Green HRM practices, green commitment, and green innovative work behavior in UAE higher education institutes

Abstract

This study examines the relationships among green human resource management (GHRM), green commitment, green innovative work behavior (GIWB), and the moderating effect of environmentally specific servant leadership (ESSL) in UAE higher education institutes of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using a sample of employees, data were collected through a survey from 243 employees working in different universities across the UAE and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The SEM analysis confirms robust relationships between GHRM, environmentally specific servant leadership, green commitment, and green innovative workplace behavior. GHRM has a positive impact on GHRM. ESSL fosters the relationship between GHRM and green commitment, while green commitment positively impacts green innovative workplace behavior. Females were found to be more environmentally aware of the needed adjustments compared to male workers at the UAE campuses. The study suggests that higher education institutes in the UAE should adopt ESSL to support eco-conscious behaviors and green practices on their campuses and contribute to the achievement of national sustainability goals.