Call for Chapters
A Handbook of Human Resource Ethics and Values in a Globalized World
Editors: Arup Varma, Ph.D. & Prof Subhashis Sinha . Series Editors: Payal Kumar (ISH, India) & Peter Bamberger (Tel Aviv University, Israel) Executive Editor: Gideon Markman, Past Editor-in-Chief (Colorado State University, USA) Senior Executive Publisher: Zvi Ruder, Ph.D. Publisher: World Scientific Publishers (Part of the Handbook of Business Ethics and Values in a Globalized World series)
In an era defined by shifting geopolitical dynamics, digital acceleration, and rising expectations from an increasingly diverse workforce, the ethical dimensions of Human Resource Management (HRM) are more consequential than ever. From hiring algorithms that silently encode bias, to opaque appraisal systems that undermine fairness, organizations today face mounting ethical dilemmas-both subtle and systemic. This evolving terrain raises urgent questions:
· What constitutes ethical HRM in a globalized, digitized, and hybrid work environment?
· How can HR leaders foster trust and equity while navigating performance pressures, legal differences, and cultural complexity?
· Where do ethics and efficiency converge-and where do they collide?
This Handbook seeks to illuminate the ethical tensions that lie at the heart of contemporary HR practices. We invite scholars, practitioners, and policy thinkers to offer rigorous, insightful, and globally attuned contributions-ranging from conceptual frameworks to empirical studies, practice-based cases, or normative critiques.
Below are guiding themes. Proposals that challenge assumptions or forge new directions are especially welcome.
1. Foundations of Ethics in HRM
We welcome explorations of the philosophical and cultural roots of HR ethics across global contexts. Contributions might include:
· The role of virtue ethics, justice theory, or deontology in shaping HR practices
· How moral reasoning varies across regions and informs localized HR decision-making
· The integration of ethical principles into strategic HRM frameworks
2. The Dark Side of Leadership: Toxicity and Ethical Drift in HR
Toxic leadership is widely acknowledged yet insufficiently theorized within HR ethics. We seek chapters that examine:
· How power, control, and manipulation erode ethical HR systems
· Traits and behaviors of toxic HR leadership-and their organizational consequences
· The ethical implications of narcissism, Machiavellianism, or institutional complicity
3. Recruitment and Selection in the Age of AI and Inequality
Hiring is a gateway to inclusion-or exclusion. This theme invites contributions that interrogate:
· The ethics of algorithmic decision-making and AI-driven recruitment
· How favoritism, nepotism, and opaque screening practices impact fairness
· Ethical trade-offs in balancing efficiency, accuracy, and diversity
4. Performance, Pay, and Ethical Appraisal Systems
How performance is evaluated and rewarded shapes the soul of an organization. Topics may include:
· Bias and subjectivity in performance appraisal
· Ethical concerns in forced ranking systems and bonus allocations
· Equity and transparency in compensation-across roles, ranks, and regions
5a. Employee Rights, Ethics, and the Law in the Global North and South
Legal rights, institutional expectations, and enforcement mechanisms differ vastly across regions. This theme invites contributions that explore:
· Comparative analysis of employment law and ethical frameworks across regions
· HR dilemmas in the Global South vs. Global North
· Rights-based concerns in contract design, benefits, workplace protections, and dispute resolution
· Ethical concerns in the gig economy, migrant labor, or precarious work arrangements
5b. National Culture and Ethical HR Practices
Culture shapes what is considered ethical-and what is not. We welcome work that considers:
· How cultural norms and expectations influence HR decision-making
· National cultural dimensions (e.g., power distance, collectivism) and their ethical implications
· The tension between universalist HRM practices and culturally embedded values
· How MNCs manage cross-cultural ethical tensions
We encourage authors to use these themes as starting points, not boundaries. If your work stretches or reframes these questions, we want to hear from you. Contributions may be critical, constructive, or exploratory-so long as they offer insight into the ethics of HR in today's complex and globalized world.
Submission Guidelines & Timeline We are reviewing proposals on a rolling basis, with early submissions strongly encouraged.
· Priority Proposal Abstract Deadline: February 22, 2026
· Proposal Requirements: 1–2 pages outlining your topic, relevance, and intended contribution
· Submission Contact: Prof Subhashis Sinha - r21018@astra.xlri.ac.in
· Final Chapter Deadline: July 31, 2026 (with possible extensions through to November 30, 2026)
This handbook will be part of a globally visible, professionally edited series. Whether you are a scholar, practitioner, or critical observer of the HR profession, your voice matters-and we invite you to join this timely conversation.
Subhashis Sinha
Professor of Practice
Human Resources and Behavioural Sciences
NAAC Accredits NMIMS with A+
V.L.Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W),
Mumbai. - 400 056. Maharashtra, India. http://www.nmims.edu/. Click or tap to follow the link." rel="noopener">www.nmims.edu
Mobile:9987068563
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SUBHASHIS Sinha
SUBHASHIS Sinha Person
MUMBAI
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