Employee Sustainability in the SDG Era: A Systematic Review of Human and Organizational Drivers across Key Sectors

Abstract

This qualitative systematic review examines the multidimensional factors influencing employee sustainability within various corporate settings. The study combines findings across industries including manufacturing, healthcare, aviation, and finance. Key paradigms explored include sustainable leadership, personality traits (such as conscientiousness and openness), green human resource management (GHRM), cultural intelligence, and corporate governance. The review integrates insights from organizational psychology, environmental management, and cross-cultural studies to examine how these variables impact psychological empowerment, diversity and inclusion, intellectual sustainability, eco-conscious behaviour, and social connectedness at the workplace. Results highlight the critical role of leadership and GHRM in entrenching sustainability at the employee level, while cultural intelligence and governance mechanisms moderate these effects across industry contexts. The study offers a conceptual model and practical implications for HR practitioners and policymakers aiming to enhance holistic employee sustainability aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).