SDGs and HRM from a comparative institutional theory perspective

There has been a burgeoning interest in sustainable human resource management (HRM) that links it to the Sustainable Development Goals. An emerging theme is that the relative proclivity of firms to engage in sustainable HRM practices is bound up with contextual circumstances, and in institutional settings where shareholder rights are mediated by stakeholder ones, sustainable HRM is more likely. This chapter links the literature on sustainable HRM to that on dominant HR strategies and on greener organisational practices. Sustainable HRM is not the same as the softer and more inclusive HRM, as the former also includes the promotion of fairer and more sustainable practices down supply chains and greener HRM practices. However, they are certainly compatible and many practices – for example, a longer-term approach to employment and skills development – are certainly conducive to securing the long-term future of the organisation and to stakeholder well-being.