BUSINESS ACCRETIVE HR
The Business and Strategy of HR
Transforming Human Resources into a Strategic Engine for Growth
Only 1 in 8 HR functions can prove they drive profit. Business accretive HR turns every people decision into measurable business value — strengthening the organization, driving revenue growth, and safeguarding profitability.
FEATURED EVENT:
SHRM’s flagship event dedicated to designing inclusion strategies that don’t just check a box, but directly drive innovation, retention, and measurable business growth.
Featured Research Report
The Business Case for HR Excellence
Is your HR function driving measurable business impact or leaving value on the table? Advancing HR maturity isn’t just good for people — it’s great for business:
Every 1-point increase in HR maturity delivers $62,000 more revenue per FTE — potentially millions in annual gains.
Only 1 in 8 HR functions achieve high maturity. Are you ready to join them?
The Importance of Business Accretive HR
In today’s competitive market, HR is more than a support function — it must accelerate business results. Operating this way, HR becomes a strategic force, making decisions that earn a seat at the C-suite table and deliver tangible impact on the P&L.
SHRM partners with you to prove, measure, and expand HR’s influence as a growth engine for the business. From inclusive cultures that drive innovation, to compensation strategies that save millions, to data-backed talent decisions that strengthen the bottom line — business accretive HR provides the framework to show HR’s measurable value.
“Business accretive HR is about transforming human resources from a support function into a strategic driver of organizational growth. By aligning talent strategies with business objectives, we unlock measurable value – accelerating innovation, enhancing productivity, and fostering a culture that propels sustainable competitive advantage. In today’s dynamic environment, HR’s proactive partnership is essential to not just enable, but actively amplify, business success."
Jim Link, Chief Human Resources Officer, SHRM
Key Drivers of a High-Impact HR Function
When HR operates in a business accretive way, every initiative becomes a lever for growth and competitive advantage. These aren’t just programs — they are strategic investments delivering measurable returns and aligning directly with corporate priorities.
Direct Impact on Revenue and Profitability
HR strategies that clearly contribute to the top and bottom line.
Alignment with Corporate Strategy and Market Opportunities
People initiatives built to support where the business is going, not just where it is today.
Measurable Outcomes
Metrics like retention, productivity, innovation, and speed-to-market to prove results.
Real-World Proof: HR Driving Business Value
Organizations that approach HR as a business driver are already seeing returns in profitability, productivity, and employee well-being. From mental health programs that deliver millions in savings to inclusion initiatives that reduce turnover, these examples show how people strategies translate directly into bottom-line results.
The Business Case for Employee Mental Health
85%
of organizations that assess their mental health resources see a return on investment (vs. 33% that don’t).
80%
of team members who have used this caregiving benefit report feeling less stressed.
60%
report they were able to avoid missing work because of the help they received.
24K hrs
Hours saved annually by using mental health resources.
The Cost of Incivility
Incivility isn’t just a workplace culture problem — it’s a business problem that drains profitability, productivity, and talent. The data is clear: unchecked incivility has a direct, measurable impact on the bottom line.
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Attend The Most Important Events for Business Accretive HR
October 26 - 29, 2025
Louisville, KY
Draft the future of inclusion & diversity. The expectations facing today’s leaders are shifting fast. Are you prepared? Join us for a hands-on, small group working session event to design a legally compliant, workplace unifying, and business accretive plan that’s ready for real-world implementation.
April 19 - 22, 2026
Dallas, TX or virtual
At Talent 2026, your team will gain the cutting-edge insights your organization needs to retain your top talent and attract the best candidates from a dynamic talent pool.
June 16 - 19, 2026
Orlando, FL or virtual
Join the world’s largest HR conference at SHRM 2026! With 375+ expert-led sessions, global networking, and actionable strategies, it’s your chance to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of HR.
Building an HR Function That Creates Value
From Cost Center to Value Creator
HR leaders at high-maturity organizations were most likely to report revenue growth over the past 2 years, with three-quarters (75%) doing so. In contrast, slightly over half of those (57%) at average-maturity organizations and roughly 2 in 5 (41%) at low-maturity organizations reported financial growth.
The 7 Pillars of Business Accretive HR
Business accretive HR turns every people decision into a driver of profitability. These pillars show how strategic HR initiatives create measurable business value.
Build inclusion strategies that don’t just check a box — they drive performance. When tied to innovation, retention, and team effectiveness, inclusive workplaces fuel measurable business gains. Stronger ideas, lower turnover costs, and more effective teams make I&D a true profit driver.
The Future of Inclusion & Diversity Starts Here
SHRM BLUEPRINT is a curated event to help you draft the future of inclusion and diversity in light of recent policy changes and Executive Orders.
Learn how to build an I&D strategy that is legally compliant, workplace unifying, and business accretive.
Louisville, KY · October 26-29, 2025
Workforce planning must match the rigor of financial planning. Yet, only 18% of CHROs report having an HR strategy seamlessly aligned with overall business goals. This misalignment leaves organizations vulnerable to skills gaps and growth bottlenecks. Treating workforce planning as a business-critical exercise ensures talent strategies support future growth, close costly gaps, and protect competitiveness.
Benchmarking Future-Proofs Talent Strategies: 4 Case Studies
Organizational Development Seminar
Workforce Planning: The Future of Work Seminar
Hiring isn’t just about filling roles — it’s about fueling expansion. When recruitment is aligned with growth markets and business priorities, every new hire accelerates revenue. Talent acquisition becomes a growth multiplier instead of a back-office function.
