Bridging the gap between green behavioral intentions and employee green behavior: The role of green psychological climate

How do employees’ perceptions and interpretations of organizational policies, practices, and procedures affect the enactment of their behavioral intentions? In a daily diary study, we examined the between-persons relationship of corporate environmental strategy and pro-environmental or “green” psychological climate; and whether green psychological climate moderates the within-person relationship of employees’ daily green behavioral intentions and their green behavior on the following day. To test our hypotheses, we collected survey data from 74 employees across 10 workdays. Results showed that corporate environmental strategy is positively related to green psychological climate that, in turn, moderates the relationship between green behavioral intentions and next-day employee green behavior. Specifically, we found the relationship to be positive only when employees perceive a positive green psychological climate. We discuss implications of our findings for future research on employee green behavior and for organizations interested in encouraging employee green behavior.