Sustainable Human Resources as the Future of HRM Systems in Family Firms

Background

The first definition of sustainable development was presented in the report entitled “Our Common Future” (known as the Brundtland Report), according to which, sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED, 1987). Nevertheless, environmental problems were noticed prior to this – at the first International Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, at which environmental issues were touched on. Its consequence was to create the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), whose task became activity on behalf of the environment mainly by means of information activity. This was to enable the improvement of the quality of life of communities without depriving the future generations.

Together with the passing of time, a change has occurred in the political debate referring to the notion of “sustainable”. In Rio de Janeiro in 1992 during the Earth Summit, a move from the main emphasis on environmental issues in the direction of issues formulating the common focus on environmental, social and economic development, to be followed by further summits at Millennium in 2000 and the world summit in Johannesburg in 2002, at which the main emphasis was placed on reducing poverty worldwide. The processes aimed at protecting the environment in terms of serving the development of mankind was commenced, while simultaneously calling for the improvement of the well-being of the poorest at present and in the future (Bac, 2008). Since the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 in Johannesburg, the following definition of sustainable development has been adopted: a collective responsibility for the progress and strengthening of mutually dependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development - economic development, social development and environmental protection - at local, national, regional and global level (UN, 2002).

The development of the concept naturally has its continuation and is played out with the significant participation of the European Union. Within the framework of the strategies conducted by the EU that are associated with the implementation of sustainable development in EU member states - “Europe 2020. Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”, apart from the aspects of environmental protection, issues associated with the social factor (human resources) became important, while also within their framework, among others, the rate of employment of people aged 20-64, or the restriction of people living in Europe below the level of poverty (COM, 2010).