Exploring Links Between Green HRM, Greenwashing, and Sustainability: The Role of Individual and Professional Traits

Francisco Cesário, Ana Sabino (), Ana Palma-Moreira and Mafalda Pinto-Coelho
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Francisco Cesário: Management Department, Atlântica—Instituto Universitário, 2730-036 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Sabino: School of Psychology, ISPA—Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Palma-Moreira: Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Tecnologia, Universidade Europeia, Quinta do Bom Nome, Estr. da Correia 53, 1500-210 Lisboa, Portugal
Mafalda Pinto-Coelho: School of Psychology, ISPA—Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the influence of Green Human Resources Management practices and greenwashing on the three pillars of sustainability—social, environmental, and economic. The moderating role of age and gender as individual characteristics and managerial position and sector as professional characteristics is also analyzed. A convenience sample of 232 respondents was used. Path analysis was employed to assess hypothesized relationships in the proposed model. Results suggest that different Green Human Resources Management practices influence social, environmental, and economic dimensions and individual and professional characteristics play a pivotal role in this relationship. Specifically, it is important to highlight the importance of green performance management and rewards and the non-significant influence of green training. Greenwashing seems to be a determinant of social and economic sustainability. The results emphasize that, for organizations to boost their employees’ perception of the three pillars of organizational sustainability, they must be aware of the specificities of their workforce and act accordingly. This work is relevant because it emphasizes the unique role of each GHRM practice as an antecedent of sustainability. It also contributes to the understanding that specific individual and professional characteristics affect the employees’ perception of sustainability.

Keywords: green human resources management; greenwashing; organizational sustainability; triple bottom line (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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