The Rise Of Environmental Wellbeing: HRM’s Evolving Role In Sustainable Workspaces And Mental Health

Abstract

Organizations are increasingly challenged to reduce their ecological footprint while protecting employee mental health, yet rigorous models that unite these priorities remain scarce. This study addresses that gap by integrating environmental sustainability and psychological well-being within a single, empirically tested framework. Using a mixed-methods, cross-sectional design, we combined survey data from 312 employees across technology, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing sectors with in-depth interviews of 17 HR and sustainability leaders. Quantitative analyses showed that environmental well-being and Green Human Resource Management (HRM) practices each significantly predicted employee mental health, jointly explaining 31 % of the variance (R² = 0.31, p < .001), with environmental well-being emerging as the stronger predictor. Qualitative themes, policy integration and commitment, organizational challenges, and employee engagement strategies illuminated mechanisms by which supportive physical environments and eco-conscious HR policies reinforce one another to enhance psychological resilience. Grounded in the Job Demands–Resources model and Sustainable HRM theory, the study provides robust evidence that sustainable workspace design and green HR strategies are mutually reinforcing resources rather than parallel initiatives. The integrated conceptual model offers actionable guidance for managers and policymakers, demonstrating that ecological stewardship and employee well-being can operate as synergistic drivers of organizational performance and workforce vitality.