Enhancing the role of human resource management in corporate sustainability and social
responsibility: a multidimensional, multi-stakeholder approach to HRM
Stahl, Güenter K., Brewster, ChrisORCID: 0000-0001-5314-1518, Collings, David G.ORCID: 0000-0003-1252-7080 and Hajro, Aida
(2019)
Enhancing the role of human resource management in corporate sustainability and social
responsibility: a multidimensional, multi-stakeholder approach to HRM.
Human Resource Management Review, 30
(3).
ISSN 1053-4822
This paper focuses on the increased pressure for corporations to engage in corporate sustainability
(CS) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to address the current crisis of confidence in
business, align their activities with the needs and expectations of a broader set of stakeholders, and
help tackle the world’s grand challenges. We argue that human resource management (HRM) has a
potentially vital role to play in contributing to a firm’s CS/ CSR efforts, but so far has failed to
deliver. We explore the reasons for this failure and discuss ways for HRM to play a more prominent
role in the design and implementation of a firm’s CS/ CSR strategy. Building on earlier attempts to
integrate corporate responsibility and sustainability into the HRM performance construct, we
propose a multidimensional, multi-stakeholder approach to sustainable HRM that encompasses
activities aimed both at avoiding harmful consequences for stakeholders and contributing to positive
outcomes along the triple bottom line (i.e., people, planet, and prosperity). We discuss implications
for research and develop a set of propositions and guidelines for future research.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Additional Information:
Article number 100708.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
corporate responsibility; sustainable development goals; grand societal challenges; sustainable HRM; multi-stakeholder perspective