounded in green hiring, and to a lesser extent, in green training. Green hiring is especially important for older employees, whereas younger employees require green training. Green compensation is surprisingly irrelevant. The study is useful for researchers and practitioners who seek to understand employees’ perception about the value and priority their organizations give to sustainability.