Society for Human Resource Management
Encyclopedia
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a professional human resources
association headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia
. The largest such association in its field, SHRM promotes the role of HR as a profession and provides education, certification, and networking to its members while lobbying Congress
on issues pertinent to labor management.
Today, SHRM has over 340 staff members and over 250,000 members in 140 countries.
Additionally, the organization announced in the November 2003 issue of its HR Magazine that it had submitted a position paper to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
suggesting factors the agency should consider when determining how to amend the definition of the term "job applicant" for the purposes of record keeping required by companies in order to comply with affirmative action and anti-discrimination laws.
In 2003, SHRM conducted an e-mail survey of its members intended to gauge the effectives of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), and provide feedback on how the commission could improve its operations. It presented the results of this survey to the EEOC at a meeting on September 8, 2003.
In November 2006, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) of the U.S. Department of Labor established an alliance with SHRM to encourage and promote the employment of people with disabilities.
Michael Aitken serves as SHRM's Director of Governmental Affairs. Lisa Horn is SHRM's Manager of Health Care. Michael Layman is Manager of Labor and Employment Policy for SHRM. These three lead several employer association coalitions on policy issues including immigration, workplace flexibility, and pay equity.
The testing offered by the organization has likewise changed repeatedly over the years, but today the HR Certification Institute offers three certificates: Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). In addition to testing, SHRM also offers courses to help prepare for the exams.
SHRM publishes a monthly periodical called HR Magazine and a quarterly periodical called Staffing Management magazine. The organization also distributes a variety of online newsletters on various topics related to the field of human resources, and the SHRM website has been described by the New York Times as a source of "excellent information for the human resource professional as well as for employees". SHRM also hosts seminars and annual conferences on various topics, as well as an event known as the "HRGames," in which undergraduate students who are members of SHRM can compete in a series of contests testing their knowledge of the field of human resources.
Human resources
Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
association headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. The largest such association in its field, SHRM promotes the role of HR as a profession and provides education, certification, and networking to its members while lobbying Congress
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different nations, constituent states, independent organizations , or groups....
on issues pertinent to labor management.
Background
Originally founded in 1948 as the American Society for Personnel Administration (ASPA), the organization operated on a volunteer basis until 1964, at which time it established an official headquarters in Berea, Ohio, and began hiring staff members. In 1984, the headquarters was moved to Alexandria, Va., and in 1989, the organization officially changed its name to the Society for Human Resource Management.Today, SHRM has over 340 staff members and over 250,000 members in 140 countries.
Lobbying activity
SHRM is involved in lobbying governmental bodies regarding workplace law and industry practice. For example, in April 2008, SHRM announced in a press release that its representatives had appeared before the US Senate to petition for changes in the administration of the Family and Medical Leave Act.Additionally, the organization announced in the November 2003 issue of its HR Magazine that it had submitted a position paper to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
suggesting factors the agency should consider when determining how to amend the definition of the term "job applicant" for the purposes of record keeping required by companies in order to comply with affirmative action and anti-discrimination laws.
In 2003, SHRM conducted an e-mail survey of its members intended to gauge the effectives of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
(EEOC), and provide feedback on how the commission could improve its operations. It presented the results of this survey to the EEOC at a meeting on September 8, 2003.
In November 2006, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) of the U.S. Department of Labor established an alliance with SHRM to encourage and promote the employment of people with disabilities.
Michael Aitken serves as SHRM's Director of Governmental Affairs. Lisa Horn is SHRM's Manager of Health Care. Michael Layman is Manager of Labor and Employment Policy for SHRM. These three lead several employer association coalitions on policy issues including immigration, workplace flexibility, and pay equity.
Education
In the late 1960s, faced with the task of establishing human resources as a profession, the then-ASPA determined that it would be necessary to establish a certification program. Years of efforts to that end culminated in the creation of the ASPA Accreditation Institute, or AAI, which began offering certificates in 1976. The organization was later renamed, in 1979, to the Personnel Accreditation Institute, and then, when the ASPA changed its name to SHRM in 1989, the PAI changed its name to the Human Resource Certification Institute.The testing offered by the organization has likewise changed repeatedly over the years, but today the HR Certification Institute offers three certificates: Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). In addition to testing, SHRM also offers courses to help prepare for the exams.
Publications and events