Statement on Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

JHROS journals uphold a rigorous peer review process, along with clear ethical policies and standards, to support the addition of high-quality scientific studies to the field of scholarly publication. The journal takes all reasonable steps to ensure the integrity, transparency, and credibility of the research it publishes and does not tolerate unethical behaviour in any form. The prevention of publication malpractice is one of the important responsibilities of the editorial board. Any kind of unethical behaviour is not acceptable, and the Editorial Board of this journal does not tolerate plagiarism in any form.

The JHROS upholds the following core principles in addressing ethical issues and publication misconduct:

• Prevention: JHROS prioritises the early identification and mitigation of potential ethical concerns through systematic editorial screening, similarity checks, and rigorous desk and peer review processes.
• Neutrality: All ethical assessments are conducted fairly, objectively, and without bias, with the sole aim of preserving the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.
• Transparency: Where appropriate and permissible, JHROS seeks to inform all relevant parties of ethical concerns and allows reasonable opportunity for clarification or response.
• Consistency: Ethical issues are handled in accordance with established journal policies and the guidelines, principles, and procedural frameworks of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure uniform and responsible decision-making.
• Accountability: Authors, reviewers, and editors are responsible for ethical conduct and cooperation in investigations.
• Confidentiality: All manuscript content and review information are treated as strictly confidential.
• Timeliness: Ethical issues and editorial decisions are addressed promptly to ensure efficient scholarly communication.
• Integrity of the Scholarly Record: Corrections, retractions, or clarifications are issued when necessary to maintain the accuracy of the literature.
• Equity and Non-Discrimination: All decisions are made solely on scholarly merit, without bias toward the author or their affiliations.

JHROS adheres to internationally recognised best practices in publication ethics and is guided by the principles and standards of the COPE. The responsibilities outlined below apply to editors, authors, and reviewers involved in the publication process.

a) Duties of Editors/ Copy Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining the academic quality and ethical integrity of the journal. Their responsibilities include:

• Publication Decisions: The editor has full authority to accept, reject, or request revisions to a manuscript based on the recommendations of the Editorial Review Board.
• Editorial Decision-Making: Editors evaluate manuscripts solely based on academic merit, originality, methodological rigor, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without discrimination based on authors’ personal or institutional characteristics. After the desk review, the manuscript is sent for blind peer review to the Editorial Review Board, which will provide a recommendation to accept, reject, or request revisions.
• Fair and Objective Review: Editors ensure that all submissions undergo a fair, unbiased, and confidential peer-review process for their intellectual content without regard to the gender, race, religion, citizenship, etc. of the authors.
• Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts to anyone other than those directly involved in the editorial process.
• Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which such conflicts exist. They must not use any unpublished material from submitted manuscripts for their own research or benefit without the explicit written consent of the author.”
• Errata Information: The editor must publish errata pages or make corrections when needed.
• Ethical Guidelines: The editor is responsible for ensuring that all published research adheres to internationally recognised ethical standards
• Corrections and Retractions: Editors are responsible for issuing corrections, clarifications, or retractions when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.
• Proof of Misconduct: Editors must not reject manuscripts based on suspicion alone; decisions regarding ethical misconduct should be supported by verified evidence.
• Accountability: Editors are expected to participate in regular meetings, provide guidance on journal policies and scope, suggest new initiatives or programs, and, where appropriate, assist in reviewing manuscripts, identifying special issue topics, or attracting high-quality submissions.

b). Duties of Authors 

Authors submitting manuscripts to JHROS are expected to adhere to the following ethical standards:

• Publication guidelines: Authors are required to adhere to the journal’s submission guidelines when preparing and submitting their manuscripts.
• Originality: Authors must ensure that their work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
• Authorship: All listed authors must have made significant scholarly contributions to the research and approved the final manuscript.
• Submission Check Form: All authors must complete the author submission checklist form.
• Peer Review Process: Authors must participate in the peer review process.
• Data Integrity: Authors must ensure that data presented in the manuscript are accurate, authentic, and responsibly obtained. Raw data should be made available upon reasonable request.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper citation of all sources and prior work is mandatory.
• Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research.
• Ethical Approval: Where applicable, authors must confirm that research involving human participants complied with institutional or ethical review requirements.
• Post-Publication Responsibility: Authors are obliged to cooperate with editors in correcting or retracting the manuscript if significant errors or ethical issues are identified after publication.

c) Duties of Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the quality of published research and are expected to:

