Green human resource management and workplace cheating: a counterintuitive study

Purpose This novel study aims to investigate the often-overlooked negative impacts of Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM) on workplace behavior, specifically focusing on the emergence of workplace cheating behaviors. By examining the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating influence of Supervisor’s Bottom-Line Mentality (SBLM), this research fills a crucial gap in the existing literature. Design/methodology/approach Leveraging the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) and Conservation of Resources (COR) theories, this quantitative study provides a robust theoretical framework for understanding the proposed relationships. Data were meticulously gathered through a two-staged survey involving 419 employees from Pakistan’s banking sector. Hypotheses were rigorously tested using SmartPLS4, ensuring the reliability and validity of the results. Findings Our findings reveal that Green HRM, while beneficial in many respects, can inadvertently lead to increased workplace cheating behaviors through the pathway of emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, SBLM significantly exacerbates these effects, both directly and through its impact on the mediating mechanism of emotional exhaustion. These results underscore the complex and sometimes detrimental consequences of Green HRM practices. Research limitations/implications While the study is contextually bound to the banking sector in Pakistan, its implications are profound and far-reaching. Future research should expand to diverse sectors and regions to validate and extend these findings. Practically, the study offers critical insights for organizations adopting Green HRM, emphasizing the necessity of mitigating emotional exhaustion to prevent unethical behaviors. Originality/value This research offers a novel and compelling perspective on Green HRM, challenging the predominantly positive narrative and highlighting significant unintended consequences. By integrating JD-R and COR theories, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play, offering valuable guidance for both scholars and practitioners.