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The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is helping HR leaders understand key political issues that have the potential to impact workplaces following the US 2024 general election and inauguration.
SHRM launched its 2024 election guide online with resources on key areas of policy that have real world implications for HR pros. These areas include positions on workforce development, DE&I, leave, employee relations, immigration, healthcare, and more.
The resource offers HR leaders a guide to the policy positions, or likely positions, of both presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
For instance, the resource highlights both candidates’ positions—citing published materials—on paid family leave and reforming the Paid Family Leave Act (FMLA), outlining that candidate Harris “supports” reforms and candidate Trump “likely supports” changes.
While not a voter guide, it’s important for HR teams to familiarize themselves with how a change in occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. might impact personnel policy or budgeting.
“We hope this resource helps HR professionals learn about top workplace issues, the candidates’ positions on the issues, and SHRM’s point of view,” SHRM spokesperson Holly Roberts told HR Brew via email. “SHRM is prepared to collaborate with either administration to support the workforce on behalf of the HR profession.”
SHRM is also providing HR pros with information on voting: links to voter registration resources, information on candidates and elected officials, as well as information for election day. These resources offer additional insights into state and local elections, so HR pros can focus on what might be important to the business at the state and local level.
“What happens at your state level actually is going to impact your life greater than what is happening here in Washington, DC,” SHRM’s chief of staff and head of government affairs Emily Dickens said earlier in this campaign season. “Your mayor, your governor, your state elected official impact your day-to-day much more than what’s going on up here.”
The 2024 election resource also outlines steps for HR leaders to prepare for the ramp up to election day focused on workplace civility, one of the organization’s priority campaigns this year.
“When you level-set your culture in your organization, you got to decide whether you’re going to be a workplace that allows free discussion about politics, or [a] workplace that says, ‘leave politics at the door, because we understand it could lead to some toxic situations,’” Dickens previously told HR Brew.