A Strategic HRM Framework for Esports: Proactive Strategies and Practices for Inclusion and Employee Safeguarding

The global esports industry faces a profound human resource management crisis, characterised by a pervasive external culture of toxicity and a stark internal lack of diversity. This paper addresses the strategic Human Resources (HR) problem of how organisations can proactively safeguard employees and foster genuine inclusion within this uniquely hostile and digitally mediated environment. The study’s novelty lies in the introduction of a comprehensive, theoretically grounded tripartite framework designed specifically to transform HR from a reactive support function into a core strategic driver of sustainable growth in esports. The aim is to introduce a comprehensive, theoretically grounded framework designed to transform HR from a reactive support function into a core strategic driver of sustainable growth. To achieve this, the paper integrates key theoretical perspectives, strategic Human Resources Management (HRM), psychological safety, inclusion climate theory, and boundary theory to construct a novel tripartite model. This model organises proactive HR strategies across three interconnected layers: the Structural layer [policies and systems], the Cultural layer [leadership and values], and the Relational layer [support and team processes]. The main findings detail how these layers work synergistically to build a “buffered inclusion climate”, creating an internal organisational sanctuary that protects talent and enables high performance. The paper concludes by outlining the framework’s theoretical contributions to HR literature and providing actionable recommendations for practitioners in esports and analogous high-velocity, digital industries