What Does it Take to Make a Workplace Just and Green?

Systemic Human Factors Approach

  • Anna-Maria Teperi Research Professor
  • Jari Lyytimäki Leading Researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute
  • Tarja Heikkilä Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
  • Sara Malve-Ahlroth Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
  • Erkki Mervaala Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute
  • Ilkka Ratinen Professor
  • Andrew Thatcher Professor
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46364/ejwi.v9i1.1409

Abstract

Halting environmental degradation requires workplaces to undergo a profound shift towards ecologically sustainable work that challenges customary growthoriented thinking and holds justice and the well-being of workers as a core value. Structures and practices of workplaces provide a critical link through which this transition could be achieved. However, there is a lack of clear and systemic definition and an easily applicable model to guide workplaces to become both just and green. In this paper, we aim to define the key characteristics of a just green workplace by using human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) as the underlying theoretical approach. Humans are positioned as the core component across all system levels. Thus, we posit that the HF/E approach can serve as a fundamental building block for just green workplaces. It helps shift the focus of the currently prevailing technology-, administration- and (de)growth-oriented green transition towards one that is more human-centric, contextually aware, as well as competence- and developmentally oriented. We apply a HF/E Tool to two case examples from different sectors to demonstrate the systemic, underlying factors of just green work at the individual, work, group, and organisational levels. Based on the findings, we present criteria and recommendations for a just green workplace. In addition, the value and development needs of the HF/E approach in fostering sustainability are discussed.

Keywords: just green transition; human factors; systemic thinking; change; environment;
sustainability; organisational development

Author Biographies

Jari Lyytimäki, Leading Researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute

Dr. Jari Lyytimäki is a Leading Researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute and he holds the title of docent at University of Helsinki. His research interests include knowledge (non)utilisation, environmental management, sustainability assessment, and communication.

Tarja Heikkilä, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

MSc. Tarja Heikkilä is a Senior Specialist at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and holds a multidisciplinary Master’s degree in construction engineering and occupational safety. Her research interests include safety management, human factors and usability of work environment.

Sara Malve-Ahlroth, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

MSc. Sara Malve-Ahlroth is a Senior Specialist at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and holds a multidisciplinary Masters’ degree in environmental psychology and landscape architecture. Her research interests include green workplace behaviour, health promoting environments, usability of work environments, and change management.

Erkki Mervaala, Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute

MSc. Erkki Mervaala is a researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute. His research interests include climate change and sustainability communication, artificial intelligence, pluralist economics, and the politics of knowledge. He is currently finalising his PhD on representations of climate change and economic growth in the media.

Ilkka Ratinen, Professor

Prof. Ilkka Ratinen is a Professor of Sustainability and Nature Education at the Faculty of Education at the University of Lapland. Ratinen has served as a member of the Finnish Climate Change Panel in 2016–2019. Currently, she influences the societal consideration of sustainability issues in the multidisciplinary environmental and sustainability education network Sirene, UNIF's working group on sustainable development and ENO Schoolnet, among others.

Andrew Thatcher, Professor

Prof. Andrew Thatcher is the Chair of Industrial/Organisational Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand where he specialises in ergonomics/human factors. He is particularly interested in understanding human interactions with systems that enable sustainability. He was the recipient of the 2022/2023 NSTF-South32 Green Economy award and the 2023 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and Social Impact in research (both these awards have components related to the keynote presentation). He sits on the International Ergonomics Association’s Executive Committee as the Chair of the Future of Work Committee and is an editor of the journal ‘Ergonomics’.

Published
2025-02-17
Issue
Vol. 9 No. 1 & 2 (2025): Spesial Issue - Green Jobs
Section
Articles

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