Sustainable Global HRM Practices 


January 2023
 

The last five years have brought great change to HRM for businesses of all sizes. Strategic HRMs have had to juggle a global pandemic, demand for greater flexibility, the need for more diversity, skills shortages and the great resignation in addition to the usual performance demands.

 

For more and more businesses this has highlighted the more holistic impact their practices have on the community and in the wilder world leading to increased focus on sustainable HRM.    

Sustainable HRM is the adoption of practices that enable a company to achieve economic, social and ecological goals as part of a long-term strategy while controlling unintended side effects. The concept derived from environmental sustainability which is the responsibility of conserving natural resources to support the health and wellbeing of earth and its animal lifeforms today and in the future. 

Sustainable global HR practices help your business attract and retain top talent. Many individuals, particularly younger employees, are increasingly drawn to organisations that have a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Sustainable HR practices signal to potential employees that your business is socially and environmentally conscious. This is likely to make it a more attractive place to work.

 

Most global organisations are trying to reduce their environmental footprint, minimising their negative impact on the planet. Sustainable HR practices like implementing green HR policies, such as reducing paper usage or implementing virtual expat assignments, help organisations reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This can not only benefit the environment, but it can also save your business money.

 

Sustainable global HR practices may help organisations improve their relationships with key stakeholders, such as employees, customers, and regulators. By adopting these policies, your business is demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility, which enhances reputation and improves relationships. This should lead to increased trust and support for the organisation, which is beneficial for long-term success.

Sustainable international HR practices refer to human resource management strategies that are designed to be environmentally and socially responsible, as well as economically viable, in a global context. These practices consider the unique challenges and opportunities that organisations face when conducting business internationally.

 

Some examples of sustainable HR practices in international business include:

  • Developing global HR policies that are consistent with your organisation’s values and reflect the cultural and legal differences of the countries in which it operates
  • Providing cross-cultural training and support for employees who are working in different countries
  • Implementing fair and transparent hiring, promotion, and performance evaluation processes that are consistent across all countries in which your organisation operates
  • Ensuring your organisation's working conditions and employee benefits are consistent with international labour standards
  • Implementing programs to support the local communities in which the organisation operates, such as by providing job training or supporting local charities
  • Developing strategies to reduce the organisation's environmental footprint by reducing energy consumption or implementing recycling programs

 

By implementing sustainable HR practices in international business, organisations can demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility on a global scale. 

 

While you and your team focus on planning and implementing these strategies, let us take care of your international health insurance needs. We can tailor group international health insurance to suit your business needs.