Work Climate and Economic Performance in the Context of the Green Deal Implementation in Romania

As the European Green Deal shapes every industry and process, evolving continuously, it is paramount to understand its implications on employees and the economic performance of companies. This study investigates the impact of the European Green Deal’s implementation on economic performance and the work climate of Romanian companies, contributing to the specialized literature by providing empirical insights regarding the relationship between these variables and their influence. Thereby, an exploratory market survey was conducted using a quantitative research design. The sample of the study was 131 Romanian employees, and the results show that the organizational sustainability policies positively influence the economic performance of the companies and the employees’ green behavior, both directly and indirectly, having the leadership team as a mediator. The results show a stronger effect of organizational sustainability policies on the economic performance of Romanian companies and employees’ green behavior, when this relationship is mediated by the leadership team, highlighting for the Romanian companies, the importance of the leadership team in this context and the constant need to improve their abilities, knowledge, and competencies in this area. Furthermore, the employees’ green behavior positively influences the work climate, suggesting that as the employees adopt more sustainable practices, the work climate tends to be more friendly and pleasant, this way retaining longer the employees at the same company. These findings suggest that companies should also invest in employees’ sustainable behavior. The study provides valuable insights for business leaders and policymakers, suggesting the importance of balancing economic performance with environmental responsibility. This paper could be a starting point for future academic research, exploring a specific sector or the integration of emerging technologies in the management of green policies, and extending the study using a more complex sample.