Abstract:
Implementing green concept in Human Resource Management (HRM) functions
may pose major challenge in public sector organizations in Sri Lanka due to lack of
awareness on Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) concept of employees.
This study was carried out to examine the employee perception on requirement of
GHRM practices, to identify the employee green skills and behaviors and to analyze
limitations of implementing GHRM practices in public sector organizations. This
study was carried out at conveniently selected 8 Divisional Secretariat offices in
Gampaha district interacting a sample of 82 HR practitioners who were randomly
selected. Primary data was collected though field survey by using pre tested
structured questionnaire. Five point Likert scale was used to examine employee
perception on requirement of GHRM practices, employee green skills, behaviors
and limitations of implementing GHRM practices. Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test and
Correlation were used to test the hypothesized relationships. The results revealed
that majority of HR practitioners were bachelor degree holding females. Analysis
showed that employee’s perception level on requirement of green training and
development practices within their organizations is high and it is positive and
significantly related with their education level (r=+0.014, p=0.032) and work
experience (r=+0.314, p=0.000). Similarly, employees have higher perception level
on requirement of green employee relations within their organizations and it is
positive and significantly related with employee age (r=+0.088, p=0.003) and
employee working experience (r=+0.140, p=0.003). Further, public sector
employees have high level of green skills and low level of green behavior. Education
level of the employee is positive and significantly effecting on their green skills
(r=+0.714, p=0.018) and green behaviors (r=+0.347, p=0.018). Lack of
understanding in “Greening” concept, high cost for implementing green concept
and difficulties of transfer employee attitudes were identified as the major
limitations of implementing GHRM practices in public sector organizations. This
study concluded that “Go Green” concept has not yet achieved by the public sector
employees in Sri Lanka. The outcomes of this study suggested that it is important
to enhance the awareness on green concept and change the attitudes of public
sector employee through proper training and implement green policies on HRM
practices within organizational constitution.
