By iCIMS Blogger and Intern, Allison Romei

During our celebrations on this very Earth Day, it’s important to explore what major changes and reforms have been made and what lies ahead for the Human Resources Industry. In recent years, companies are making a more conscious effort to help contribute to society. By doing this, they are finding that they are better able to attract top talent, improve business processes and foster a positive brand perception.

When choosing a company to work for, applicants seem to value eco-friendly initiatives much more than even ten years ago. In fact, according to the Corporate Environmental Behavior and the Impact on Brand Values survey, 81% of US participants would rather work for a company that has a good reputation for environmental responsibility. What does this mean for HR? Companies that implement a green strategy can improve candidate engagement and thus, talent quality, with less recruitment tools.

Human resources processes demand a great deal from the environment. HR professionals are finding heavy paper usage throughout the entire HR function. By going green, organizations can eliminate their reliance on these paper copies and completely automate the entire talent lifecycle from applicant tracking to succession planning. For example, some systems can take any candidate or employee form and convert it into a fully searchable, reportable, web-based portal. Applicants can apply to an online career portal and employees can fill out their new hire paperwork on a web-based onboarding portal, thus eliminating the usage of thousands of sheets of paper. Additionally, a web-based talent management solution operates on a single web-based system cutting the maintenance and trouble shooting costs associated with using multiple disparate systems,

Additionally, more emphasis is now being put on a company’s tangible contributions to the global environment beyond just a check made out to a foundation. By actualizing a “green approach”, companies can often see an improvement in brand perception as it shows a “we care” image to prospective investors and clients. According to BCG, consumers are willing to spend more on a product that is healthier, safer or more beneficial for the environment, regardless of the current economy state.

What do you think lies ahead for human resources? I believe that companies will become even more environmentally aware and proactively implement these HR green initiatives.

One thing we can be thankful for on this Earth day is the change that has begun in human resources: the adoption of paperless, web-based systems! Let’s continue to reduce our paper usage and help to make the world a cleaner and safer place! Happy Earth Day!