SHRM Advances Global Policy Priorities in Europe
SHRM Leadership traveled to Brussels and Warsaw during the week of April 21 to advance SHRM’s global policy priorities through strategic meetings with the European Union, the International Trade Union Confederation and, employer organizations, and HR professionals. The trip reflected SHRM’s continued commitment to ensuring that the voice of HR remains represented in key international conversations shaping the future of work.
Policymaker Meetings in Brussels Focus on Skills and Talent
In Brussels, Belgium, Emily M. Dickens, J.D., Chief Administrative Officer at SHRM, met with officials from the European Union to discuss workforce participation, legal migration, labor shortages, and strategies to better align education systems with employer demand.
Meetings focused on how Europe is responding to demographic change and persistent talent shortages through skills development, labor mobility, and more agile pathways into employment.
Dickens also met with BusinessEurope, and the International Trade Union Confederation.
SHRM Leads Hybrid Work Discussion with Global Employers
Dickens also moderated a leadership discussion for the International Organisation of Employers at the Global Industrial Relations Network event.
The session explored how global organizations are balancing employee preferences for remote work with business goals, accountability, and operational needs.
Participants from multinational organizations shared practical approaches to hybrid work, talent retention, and workplace flexibility.
Dickens emphasized that successful flexibility strategies are intentional, data-informed, and tied to outcomes.
Supporting HR Leadership in Central Europe
The second leg of the trip brought SHRM Leadership to Warsaw, Poland, where Dickens delivered a keynote address at the “People Power: HR’s Role in Global Growth Conference” hosted by HR Pro, the HR National Association representing HR Professionals in Eastern Europe.
Her keynote, “Leading Through the Storm: HR’s Role in Europe’s Workforce Transformation”, focused on how HR leaders are helping organizations navigate labor shortages, AI adoption, demographic pressures, and changing employee expectations.
The address reinforced the growing role of HR as a strategic driver of organizational resilience and growth.
Connecting with SHRM Members Abroad
While in Warsaw, SHRM hosted a private dinner with SHRM members and certified professionals from across the region, including leaders from Ukraine and multinational employers spanning retail, aviation, agriculture, and technology.
The gathering highlighted SHRM’s expanding international Member community and the shared workforce challenges employers are facing across borders.
From skills shortages and migration policy to AI adoption and hybrid work, workforce issues are increasingly global.
That is why SHRM continues to engage internationally to:
- To ensure the voice of HR professionals is included in global policy discussions
- Build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders
- Advance practical solutions on skills, talent, and workplace innovation
- Support the growth of the HR profession worldwide
SHRM’s international engagement demonstrated that effective workforce solutions require collaboration across sectors and borders.
SHRM is proud to help lead those conversations on behalf of HR professionals everywhere.
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