• Confidentiality: All information regarding submitted manuscripts must be treated as strictly confidential and not disclosed to unauthorised parties.
• Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted impartially, focusing on the scholarly content of the manuscript without personal criticism of the authors.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should verify that authors have properly cited all relevant sources and prior work.
• Supporting Argument: Reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments
• Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide clear, well-supported comments and recommendations to help authors improve their work.
• Detection of Misconduct: Reviewers must alert editors to potential ethical issues, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or substantial overlap with previously published work, providing detailed evidence where possible.
• Identification of Relevant Literature: Reviewers should point out relevant research that has not been cited by the authors, enhancing the completeness of the manuscript.
• Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must recuse themselves from evaluating manuscripts where personal, professional, or financial conflicts of interest exist.
• Timeliness and Promptness: Reviewers should complete reviews within the agreed timeframe and notify the editor promptly if unable to do so, so alternative arrangements can be made.
• Accountability and Contribution: Reviewers are encouraged to provide suggestions for journal development, including potential special issues, new topics, or outreach to prospective authors, to support the journal’s growth and academic impact.

d) Duties of Advisory Board Members

The Advisory Board of the JHROS is composed of distinguished scholars and experts in the fields of human resources, organisational studies, and related disciplines.

Advisory Board members serve as strategic advisors to the journal and support its mission to maintain high scholarly and ethical standards. Their responsibilities include:

• Guiding the journal’s scope, editorial policies, and long-term strategic direction.
• Suggesting new initiatives, special issues, or programs to enhance the journal’s academic impact and visibility.
• Offering recommendations for attracting high-quality manuscript submissions and contributing to the growth of the author community.
• Participating in one or more annual meetings, conducted via video conference or other virtual communication platforms, to discuss journal development and policy matters.
• Advising on best practices for editorial and peer-review processes and, where appropriate, providing input on manuscript evaluation.

Advisory Board members do not have direct responsibility for the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, ensuring that editorial independence and impartiality are maintained.

e) Duties of the Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of JHROS holds ultimate responsibility for the editorial content, policy implementation, and ethical oversight of the journal. The EiC ensures that all published research meets the highest standards of academic quality and integrity. Key responsibilities include:

• Editorial Oversight: The EiC oversees the entire editorial process, ensuring consistency, fairness, and adherence to journal policies.
• Final Publication Decisions: The EiC holds ultimate authority for accepting, rejecting, or requesting revisions of manuscripts, based on the recommendations of associate editors and the Editorial Review Board.
• Maintaining Editorial Independence: Ensures that all editorial decisions are made without interference from external parties, including institutions, sponsors, or government agencies.
• Ethical Leadership: Confirms that all research complies with international ethical guidelines, including research on human or animal subjects, and addresses potential misconduct appropriately.
• Conflict of Interest Management: Discloses any conflicts of interest and recuses themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict exists. EiC must not use unpublished material for personal research without the author’s explicit consent.
• Integrity of the Scholarly Record: Oversees corrections, clarifications, or retractions when necessary to maintain accuracy and reliability.
• Strategic Guidance: Provides direction on journal scope, editorial policies, and long-term initiatives to enhance the journal’s academic impact and visibility.
• Engagement and Accountability: Participates in editorial meetings, advises on special issues, supports manuscript solicitation, and mentors associate editors.

f) Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the JHROS while maintaining editorial independence:

• Support for Editorial Independence: Ensures that editorial decisions remain the sole responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and editorial team.
• Infrastructure and Resources: Provides administrative, technical, and production support for the Journal management process.
• Ethical Oversight Support: Assists in implementing ethical policies and COPE guidelines.
• Transparency and Accountability: Ensures that ethical policies, publication standards, and procedures are clearly communicated to all stakeholders.
• Data and Record Management: Maintains accurate records of manuscripts, peer reviews, and editorial decisions.
• Promotion of Ethical Practices: Ensures published content complies with international ethical standards.
• Handling Complaints and Appeals: Supports the editorial team in addressing complaints or appeals fairly and consistently.
• Timely Publication: Supports the editorial team in processing manuscripts efficiently and publishing them without unnecessary delay.
• Support for Post-Publication Integrity: Assists in issuing corrections, retractions, or clarifications when necessary to maintain the scholarly record.
• Support for Open Access / Accessibility (if applicable): Ensures that journal content is widely accessible and adheres to licensing or open-access policies.

Note: While the publisher provides essential support, all editorial decisions remain the sole responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and editorial team.