Socially Responsible Human Resource Management as a Concept of Fostering Sustainable Organization-Building: Experiences of Young Polish Companies

Edyta Bombiak,Anna Marciniuk-Kluska

doi:10.3390/su11041044

Abstract

There has been increased interest over recent years in socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) oriented at developing good relations with employees as a function fostering sustainable organization-building. This is a consequence of our awareness of the fact that employees and personnel processes play a vital role in translating the policy of sustainable development into practice. The objective of this research has been to diagnose the activity of young Polish enterprises in the area of SRHRM as an important corporate social responsibility (CSR) component and to assess relations between SRHRM practices and the sustainable development of organizations. The studies conducted on a representative sample of 150 entities demonstrate both the scope of SRHRM practical implementation and the fields which have disparity in this respect. It has been determined that SRHRM practices are quite frequently adopted by young Polish enterprises. Research has shown that there is a correlation between the assessment of the relationship of SRHRM practices with the sustainable development of organizations and their practical implementation. It has been established that the higher the assessment of the strength of the relations of a given practice, the more often it is implemented in the enterprises studied. Simultaneously, the research has demonstrated a low level of maturity with respect to SRHRM implementation, as evidenced by the adoption of basic practices.

Highlights

In contemporary knowledge economies, one of the crucial elements determining an organization’s ability to create added value, and its long-term competitiveness, is skillful interaction with one’s surroundings [1]
The objective of the study is to diagnose the activity of young enterprises operating across Poland in the field of socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) oriented at developing good relations with the primary group of stakeholders, which includes employees, and to carry out an evaluation of the effect of SRHRM practices on sustainable development of organizations
The subject matter of the research comprised SRHRM practices followed by young Polish enterprises

Summary

Introduction

One of the crucial elements determining an organization’s ability to create added value, and its long-term competitiveness, is skillful interaction with one’s surroundings [1]. What is expected from today’s businesses, is for them to generate profits and to limit and reduce their negative impact on the environment and to address threats to our civilization [2]. In response to higher global social awareness as well as the sensitivity of interested parties, the number of organizations which have based their strategies on sustainable development principles is growing [3]. Sustainable development is a present-day idea of civilizational development, born out of the necessity to mitigate and counteract the adverse impacts of economic growth. It is the kind of development that aims to satisfy the needs of present generations while preserving the ability of future generations to meet their own aspirations [4]. Its mechanism is built around the pursuit of three primary goals [5,6,7,8]:

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