EVALUATING PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN CLIMATE-VULNERABLE WORKPLACES USING HR SUPPORT STRATEGIES

Abstract

Psychological resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and is increasingly beneficial to employees facing the climate-vulnerable stresses of their work. This research analyzes resilience among workers in climate-exposed sectors such as agriculture, construction, emergency services, and considers the impact of HR support structures on adaptive capacity. We utilized a mixed-method design and surveyed 412 employees from five organizations, in addition to conducting in-depth interviews with 30 HR professionals. Quantitative analyses measured resilience via the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, while qualitative data provided insight into perceptions of HR programs such as training, counseling, and flexible work schedules. Results of the quantitative analyses provided further evidence of the widespread impact of comprehensive HR support, particularly proactive communication, resilience training, and mental health resource access, yielding a statistically significant difference in employee resilience scores (p < 0.01). Comparative analysis shows the greatest change is achieved with tailored strategies that address individual coping mechanisms and organizational culture. For practitioners, this stresses the need to explicitly embed initiatives aimed at building resilience into routine operations, adapt support strategies to align with their risk profiles, and cultivate a climate of psychological safety. Further studies should investigate the longer-term consequences of HR strategies and the influences of organizational size and climate severity as moderators.