Hey there, eco-warriors and office changemakers! Let’s talk about something most HR folks don’t realize—your department is secretly one of the biggest carbon offenders in the company.
I know, I know. You’re thinking, “We’re just hiring people and dealing with benefits paperwork—how much damage could we possibly be doing?” Oh, my friend, let me count the ways…
The Dirty Little Secrets of HR
Picture this:
- Mountains of paperwork (every new hire = a small forest sacrificed).
- Endless cross-country flights for “culture fit” interviews (that could’ve been Zoom calls).
- A sea of plastic coffee cups in the breakroom (because nobody remembers their reusable mug).
The good news? Fixing this isn’t just good for the planet—it’ll make your employees happier and save you money. Let’s break it down.
Paperwork: The Silent Killer of Trees (And Your Sanity)
Remember that time you printed 50 copies of the employee handbook… and then had to reprint them all when someone spotted a typo on page 3? Yeah, we’ve all been there.
Here’s how to stop the madness:
- Ditch the paper contracts – Tools like DocuSign aren’t just legal, they’ll save you from that ancient office printer that jams every third page.
- Cloud storage is your friend – Google Drive won’t judge you for having 17 versions of the same policy document.
- Pay stubs? Digital. – Your employees check their bank accounts on their phones anyway.
“But compliance requires paper copies!” I hear you cry. Fine—if you must print:
- Use recycled paper.
- Print double-sided.
- Turn scrap paper into notepads (your receptionist will love you).
Hiring: Why Flying Candidates Across the Country is So 2019
True story: A client of mine spent $8,000 flying candidates in for final interviews… only to hire the local candidate who could’ve walked to the office. Facepalm moment.
Smarter alternatives:
- Video interviews first – If they can’t figure out Zoom, do you really want to hire them?
- Skills tests > small talk – Instead of “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”, give them a real work challenge.
- Group final rounds – If you must meet in person, schedule everyone on the same day.
Bonus: Remote hiring means you can steal talent from other cities without relocation drama.
The Commuting Conundrum (And How to Fix It)
Nothing says “we care about the environment” like 200 employees idling in rush hour traffic alone in their SUVs. Awkward.
Easy fixes that won’t make you the office villain:
- Transit passes – Negotiate a corporate discount with your local transit authority.
- Carpool rewards – Free coffee for people who ride-share? Yes please.
- Bike-friendly perks – Install a shower and watch the spandex-clad cyclists appear.
- Flex hours – Let people miss traffic jams = happier humans.
Pro tip: Frame it as “beat the traffic” rather than “save the planet”—you’ll get more takers
Office Life: Where Good Intentions Go to Die
We’ve all seen it:
- The breakroom with 37 identical lost reusable water bottles.
- That one printer that’s always out of toner (blessing in disguise?).
- The eternal mystery of why the thermostat is set to “arctic expedition”.
HR’s secret weapons:
- Adopt a “power down” policy – Computers off at night saves enough energy to power a small village.
- Ditch disposable everything – Give everyone a company-branded mug (they’ll lose it, but it’s the thought that counts).
- Lights out Fridays – Early closings = happy staff + lower bills.
Fun fact: That weird coworker who unplugs everything at night? They’re actually right.
Training Without the Carbon Hangover
Remember when “professional development” meant flying to a generic hotel ballroom for stale pastries and a PowerPoint? Let’s do better.
Modern solutions:
- Online courses – LinkedIn Learning won’t judge you for taking the course in pajamas.
- Record once, reuse forever – That sexual harassment training video from 2003 needs updating anyway.
- Virtual conferences – No more pretending to care about keynote speakers while checking your email.
Side benefit: You’ll never have to sleep in another airport Hilton again.
Making Green Stuff Actually Cool
Here’s the truth—nobody wants another boring sustainability lecture. But everyone loves:
- Free stuff (reusable straws don’t count—think actual perks).
- Friendly competition (department vs. department energy savings challenge, anyone?).
- Bragging rights (“Our company saved 12 tons of CO2 last year” looks great on LinkedIn).
Try this: Next team lunch, make it vegetarian (gasp!) and see who notices. Spoiler: They’ll be too busy eating to complain.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the beautiful part—most of these changes will:
- Save money.
- Make your life easier.
- Actually impress leadership (finally!).
You don’t need to turn into Captain Planet overnight. Start with one thing—maybe kill the paper pay stubs or try a “no fly” interview month. Small steps add up.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go yell at someone about the thermostat again…
What’s the first HR policy you’re going to greenify? Hit reply and tell me—I read every response!
P.S. Share this with that one coworker who’s always nagging you to recycle. They’ll owe you coffee.
