Green Recruitment: A Way to Save Environment Make the Move from Paper to Automation.

Its Greener on the other Side.

*Gunjan, Lecturer, AITM, Palwal guniya_del@yahoo.com

Abstract The concept of Going Green generally refers to the implementation of those environmental friendly practices that contribute into environmental sustainability. Sustainability is defined as fulfillment of the current needs while allowing future generations the capacity to meet their needs. This so-called green recruiting has emerged only in recent years and has become an integral part of the corporate strategies The same concept has been adopted by the Human Resource Department of the organizations to contribute their share towards the environmental sustainability. Being a societal entity organizations have to work under CSR and such organizations are complying their ethical codes. Green strategies helps organizations creating values not only among the customers only but also in the eyes of employees. . If your business is environmental savvy, be sure to tell your applicants and society because informing them will create good image in their mind. Key Words: Green recruitment, Ethics, Sustainability, Global warming. INTRODUCTION Green Recruiting is a chance to differentiate you in a recruiting marketplace where standing out from the crowd is already extremely difficult. Dr. John Sullivan The competition is getting intense day by day. Companies are seeking cost cutting in every aspect of its functioning. Apart from maintaining the competitive edge while cutting their costs, they have to comply with environmental friendly practices. We all agree that our society is moving towards the green economy. Green economy is

concerned with the development and use of products and services that promote environmental protection, energy independence, conserve natural resources and economic development. Green initiatives within the organizations are increasing as a result of much more concern over global warming and the adverse effect of much business activity on the natural environment.

Green Recruitment means a paper-free recruitment process with a minimal environmental impact. Applications are invited through online mediums like e-mail, online application forms, data banks like Naukri.com and Monster.com or the Global Talent Pool. Under green recruitment every possible step is taken to reduce the travel-related environmental impact, e.g. telephone or video-based interviews are conducted. Green recruiting, essentially, is the sharing of your company commitments to the environment with the candidates you are trying to recruit. After all, we all must make an active contribution to the sustainability of global resources. We take our social responsibility very seriously and are acting because it makes us feel good and is the right thing to do. At this point of time, globally and domestically when each organization is moving towards green concepts, the talented employees also looking forward to join those organizations that are eco friendly and keep them motivated towards the environmental friendly activities. Employees being the most crucial part of any business activities realized that green program at workplace helps in retaining the current workforce and attracting the prospects to the eco- responsiveness organization and create awareness among the employers, employees and customers towards the corporate social responsibility aspect. Being a part of the company, HR department should continuously seek ways to set and implement best practices which reinforce companies commitment to a greener environment. GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Corporate giants like Honda, Starbucks, Goldman Sachs, Xcel Energy and GE are using green practices to attract media attention and boost recruitment and retention efforts. To achieve the environmental objective, human resource plays a vital role as most of ideas of

being eco- friendly comes from the mind of workforce. HR is well placed to coordinate or lead on introducing greener policies because of their closeness and their experience of mutual work with the employees. HR managers can use such tools to make employees engaged and committed towards greener activities of the organization. Most of the organization appoints an environmental expert in order to motivate and direct the employees in the initiation of those practices that not only save the environment but also helps in reducing the cost of the organization. Buck Consultants (2008), a human resources and benefits consulting firm, conducted "The Greening of HR Survey," and came across that 54 percent of respondents integrate environmental management into their business operations. The survey analyzed responses from 93 organizations in the United States, representing a wide range of industries and observed the various types of "green" initiatives that the employers are using in work-force management and human-resources practices. They are: Using Web or teleconferencing to reduce travel (78 percent). Promoting the reduction of paper use (76 percent).
80% of current employees want to work for a good company (one that has a good reputation for environmental responsibility) and this percentage is expected to grow to 90 % in the next 10 years. (Corporate Environmental Behaviour and the Impact on Brand Values Tanberg, 2007.

In business this may mean doing the following activities in our daily operation very differently: Virtual Interaction: Companies are choosing video conferencing to increase productivity and improve efficiency. Today businesses realize that videoconferencing is a powerful green technology solution. It can be used instead of travel, and will streamline the hiring process. High-quality videoconferencing can provide a realistic candidate impression that recruiters can utilize for a nationwide interview process. It allows you to more effectively evaluate and assess candidate interests, qualifications and cultural fit via

telephone and Webcam. This type of virtual interaction with the candidate minimizes travel, less cost, and faster search project cycle time.

Have candidates travel less: Invite finalists to visit you at the airport, scheduling multiple interviews on one target date whenever possible. Candidates never leave the airport (no rental cars and no ground transportation money saved, reduced emissions, and no missed return flights). Operate in a paperless office, and automate your recruitment process: You can preview and edit finally all your documents on-screen before taking printouts. If you use a copier see if you can re-manufacture/recycle the toner cartridges. If you are sending mails to candidates then ask them not to take printouts until it is not necessary. If you need to print, use recycled paper and create double-sided copies. Scan, transmit, and store documents electronically for instant retrieval. This creates a reduced need for file folders or cabinets (less office floor space required-smaller footprint), reduced energy requirements. Provide personal recycle bins for employees: Everything from cutlery and plates to cleaning supplies can be eco-friendly. Substitute eco-friendly alternatives in your office supplies as well. Use working from home as an option: In the recruiting industry face to face meetings are still seen as the primary way to win business. But now the time has changed and many companies are giving their employees an option to work from home to cut down the travel related emissions and cost. Process of Green recruitment: General Recruitment Process Requisition of Employees

