ECOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE: KEY VALUE OR REDUNDANT LUXURY?

Purpose: In the face of the global challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and increasing consumption of natural resources, the question of whether a green approach in the office is a core value or an unnecessary luxury is gaining importance.Integrating sustainability principles into the daily operations of companies not only affects the image of the company, but also contributes to improving the quality of life of employees and protecting the environment.The purpose of this article is to identify and evaluate key environmental values that influence workplace operations and employee behavior in the context of sustainability.Design/methodology/approach: In addition to the analysis of the subject literature, this study uses the results of a survey of 174 SMEs operating in the Czstochowa county.A chi-squarebased empirical analysis workshop used the T-Chuprov convergence coefficient.Findings: The study showed that trust, commitment and environmental responsibility form a triad of values that determines employees' approach to environmental protection.Acceptance of this triad contributes to sustainable development and reduces the negative impact of a company's activities on the environment.Ignoring them, on the other hand, can lead to socalled employee betrayal, i.e. lack of recognition of environmental values in the workplace.Originality/value: The study draws attention to issues of ecology as a value in organizations.The added value of the study is the determination of the importance of ecological values in the activities of modern enterprises, as well as the indication of recommendations for SME enterprises in the field of ecological activities.