SUSTAINABILITY DRIVEN HIRING AND EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT: EXAMINING GREEN RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PRACTICES IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study examines how Green Recruitment and Selection (GRS) contributes to organizational commitment within ISO-certified pharmaceutical firms in Pakistan. Growing interest in sustainability-driven human resource practices has increased the need to understand their influence on employees’ attachment to organizations. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design and a purposive sample of employees working in environmentally oriented firms, the study assessed the effects of GRS on affective, normative, and continuance commitment. Validated scales were used to measure GRS and organizational commitment, and temporal separation was adopted to reduce common method bias. Structural equation modelling showed that GRS significantly strengthened affective commitment, suggesting that employees hired through sustainability-focused processes develop stronger emotional ties to their organizations. GRS also enhanced continuance commitment, indicating that employees perceive greater costs associated with leaving environmentally responsible employers. The results further revealed a positive effect of GRS on normative commitment, reflecting a heightened sense of obligation to remain with the organization. These findings highlight the strategic value of embedding sustainability within hiring practices to cultivate a committed workforce. The study contributes empirical evidence from a developing-country context and underscores the importance of integrating green HRM into conventional HR processes to support long-term organizational sustainability.