Green Recruitment process Scrutinize candidates from data banks and sending them mails

Identification of the Source of Recruitment Invitation to Interested People Preparing the List of Deserving

Conduct videoconference interviews Selection and induction

Candidates

Action Steps to Implement Green Recruitment: There are many things that recruiting leaders can do to implement a strategy, including the following 17 action steps:

Gen Y demands this: If you are using green initiatives in your recruitment function then tell this to your perspective employees and ask them which make them to apply for the organization. Use this information to modify your recruiting processes and focus. 2. Follow Standards: Put some standards and benchmarks for you to follow in the recruitment process which are at par with the competitive organizations. Analyze the market recruitment trends and use this competitive analysis to gauge your success and to plan your future actions. 3. Your Career Links: Make sure that whatever you do towards the achievement of environmental sustainability, mention it on your website especially in career link. If you have received any award for the same it should be mentioned. 4. Tell the Public: If you have a strong environmental record, its important to get noticed by the people because you always need peoples support to run your business being a social entity. Work with the PR department to identify which of your practices are most likely to be appealing to the media and designate an individual to be available for interviews. 5. Attractive advertising: Advertise in magazines that candidates who are sensitive to the environment are likely to read. Highlight a few eye-catching facts and any environmental awards you might have won in your recruitment ads. If you use brochures or paper recruiting materials, make sure its from recyclable stock and that it says so on the document. 6. Job descriptions: While making recruitment advertisements make sure that, job descriptions contains the environmental aspect of the job. This is important because if they dont see being environmentally friendly integrated into every job at the company, they might see your green recruiting as merely a PR effort. If youre really serious, include knowledge of environmental impacts under the

skills

required

section

of

your

job

descriptions.

7. Green interviews: Use green fact sheets while interviewing the candidates and let them know about your intensions that how much concerned you are toward the environment. 8. Sources of Recruitment: To strengthen your environmental friendly image, hire lots of environmental friendly employees who can spread your green initiatives through word-of-mouth. Make sure your recruiting team identifies the sources that produce the highest-quality environmental friendly candidates. You can also recruit at environmental events and use subscription lists from green publications or email and direct mail recruiting. 9. Employee referrals: You must be having such employees who always take initiatives towards your environmental obligations. Identify such employees to make a pool of other likeminded people and attract more such perspective employees. 10. Awards: The employees who overwhelmingly participate in environmental related issues should be awarded for their efforts so that by seeing them other employees will be motivated in this direction. 11. Specialized Advise: You should take the advice of a group of specialized environmentally friendly employees, measuring the quality of the message youre sending and how to reach and convince more applicants of your strong green record and how you can get more out of it. 12. Products and Services: Obviously, Gen Y employees want to know that the products and services they are producing are environmentally friendly. This means putting pressure on product advertising and marketing to include the fact that your products are eco-friendly in your product ads and packaging. 13. Value statements: Make sure that your corporate goals, mission, vision and values, and even corporate business objectives include environmental elements as a part of their CSR. 14. Annual report on Environment initiatives: Because some applicants as well as outsiders take the time to read your annual report, make sure it includes

sections that highlight your environmental record and the fact that you recruit environmental friendly employees. This will help you to find new people who will be interested in associating themselves with your organization because of your environmental concern. 15. Give back to Society: Consider adding holistic health options, paid time to volunteer for environmental causes, matching donations to green causes of society, and support for alternative transportation options to your benefit package. 16. Appraisals for Green Efforts: Green initiatives of the employees should be added as a factor in the performance appraisal system for all employees. Obviously, use it as hiring criteria, but also use it as a critical element in promotions, bonuses, and pay increases. 17. Planned Development: Planned development and feedback mechanism always help you gain an advantage on your competitors because whenever you add rewards to the equation the behavior improves even faster, your green recruiting effort must have metrics and rewards tied to it. Hold post exit interviews with your top performers to identify whether environmental factors contributed CONCLUSION: Say goodbye to opening and sorting paper resumes, printing email attachments, and making copies of copies. Say hello to a more effective and greener way of recruiting. Make a commitment to sustainability, boost your employment brand, and differentiate your organization. Studies have shown that many Gen Y and college grads and concerned, or at least conscious, about how their behaviour impacts the environment. What they consume, how it packaged, what they drive and where they live are conscious choices that are made every day. As you can imagine who they work for also plays into these decision. In the context of branding green information should be positioned appropriately on the company website, career page or in a recruitment video. This approach can be significant differentiator for a company thats interesting in attracting top talent. There is no argument that the demand for sustainable practices is increasing. Adding incentives to your appraisal system for environmental conscious employees to their exit.

always make employees accountable to their work. Organizations that are not implementing environmental policies or changing the way theyre doing business may lose current employees to companies that offer incentives like subsidies for buying hybrid cars, on-site farmers markets, use of green fuels and solar power - just some of the latest trends in going green.

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