November 6, 2024

The Honorable President-Elect Donald J. Trump
Office of the President-Elect
600 14th Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005

Dear President-Elect Trump:

On behalf of SHRM and the undersigned, I would like to extend our sincere congratulations on your election as the 47th President of the United States. We stand ready to work with you and your administration on the critical issues facing our nation’s workforce and workplaces. We strongly believe civil discourse is the key to navigating our differences and prioritizing the issues that matter most to employers and employees. The leadership embodied by the Office of the President of the United States provides a unique opportunity to address these complex challenges and to ensure a thriving, productive, and inclusive American workforce.

With nearly 340,000 human resource and business executive members worldwide, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. As the largest business association dedicated to workplace dynamics, SHRM is the trusted authority on all things work, worker, and workplace. Our commitment to civility and policy, not politics, guides our efforts to create environments that promote innovation, inclusion, economic resilience, and prosperity for employers and employees.

SHRM’s dedication to advancing the effectiveness and success of the American workplace aligns with the mission of the Presidency to serve all Americans. We believe in a constructive, collaborative approach and are prepared to support your administration in shaping policies that foster better workplaces for a better world.

To support these efforts, we will work with you on several key priorities:

1.  Workforce Development: Ensuring that American workers have access to education and skills training is fundamental to meeting the demands of our rapidly evolving economy. Fifty-nine percent of the American workforce is seeking new learning opportunities in the face of an AI-powered economy. SHRM stands ready to work with your administration to expand workforce development initiatives, aligning skills training with emerging industry needs to drive job growth and economic stability.
2. Workplace Immigration: We understand the pivotal role a fair and effective legal immigration system plays in addressing workforce shortages, driving innovation, and fostering economic growth. We are committed to advocating for policies that ensure both a secure immigration process and access to talent that supports the American economy.
3. Workplace Flexibility and Leave: American workers are looking for more flexible work options and robust leave policies that support work-life integration. We support initiatives that provide employees with options for work flexibility, while respecting business needs and maintaining productivity.
4. Workplace Inclusion: Inclusive workplaces are essential for fostering unity and promoting diversity. Sixty-nine percent of working Americans and more than 80% of business leaders indicate inclusion and diversity throughout corporate America needs a revamp to ensure opportunity for all.  SHRM is dedicated to creating pathways that promote inclusion in all workplaces, and we look forward to working with you to create policies that advance these values.
5. Workplace Health Care: A strong and healthy workforce is vital to our nation’s economic strength. Roughly nine in ten global workers link their health to workplace features including job quality and meaningful benefits. SHRM will collaborate with your administration to identify and promote effective healthcare solutions that are affordable, accessible, and sustainable for employers and employees alike.
6. Workplace Governance: As workplaces continue to change, effective governance policies that maintain ethical standards, enhance transparency, and foster employee trust will be crucial. SHRM is committed to supporting policies that enhance good governance practices, ensuring fair and compliant workplaces.

As we look ahead, SHRM remains committed to playing a pivotal role in furthering confidence in the future of the American economy, driven by the power of work. We will continue to strengthen trust within our communities and advance the principles that have long supported the success of the American workplace. We are confident that through collaboration, we can promote productive workplaces, bridge divides, and uphold the values that contribute to our nation's strength and resilience

Thank you for your service to our country. We look forward to serving as a data-driven resource to you and your team as we move forward together.

Sincerely,

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP
President & CEO of SHRM