Singing the same environmental song: transmission of green HR signals from supervisors to subordinates through multilevel modeling

Abstract

PurposeTo comprehend the influence of green HR practices (GHRM) on employee outcomes, strategic HRM researchers are gradually adopting an employee-centric approach, a subject that has sparked recent discussions among scholars in the field of green HR. These scholars have emphasized the need for studies that shed light on the reasons behind the differences in employees' perceptions of GHRM. To address this concern, we investigated (1) supervisors perceived GHRM (SUP-GHRM) and subordinates perceived GHRM (SUB-GHRM) as the fundamental source of variation in employee eco-friendly behavior and green performance, (2) the association between SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM, (3) the mediation role of SUB-GHRM toward green performance and eco-friendly behavior, and (4) the moderation of perceived HRM system strength (HRMSS) on supervisor-subordinate perceived GHRM.Design/methodology/approachApplying a survey approach, we collected data from 217 supervisors and 624 subordinates from Large-Scale Manufacturing Organizations in the Textile sector of Pakistan. Since the data is hierarchical, we applied the Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) and bootstrapping techniques to examine the hypothesized relationship.FindingsThe results of HLM revealed that (1) the SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM were key in determining green performance and eco-friendly behavior, (2) the SUP-GHRM significantly influenced SUB-GHRM, (3) the SUP-GHRM indirectly affected the eco-friendly behavior and green performance through SUB-GHRM, (4) the HRM system’s strength positively moderated the association between the SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM.Practical implicationsThe corporations need to ensure that both supervisors and subordinates have a consistent understanding of GHRM practices and foster positive relationships between them. It is also important for companies to actively enhance supervisors' knowledge of GHRM and encourage them to effectively communicate the company’s GHRM practices to their subordinates. This is vital for improving employee job-related outcomes. Furthermore, corporations should emphasize developing a strong HRM system designed to create a climate where employees understand the behaviors and responses that are valued and recognized, leading them to perceive situations in line with their managers.Originality/valueThis study suggests SUP-GHRM and SUB-GHRM as critical factors that influence eco-friendly behavior and green performance, and HRMSS is key to aligning the perception gaps between subordinates and supervisors about what GHRM is in place in their organization, which is empirically analyzed in a developing country context.