SHRM Policy Not Politics

SHRM is guided by the principle of Policy, Not Politics. Accordingly, SHRM views the State of the Union address as an opportunity to focus on critical policy issues facing work, workers and workplaces. This important policy event reminds us about the deep responsibility of governance and a return to civility.

President Biden called attention to several of the issues important to SHRM members in his 2024 State of the Union speech, including

Workforce Development

• The President underscored the need to prepare more Americans for the jobs of the future. SHRM research found that 65 percent of HR professionals report that their organization has been dealing with labor shortages in the past year, and 58 percent had trouble finding qualified applicants. 
   
• SHRM urges Congress to enact policies that promote skills-based hiring that harnesses untapped talent pipelines, such as veterans, military spouses, caregivers and people without four-year degrees. Several bipartisan bills such as A Stronger Workforce for America Act and The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act would support skills-based hiring. SHRM also advocates for the expansion of apprenticeships, a valuable tool for developing a skilled workforce and closing the skills gap.

Paid Leave
 

• The President shined a spotlight on the need for paid leave policies that reflect the modern world of work. The 30th anniversary of the FMLA created an opportunity for Congress to expand access to paid leave to more workers, provide flexibility to employers in program design and increase regulatory consistency for multistate employers. 
   
• Congress should consider our proposal to create a voluntary federal insurance market that allows employers to fund paid leave benefits by tapping into pooled resources.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) 
 

• The President made clear the need to harness the potential of AI and alleviate its risks. We see a future where the synergy of artificial and human intelligence (HI) paves the way for a workforce that is not only efficient but truly empowered. 
   
• When combined with HI, AI can transform organizations while maximizing human potential. AI + HI = ROI. A quarter of HR departments already use AI applications for specific purposes such as recruitment and employee training and development. By 2025, we expect that 50 percent of HR departments could be using AI.
   
• We urge Congress to enact legislation that supports, rather than stifles, workplace and workforce innovation through AI and ensures a level playing field for employees and employers. 

SHRM stands ready to work with President Biden and Congress to promote public policy that ensures that people and businesses thrive together. We are committed to fostering a civil and productive work environment across the nation, advocating for policy solutions over political agendas.