Influence of green human resource management on employee green behavior: The sequential mediating effect of perceived behavioral control and attitude toward corporate environmental policy

Abstract

The current existential global threat brought about by excessive carbon emissions caused by employee activity in the workplace calls for actions of corporate environmental policy. Thus, this study investigated the sequential mediating effects of perceived behavioral control (PBC) and attitude between green human resource management (GHRM) and employee green behavior (EGB) on the basis of ability–motivation–opportunity (AMO) theory and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Data were purposely collected using a quantitative approach from a cross‐sectional study of 425 lecturers in Malaysian public universities. Smart PLS‐SEM was utilized to investigate the relationship between variables. Findings confirmed the relationship between GHRM and PBC. Furthermore, results demonstrated a strong positive relationship between PBC and both attitude and EGB. In addition, the link between attitude and EGB was found to be significantly related. However, no significant relationship was found between GHRM and both employee attitude and EGB. For the mediating effect, findings showed that PBC significantly mediates the link between GHRM and EGB and the relationship between GHRM and attitude. Further, the sequential mediating effect of PBC and attitude between GHRM and EGB was supported. Results also shed some light on the importance of the underlying mechanism of employees' PBC and attitude between GHRM and EGB, thereby providing implications regarding the role of AMO theory on TPB. Future directions are also discussed.