Where Is Human Resource Management in Sustainability Reporting? ESG and GRI Perspectives

Ana Moreira, Ana Cláudia Rodrigues and Marisa R. Ferreira ()
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Ana Moreira: ISCAP, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4465-004 Porto, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Rodrigues: CEOS.PP, ISCAP, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4465-004 Porto, Portugal
Marisa R. Ferreira: CIICESI, ESTG, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4610-156 Felgueiras, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: Addressing the needs of society and the environment has become vital for organizations’ survival in the current business context. Stakeholders increasingly demand ethical practices, environmental responsibility, and a commitment to social well-being as integral components of sustainable business strategies. The study aims to explore and analyze Sustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) practices within the context of sustainability reporting measures, specifically Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). By identifying and categorizing best practices in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and SHRM, the study intends to highlight the role of HRM in sustainability reporting and give actionable insights for organizations to improve their reporting strategies and integrate HRM more effectively into sustainability frameworks. The methodology adopted is bibliometric analysis, as it enables the identification of connections between various studies, authors, and topics across a large body of research. Concerning SHRM and ESG, 932 papers were analyzed, while 442 papers were considered for SHRM and GRI. The main findings reveal a lack of specific studies on SHRM within the ESG and GRI reporting, highlighting the need to include topics directly related to human resources in these reports to enhance the relevance and comprehensiveness of sustainability reports for various stakeholders. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of trends in integrating sustainable practices into human resource management and highlight the need for future academic studies to incorporate the analysis of HR-related components—both in terms of processes and their impact on stakeholders—within sustainability reporting. This reinforces the idea that ESG and GRI reporting should not be viewed solely through environmental or financial lenses but as comprehensive measures encompassing social and human capital dimensions, prompting a rethinking of traditional approaches.

Keywords: human resources management; sustainable human resources; sustainability; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG); Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) (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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