SHRM Leadership Engages Top Policymakers on the Future of Work
As the voice of all things work, SHRM continues to lead at the highest levels of government to ensure that workforce policy reflects the realities of today’s workplaces and the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.
On April 28, SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, and SHRM Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs Emily M. Dickens, J.D., met with U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling to discuss the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) workforce priorities. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between SHRM and DOL, particularly around workforce development, skills-based training, and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in HR systems.
SHRM leaders emphasized the importance of engaging employers, educators, and public-sector partners in advancing a modern, inclusive workforce strategy. They reaffirmed SHRM’s commitment to providing practical, real-world insights and offered the organization’s expertise to inform DOL initiatives and policy development moving forward.
On April 30, Taylor and Dickens continued SHRM’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, meeting with influential congressional leaders on workforce policy, including Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah; Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; and Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. Conversations focused on advancing workforce development initiatives, expanding support for family caregivers, modernizing employment-based immigration, and leveraging artificial intelligence to promote equity and innovation in the hiring process.
SHRM leaders also emphasized the importance of unlocking the potential of underutilized talent pools —such as veterans, older workers, and opportunity youth — while championing bipartisan solutions that benefit both workers and employers in a rapidly evolving economy.
These strategic, high-level engagements reaffirm SHRM’s role as the trusted authority for all things work and highlight the essential contribution of HR professionals in building a skilled, resilient, and inclusive workforce for the future.
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