SHRM’s A-Team Volunteers Talking HR with Lawmakers this August, Advancing the Profession on Key Workplace Issues
This month, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are back home in their states and districts for the annual August congressional recess, which ends after Labor Day. During this month-long break, lawmakers and their staffs meet locally with constituents, hold town-hall forums, and attend community events to keep current on what is happening in their legislative areas. This provides HR professionals and SHRM’s Advocacy Team (“A-Team”) – over 7,800 advocates dedicated to regularly communicating with lawmakers on issues impacting the workplace – with the perfect opportunity to interact face-to-face with their members of Congress.
This August, SHRM’s A-Team is making a particular effort to discuss two timely issues with their U.S. House and Senate members: federal efforts to repeal the excise (“Cadillac”) taxunder the Affordable Care Act, and the Department of Labor’s (DOL) recently-proposed changes to overtime regulations. These in-person engagements back in the district further establish A-Team members as primary resources on HR policy matters for their elected officials, and provide opportunities to educate the local congressional office on these and other issues impacting their workplaces.
Here’s how some of your SHRM colleagues have been dedicating a little of their time over the ongoing August recess to engage with their elected officials and make a difference in the HR public policy process:
Always-active Texas A-Team Advocacy Captain Di Ann Sanchez, SPHR, SHRM – SCP of Euless may have set a new record for number of August recess events covered by a single A-Team advocate: she attended 3 local legislative updates and town hall meetings featuring state and federal lawmakers! In just a few short weeks, Di was able to have one-on-one conversations with U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX) (pictured with Di above), Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Texas State Representative Ramon Ramero (D-TX).
Newly-appointed SHRM Advocacy Captain Bill Daly of Grenada, Mississippi, joined Jessica Milam, Past President of the Delta SHRM Chapter, in meeting with U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson’s (D-MS) local office to share the HR perspective on workplace issues of the day.
Another incoming Advocacy Captain, Gina Angle of Warren, Ohio took this ideal opportunity to introduce herself (and the profession) to U.S. Representative Tim Ryan’s (D-OH) local office. The district meeting allowed Gina to thank the Congressman’s team for his support of bipartisan legislative efforts to repeal the federal excise (“Cadillac”) tax, but to also initiate an educational conversation on the DOL’s proposed changes to overtime regulations. The Congressman’s office has already followed up with Gina for additional information on this key issue, and will be looking to her and A-Team HR Advocates in the district as a trusted resource on potential workplace impacts of this regulation.
A special thanks to these active A-Team members, SHRM state councils and local SHRM chapters for continuing to build relationships with key members of Congress and their staff! For ongoing personal stories and advocacy experiences directly from A-Team members themselves, be sure to visit the SHRM A-Team Blog. By taking advantage of these strategic opportunities to connect with their federal lawmakers, SHRM’s A-Team continues to make a significant difference as active members of the community dedicated to protecting and advancing the HR profession. After all, in the words of SHRM Florida A-Team member Sharlyn Lauby, HR does have the power to impact change.
Want to join SHRM’s rapidly-growing A-Team and dedicate a little time and effort to giving back to the profession? Whatever your experience level in advocacy efforts, SHRM’s A-Team provides all the support and resources you would need to effectively communicate to your respective lawmakers on behalf of HR. With such critical regulatory and legislative changes being considered in the Nation’s Capital, now more than ever, HR leaders need to join together and raise your voices to help protect and advance your workplace. For more information on SHRM’s A-Team and to get involved today, please visit SHRM’s HR Policy Action Center, or email SHRM’s Senior Associate for Member Advocacy, Meredith Nethercutt.