The Human and Environmental Side of HRM : A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda

Abstract

Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) has received growing attention as organisations are leveraging HRM to address environmental and social challenges. Although prior research links GHRM to improved environmental and organisational performance, much of this literature focuses on performance‐oriented outcomes and gives limited attention to employee experiences and their wellbeing. This study addresses this gap through a systematic literature review of 94 peer‐reviewed articles published between 2017 and 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. The review identifies five core themes in the GHRM literature: employee behaviour and engagement; GHRM practices and systems; organisational culture, strategy and leadership; innovation and capability development; and sustainability outcomes. The findings show that GHRM can support pro‐environmental behaviour, employee engagement, innovation and environmental performance when implemented as a coherent and supportive HR bundle. However, risks such as work intensification, green fatigue and unequal access to green opportunities remain a major concern. By re‐centring the human experience of GHRM, we advance a more balanced understanding of sustainability‐oriented HRM and propose directions for future research that integrates environmental outcomes with employee wellbeing, fairness and social sustainability.