Assessing the green Human Resources Management Practices and Activities in the Saudi Arabian Banking Sector, An Exploratory Study

Abstract

In this thesis, an appraisal of the adoption of green human resources management (GHRM) practices in the Saudi Arabian banking sector was attempted with the prospect of evaluating existing policies’ impact on the government’s drive towards realising its vision for 2030. Definitions of GHRM across different works of literature were critically explored to identify the elements that best describe its operation in Saudi banks. The analysis was based on the six biggest banks, categorised into three different types: Islamic local banks, non-Islamic local banks and non-Islamic partially owned foreign banks operating in the Makkah region. Through a mixed-method approach, qualitative semi-structured interviews and quantitative questionnaires were employed. The research scrutinised the implementation, significance, awareness, activities, drivers, benefits and barriers associated with GHRM. Interviews with bank representatives revealed a nuanced understanding of GHRM practices, underscoring the evolving role of Saudi banks in advancing environmental sustainability and their commitment to aligning with national sustainability goals. The thematic method of qualitative data analysis was employed for the semi-structured interviews. The questionnaires were used to explore the perceptions and experiences of a diverse range of participants, improving the understanding of GHRM’s prevalence and impact in the Saudi banking sector. The obtained data was analysed utilising the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), using correlation and regression analyses. Based on the results of six semi-structured interviews and 328 questionnaires received from the selected banks, it was discovered that Saudi banks apply GHRM practices in several areas to reduce costs first, then to educate employees to become more pro-environmental. These findings aligned with earlier studies that the adoption of GHRM practices could enhance cost reduction and employee performance. III Moreover, the findings show that employees in banks that had embraced and incorporated GHRM practices into their operations exhibit better well-being, operational efficiency, good corporate reputation and talent attraction and retention, among other associated benefits. It was concluded that the proper incorporation of the identified GHRM practices can improve bank employees’ efficiency and promote their overall well-being. The findings from this study provide scholars and practitioners with valuable information. Additionally, this thesis contributes to the GHRM field and is one of the first to explore the influence of GHRM practices on employees’ awareness of environmental sustainability issues in Saudi banks. It is also one of the first exploratory studies to determine the barriers and drivers of GHRM. Finally, the findings of this research are expected to provide useful information for future research directions.