A study conducted by faculty at Goa Institute of Management (GIM) highlights how sustainable hiring, purpose-driven onboarding, and value-based socialisation processes can transform employees into committed advocates of environmental responsibility within organisations. The study emphasises that sustainability efforts are more effective when employees are actively involved rather than being passive recipients of organisational policies.
While conversations about sustainability focus on policies and businesses in the mainstream, this study addresses a more complex, and yet still unexplored, dimension of organisational sustainability by introducing a concept of the ‘green citizen’. This refers to an employee whose identity, values and everyday actions comprising a strong and self-directed commitment to sustainability that transcends defined job responsibilities. This conceptualisation of a ‘green citizen’ is concerned with the voluntary and self-initiated actions employees take in the context of their organisational roles, alongside their self-identity, to sustain the organisational objectives.
Led by Prof. Rahul Sukumaran, Assistant Professor, Department of OB and HR, Goa Institute of Management, in collaboration with Prof. Shaju Meetna, LEAD College of Management, the findings of this study have been published in the prestigious International Journal of Organizational Analysis
On a global scale, sustainability initiatives generally focus on macro-level interventions such as regulatory compliance, corporate strategies, and global standards. The study conducted by GIM faculty argues that long-term sustainability can only be achieved when employees internalise green values as part of their organisational identity and everyday work practices.
Key findings of the study include –
· Organisations that recruit employees whose values align with sustainability goals lay the foundation for authentic green practices.
· Socialisation processes of new recruits that emphasise sustainability strengthen employees’ long-term commitment to environmental responsibility.
· Green citizens go beyond compliance and voluntarily engage in sustainability initiatives.
· Employees who align with their organisation’s sustainability initiatives adopt green thinking in everyday decision-making.
Speaking about the findings of the research, Prof. Rahul Sukumaran, Assistant Professor, Department of OB and HR, Goa Institute of Management, said, “Paradoxically, green citizenship begins with the individual, and paves way for sustainable management practices that enable organizational growth.”
The employee-centric approach taken by the research team makes the study unique in its findings. The research links broad sustainability concepts with daily behaviours in the workplace through the lenses of newcomer socialisation, person–organisation fit, and organisational identification.
The insights are practical for leaders, higher-education practitioners, and sustainability practitioners. Embedding sustainability in the recruitment and cultural pillars of an organisation enhances employee engagement, innovation, and job satisfaction, thus advancing environmental goals, alongside organisational performance.
The research encourages organisations to integrate sustainability into their core identity, rather than as an ancillary policy. This allows employees to assume responsibility for sustainable practices and achieve significant and sustained positive impact for the environment.