How green HRM fosters green work engagement: the sequential roles of employee empowerment and perceived external prestige

Purpose This study investigates the serial mediation role of green employee empowerment (GEE) and green perceived external prestige (GPEP) in the relationship between green human resource management (GHRM) and green work engagement (GWE). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 407 hotel employees in a labour-intensive service context, and a serial mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro to examine the hypothesized relationships. Findings GHRM contributes to GWE, with GEE acting as a mediator in this relationship. In addition, GPEP serves as a mediating mechanism. Finally, GEE and GPEP function as serial mediators in the link between GHRM and GWE. Practical implications The results highlight that labour-intensive service industries can foster GWE and sustain employee motivation by implementing integrated GHRM that first empower employees in environmental decision-making and subsequently strengthen GPEP through visible and credible sustainability initiatives. Originality/value This study contributes to the manpower and human resource management literature by explaining how GHRM practices shape GWE through sequential GEE and GPEP. Furthermore, it provides new empirical evidence on this process, particularly within the labor-intensive service context of five-star hotels in Türkiye.