Goa Institute of Management study links sustainable hiring to stronger workplace environmental responsibility

The Goa Institute of Management (GIM) has published a study highlighting how organisations can strengthen environmental responsibility by integrating sustainability into hiring and employee development processes.

As per the official press release, the research argues that companies that recruit employees whose values align with sustainability goals are more likely to build authentic green practices, while socialisation and onboarding that emphasise sustainability help deepen long-term employee commitment.

The study also introduces the concept of a “green citizen” — an employee who goes beyond compliance and voluntarily engages in environmental initiatives at the workplace. The press release noted that when employees strongly identify with an organisation’s sustainability direction, they are more likely to apply green thinking in everyday decisions, making sustainability an active part of organisational culture rather than a policy-driven requirement.

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Led by Rahul Sukumaran, assistant professor, department of OB and HR at GIM, in collaboration with Shaju Meetna of LEAD College of Management, the findings have been published in the International Journal of Organizational Analysis(IJOA). The research links sustainability with daily workplace behaviour using frameworks such as newcomer socialisation, person–organisation fit and organisational identification.

GIM study backs employee-led sustainability

While sustainability efforts globally often focus on macro-level measures such as regulatory compliance, corporate strategies and standards, the study argues that long-term impact requires employees to internalise green values as part of their identity and everyday work practices.

The press release states that sustainability becomes more effective when employees are active participants rather than passive recipients of organisational policies.

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Speaking about the findings, Sukumaran said, “Paradoxically, green citizenship begins with the individual, and paves way for sustainable management practices that enable organizational growth.”

The study suggests that embedding sustainability into recruitment and culture-building can improve employee engagement, innovation and job satisfaction, while supporting organisational performance and environmental goals.

The researchers recommend that organisations treat sustainability as a core identity pillar, not an ancillary policy, enabling employees to take ownership of sustainable practices and create long-term positive environmental outcomes.