Can work climate foster pro-environmental behavior inside and outside of the workplace?

PLoS One. 2019 Oct 10;14(10):e0223774. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223774. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Guided by self-determination theory, we investigated the potential impact of work climate on employee motivation, and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) inside and outside of the workplace. We found that in workplaces with stronger pro-environmental climates and at least moderate levels of autonomy support, employees reported higher levels of autonomous motivation to engage in PEB. In turn, autonomously motivated employees engaged in more PEBs, both inside and outside the workplace. Controlled motivation played a more limited role in predicting employee PEBs. Overall, our findings suggest work climates that support pro-environmental actions and employee autonomy may not only foster PEBs within the workplace but also lay the foundation for PEBs in other non-workplace settings.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude
  • Conservation of Natural Resources*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation*
  • Personal Autonomy
  • Workplace / psychology*

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.9911777

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.