Sustainable human resource management: a review of three decades of research

Purpose This study aims to map the status of the “sustainable human resource management” (sustainable HRM) field through a systematic review. It emphasizes the identification of key countries, authors and principal topics relevant to sustainable HRM. Design/methodology/approach This systematic review found 4,611 HRM research articles published over the past 30 years. This review focuses on the content and intellectual structure of HRM scholarship, revealing theoretical approaches, topic relations, trends and international scholarly participation in sustainability discourses. Findings The analysis identified six theoretical approaches to sustainable HRM: resource-based view, knowledge-based view, dynamic capabilities view, behavioral theory, human relations theory and ambidextrous organization. This study mapped 2,072 HRM article topics, highlighting the indicators, drivers, barriers and benefits of sustainable HRM adoption for enterprises and best practices for corporate integration. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to articles published over the past 30 years, which may not encompass all relevant research, particularly regarding emerging topics in sustainable HRM. Practical implications The findings provide valuable insights for organizations seeking to adopt sustainable HRM practices, outlining the indicators and strategies necessary for successful implementation. Social implications By addressing sustainability within HRM, this study contributes to the broader discourse on responsible corporate practices and promotes environmental and social well-being through effective HRM strategies. Originality/value This study contributes to the sustainable HRM literature by providing a comprehensive overview of existing research, identifying critical discussions on sustainability and offering insights for scholars and practitioners. This lays the groundwork for future research and highlights the barriers and best practices for implementing sustainable HRM.