SHRM CEO and Chief of Staff Issue Open Letter to Elected and Appointed Officials After Trump’s Joint Address to Congress
On March 5, SHRM issued an open letter to elected and appointed officials following The President’s joint address to Congress on March 4. The letter urges these officials to take action to close the workforce participation gap, shape the future of work, modernize critical workplace policies, and practice civility.
“SHRM’s nearly 340,000 members touch the lives of over 362 million workers and their families globally. Our members ARE the frontline of the workforce, and this is our time,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, president and chief executive officer of SHRM.
In the letter, Taylor and SHRM Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs, and Corporate Secretary Emily M. Dickens, J.D., called for bold leadership and forward-thinking policies to ensure the U.S. workforce remains competitive and resilient in an evolving economy.
“Our members call upon our congressional and executive branch leaders to act with bold purpose in closing the workforce participation gap, shaping the future of work, and modernizing pivotal workplace policies,” Dickens said. “We need our leaders to put partisan politics aside and create policies that build a better world of work for all.”
Addressing AI and the Future of Work
“When SHRM talks about the future of work, we mean looking beyond the next few years to a future where today’s workforce and the next generation are equipped with the skills they need to succeed,” Taylor said. “We need policies that address AI-driven job displacement and the growing skills gap. We must invest in upskilling, reskilling, and education reform. AI isn’t just a disruptor — it’s a tool that, when paired with human intelligence, can unlock new opportunities and drive innovation.”
Closing the Workforce Participation Gap
“SHRM is committed to working with employers and policymakers to break down barriers to opportunity, build diverse talent pipelines, create inclusive workplaces, and ensure businesses can access the skilled workers they need,” Dickens said. “The future of work is coming fast. Let’s be ready.”
Modernizing Workplace Policies
“We call on Congress to modernize key workplace laws to reflect today’s workforce realities,” Taylor said. “Outdated legal frameworks hinder organizations from building compliance models that can withstand political shifts.”
Encouraging Civility
SHRM research shows workplace incivility is expected to rise in 2025, impacting productivity, retention, and culture. Civility starts with leadership. “Smart, targeted, and commonsense solutions require cooperation,” Dickens said. “This isn’t easy — it demands leaders at all levels put partisanship aside to build a better world of work.”
For more on SHRM’s workplace policy priorities for the 119th Congress and new administration, visit http://shrm.org.
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