Reassessing Inclusive Hiring: Access Over Identity in Talent Recruitment
SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential
Turnover is one of HR’s most expensive challenges — but it’s also one of the most preventable. According to SHRM research, 72% of HR executives using people analytics say it adds the most value in tackling turnover. By investing in retention strategies, organizations preserve institutional knowledge, protect productivity, and avoid the high costs of backfilling roles. Even modest improvements in retention yield significant profit gains.
Workplace Unifying Diversity: Turning Differences into Strengths for High-Performing Teams
Pay and benefits aren’t just about competitiveness — they’re about ROI. 68% of HR professionals say their organization’s benefits are market-competitive, and 61% cite work-life balance as a key driver of retention success. Well-designed compensation and benefits programs not only attract talent but also reduce attrition, improve engagement, and directly strengthen profitability.
SHRM 2025 Employee Benefits Survey
SHRM Total Rewards Specialty Credential
Foundations of Compensation Seminar
Revolutionize Your Talent Strategy
Skills development is a business growth engine. At SHRM Talent 2026, discover how to infuse skills, AI, and workforce planning into every stage of the employee lifecycle to deliver bottom-line impact.
Gain actionable tools and future-focused insights to turn talent management into a competitive advantage — and position HR as a driver of revenue and innovation.
April 19 - 22, 2026
Dallas, TX or virtual
Culture isn’t soft — it’s strategic. According to SHRM research, organizational culture explains 54% of employees’ job satisfaction levels and 42% of their desire to quit. Poor culture translates into disengagement and attrition, while strong culture boosts loyalty, innovation, and competitive positioning. Treating culture as a measurable asset delivers a direct return on investment.
Podcast: Aligning Culture Work to Your Strategic Business Plan
Unlocking Talent Through Merit: The Future of Workplace Inclusion
Senior HRBP: Catalyst for Cultural Change Seminar
Executives demand proof, not activity reports. Data shows that 59% of HR professionals use strategic goals as KPIs, and 40% use revenue and profitability metrics to evaluate people managers. When HR ties metrics to outcomes that matter to the C-suite — profitability, growth, and innovation — it demonstrates its role as a true business driver.
Strategic Compensation Planning: Designing and Sustaining Competitive Pay Structures
SHRM People Analytics Specialty Credential
Own Your Moment. Shape What’s Next.
June 16 - 19, 2026
Orlando, FL or virtual
The rules of work are being rewritten — from AI and pay transparency to culture transformation and talent shortages. SHRM26 is your launchpad to stay ahead, lead decisively, and prove HR’s strategic impact.
Join the global HR community for cutting-edge insights, bold conversations, and tools that turn challenges into opportunities — and HR into a profit-driving force.
Latest News
A Wellhub survey of 1,500 CEOs shows workplace wellness is now a core business strategy, credited with boosting productivity, retention, and ROI.
Learn how to win CEO support for workplace wellness, identify the metrics executives value most and discover how HR can best track and report impact.
Discover how HR leaders can replace crisis-driven spikes with sustainable productivity strategies for lasting gains.
Learn how to protect your HR budget during a recession. Discover 7 actions to prove the value and ROI of your HR programs to secure funding.
Newest Member Resources
This toolkit provides actionable resources and frameworks to help HR be a strategic revenue engine that drives measurable value and business impact.
Ensure your compensation programs advance business objectives with this checklist. HR professionals can deliver measurable impact on organizational performance.
Streamline your HR department’s financial planning with this customizable budget spreadsheet. Track expenses, forecast costs, and support strategic decision-making.
This comprehensive sick-leave policy details accrual rates, usage guidelines, and procedures to support the medical needs of employees and their families.
SHRM Membership Helps You Build and Lead an HR Function that is Business Accretive
SHRM membership isn’t just about staying ahead — it’s about arming HR with the hard evidence, high-impact tools, and proven strategies to make HR indispensable to business growth. That’s why 95% of Fortune 500 companies rely on SHRM for comprehensive solutions and expertise.
For those determined to practice truly business accretive HR, SHRM delivers the resources to make every people decision not only defensible in the boardroom, but also visible on the P&L.
SHRM Membership is about positioning you and your team as a value creator and proving the measurable business impact of every people decision. With SHRM, you don’t just manage HR. You lead a function that accelerates growth.
With SHRM membership, you can:
Translate HR strategy into business results with data, analytics, and benchmarks that show ROI on people initiatives.
Get answers when you need them most through SHRM’s HR Knowledge Advisors — offering personalized guidance and practical solutions to your toughest HR challenges.
Access exclusive tools and resources that strengthen your HR function across talent management, culture, compensation, and benefits.
Build executive credibility by linking HR investments to revenue growth, profitability, and competitive advantage.
Join a global community of HR leaders innovating and sharing real-world solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
Multiply Your Impact: Bring SHRM Membership to Your Entire HR Team
As a SHRM member, you already know the value of having cutting-edge research, actionable tools, and a powerful professional network at your fingertips. Imagine the results if your entire HR team was equipped with the same resources, insights, and strategic capabilities.
With a SHRM Corporate Membership, you can:
Prove HR’s collective value by leveraging SHRM’s data, benchmarks, and case studies to connect people initiatives to P&L outcomes.
Expand your team’s impact through specialty credentials, toolkits, and events that help design business-aligned HR strategies together.
Stay ahead as a team with the latest insights into workforce trends, compliance shifts, and innovative HR practices.
Engage your whole team with a global HR community that shares real-world solutions and strategies to accelerate organizational growth.