Unpacking dynamic relations between proactive motivational states and proactive employee green behavior

Purpose In a changing world of work and careers, which is influenced by multiple ecological crises, proactive employee green behavior (EGB) represents an important form of proactivity at work. Proactive EGB describes self-initiated and future-oriented actions aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability in the workplace. So far, however, it is not well understood how proactive motivational states are related to proactive EGB and how employees react to engaging in such behavior. Drawing on the model of proactive motivation and dynamic theorizing on the psychological effects of workplace proactivity, we propose that environmental self-efficacy (i.e. “can do” motivation), environmental attitudes (i.e. “reason to” motivation) and positive affect (i.e. “energized to” motivation) are positively and reciprocally related to proactive EGB. Design/methodology/approach We collected longitudinal data from N = 945 employees in Germany across five monthly measurement waves. Data were analyzed using random intercept cross-lagged panel models to separate dynamic within-person relations from stable between-person differences. Findings Higher levels of environmental self-efficacy and positive affect predicted subsequent increases in proactive EGB. In contrast, environmental attitudes were not significantly related to subsequent proactive EGB but moderated the effect of environmental self-efficacy on proactive EGB, such that the effect was stronger for higher (vs. lower) within-person levels of environmental attitudes. We found no evidence that proactive EGB predicted subsequent environmental self-efficacy, environmental attitudes or positive affect. Originality/value This study advances the understanding of how proactive motivational states are related to proactive EGB at the within-person level, offering a dynamic perspective on the motivational underpinnings of employees’ proactive contributions to environmental sustainability.