The literature reveals that human resources has largely taken a supportive role, if any role
at all, in sustainability and corporate and social responsibility initiatives in most organizations. The
skills that are needed to prepare employees, and indeed the organization, for sustainability and
corporate and social responsibility initiatives are aligned with many of the typical functions
associated with strategic human resource management. The impetus is on the human resources
function to gain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for enhanced roles in this sense. Rather
than lagging behind the effort, the human resources function can play a strategic role in program
design and development.