Linking green leadership and green human resource management to green work engagement: the mediating mechanism of environmental awareness

Purpose Drawing upon the theories of social exchange and social cognition, this study aims to comprehend the mechanism leading to Green Work Engagement (GWE) in organizations. The authors examine a model in which the impact of Green Leadership (GL) and Green Human Resources Management (GHRM) is observed on Green Work Engagement through the unique intervening mechanism of Environmental Awareness (EA). Design/methodology/approach A quantitative time-lagged cross-sectional survey was conducted through purposive sampling, where data were gathered from 318 managers of the manufacturing SMEs in the twin cities of Pakistan. The gathered data were analyzed via SPSS 29.0 and SmartPLS 4.1.0.8 software. Findings The relationship between GL and GWE was found to be positive and significant, as well as between GHRM and GWE. Additionally, the mediation of EA was found significant between GL and GWE, and insignificant between GHRM and GWE. Practical implications The results uniquely contribute to the existing literature and offer invaluable insights for decision-makers on how to foster an environmentally engaged workforce in the context of a deteriorating natural environment. Originality/value Several factors make this study distinct. First, it identifies and fills a gap concerning the determinants of GWE, which are very few in themselves. Second, it examines the intervening mechanism of EA, which, according to the authors’ knowledge, has never been explored in the constructs’ relationship before. Third, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to be conducted in the small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SME’s) in the twin cities of Pakistan.