A risk perspective on human resource management: A review and directions for future research

•Reviews and analyzes the extent to which the human resources are considered from a risk perspective.•Demonstrates a lack of research in the intersecting fields of risk management and HRM.•Identifies three approaches to discussing human resource risk in management literature.•Highlights the need for development of human resource risk management frameworks.•Concludes with directions for future research in human resource risk management.

Arguing the value of effective HRM practice has long been a focus in the HRM literature. However, there is also a case for identifying the risks presented by inappropriate or absent HRM practices. Although risk management has been established in the broader management literature for over two decades, human resource related risks have not featured as prominently as other types of risks. HRM as a discipline has a role to play in addressing this situation and raising awareness of human resource issues as risks for the organization. A review of papers published since the year 2000 in a broad range of high quality management journals, identifies that limited research has thus far taken a risk management perspective on human resources. Although the HRM and risk management disciplines stand to benefit from drawing the two areas together, this review concludes that further research and development of the phenomenon of human resource risk management is needed.