Background and Objective: Ethical human resource management, with an emphasis on justice, transparency, accountability, and adherence to ethical values, can contribute to improving employee behavior and enhancing organizational performance. This study aimed to identify and explain the strategies for implementing ethical human resource management in the East Azerbaijan Agricultural Jihad Organization.
Methodology: This applied study employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. The participants consisted of experts and managers familiar with human resource management and ethical issues in the Agricultural Jihad Organization who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through several stages of examination and coding, resulting in basic, organizing, and overarching themes. To enhance the credibility of the findings, continuous review and refinement of codes and themes were employed.
Findings: The findings resulted in the identification of six overarching themes, 18 organizing themes, and a set of basic themes. The overarching themes included institutionalizing ethical culture and values in human resource management; establishing meritocracy, justice, and transparency in human resource processes; developing employees’ ethical and professional competencies; strengthening ethical performance evaluation, accountability, and oversight systems; enhancing employee motivation, satisfaction, and ethical retention; and establishing managerial and organizational infrastructure and support for implementing ethical human resource management.
Conclusion: Implementing ethical human resource management requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that simultaneously addresses ethical culture, justice and meritocracy, employee development, evaluation and accountability, motivation and retention, as well as managerial and infrastructural support. The findings can provide a basis for developing policies and practical programs for ethical human resource management in the Organization.