Mark Your Calendars: SHRM Government Affairs CLA Webcast, June 29
Join the SHRM Government Affairs team for our second quarterly Core Leadership Area (CLA) webcast of the year on Tuesday, June 29 at 4 p.m. ET. Discussion topics will include the latest workplace policy and regulatory updates, upcoming and ongoing SHRM Government Affairs campaigns and initiatives, and other important advocacy news. Register for the webcast.
Administration Promotes Child Tax Credit, Releases Guidance on Tax Breaks for Leave
The Biden Administration is working to notify families about the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for the 2021 tax year.
The IRS posted a new set of CTC FAQ guidance addressing credit eligibility, and on June 14 it posted additional FAQs on receiving advance CTC payments.
The IRS also released FAQ guidance for the ARPA’s paid-leave tax credit. The advanceable, refundable tax credit offsets the cost for employers who voluntarily provide eligible employees paid sick or family leave due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SHRM research reveals how organizations navigated paid leave during the pandemic.
SHRM Joins Amicus Brief Supporting Training for Global Talent
On June 17, SHRM joined nearly 60 leading companies and associations in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in support of all optional practical training (OPT) programs for international students and graduates in the case Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. Department of Homeland Security, et al.
In June 2016, the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (WashTech) filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking to end all OPT programs, alleging that DHS exceeded its statutory authority by establishing OPT programs. In December 2020, the district court ruled in favor of DHS, stating DHS did not exceed its authority in issuing the 2016 OPT program rule. The next day, WashTech filed a notice of appeal with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
SHRM has joined in filing this amicus brief in support of OPT programs, which allow employers to recruit and hire top global talent educated and trained in the U.S. This advocacy aligns with SHRM’s workplace immigration pillar.
House Subcommittee Hears Testimony on Second-Chance Hiring
Wendi Safstrom, executive director of the SHRM Foundation, testified on June 15 before the House Committee on Education and Labor Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee during a hearing titled “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Reauthorization: Examining Successful Models of Employment for Justice-Involved Individuals.”
She was invited to testify about the impact of the SHRM Foundation’s Getting Talent Back to Work initiative, which has provided resources to 20,000 HR professionals and business leaders since it was founded in 2019 to remove barriers to employment for people who have a criminal record.
“While the business case for hiring justice-involved citizens is persuasive, it doesn’t tell the whole story,” Safstrom said. “Put simply, it is the right thing to do, and it helps create a more inclusive and equitable society.”
Safstrom also discussed ways to strengthen the federal government’s Reentry Employment Opportunities program, which provides skills training and helps people with criminal records transition back into society. And she encouraged Congress to permanently authorize the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which incentivizes employers to hire formerly incarcerated job seekers.
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Juneteenth Becomes a Federal Holiday
On June 15, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent legislation designating Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday to be celebrated June 19. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill the following day.
The bipartisan legislative effort was led in the Senate by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and in the House by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law June 17. The legislation marks the first creation of a new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was established as a federal holiday in 1984.
Which holidays an employer chooses to observe is a matter of discretion. Private employers are generally not required to provide holiday leave to employees, paid or unpaid. Some holidays are more commonly offered than others. Like any other federal holiday, it will generally be up to the individual private employer to determine whether it will observe Juneteenth in its workplace. SHRM has collected resources for honoring Juneteenth at work.
ICYMI: Latest Installment in SHRM Global Talent Series
On June 15, in the second installment of the new SHRM Global Talent Webcast Series, SHRM gathered a panel of global experts to look beyond the pandemic and discuss what role global mobility will play in international economic recovery. Panelists discussed their unique experiences throughout lockdowns, the global trends that impacted their work and what changes global mobility practitioners can expect in a post-pandemic world.
If you were unable to attend the event, but still want to watch the discussion, you can access the program on demand.
In line with SHRM’s focus on policy, not politics, the Global Talent Webinar Series consists of bimonthly panel discussions with experts in the fields of immigration and global mobility to bring you the latest news and insights into the changing world of work. Stay tuned for future installments in this series.
International Labour Conference Adopts COVID-19 Resolution
Delegates from 181 countries, including a representative of SHRM, adopted a resolution on the COVID-19 pandemic titled “A Global Call to Action for a Human-Centered Recovery” during the International Labour Conference on June 17 in Geneva.
The resolution commits member governments and employers to ensuring pandemic recovery efforts are “fully inclusive, sustainable and resilient,” focusing on job creation and countering inequalities caused by the crisis.
President Biden addressed the conference via video.
SHRM Member Advocacy Spotlight: Jean Bayuk
HR professionals sit at the intersection of work, workers and the workplace. As an advocate for the HR profession, you have a unique and valuable perspective on the changing world of work, and how advocacy can make a positive impact. See why advocacy matters to fellow SHRM member Jean Bayuk, SHRM-SCP, CCP, of Newark, Del.
“While our country is a melting pot, diversity still evades us, and many individuals don’t know how to maneuver the complexities faced in the workplace, especially when it comes to their basic human rights,” Bayuk said. “The fact that HR professionals are engaged and have a voice to positively influence and educate lawmakers around the consequences of some of their actions is truly beneficial to the workforce.”
SHRM Government Affairs wants to showcase your advocacy experiences and how you are championing change to advance smart workplace policies. Complete this short survey.
SHRM Board of Directors Ballots Available
Sept. 10
The 2022 SHRM Board of Directors election will be held this fall, with ballots going out via e-mail to all eligible SHRM members on Sept. 10. The ballots will be sent from [email protected].
The following notice will also appear in the Summer edition of HR Magazine, which will be delivered the second week of June:
NOTICE OF ELECTION OF THE 2022 SHRM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ballots for the coming election of new members to SHRM’s Board of Directors for 2022 will be e-mailed to all eligible voting SHRM members on Sept. 10, 2021, followed by two reminders.
The voting deadline is Oct. 10.
The election results will be announced Nov. 11, during SHRM’s Annual Business Meeting.
Categories of eligible voting members include professional, general, special expertise, retired, and professional life and past chair.
E-mail information must be current. To update your e-mail address:
- Visit MySHRM at https://www.shrm.org/my/account. You may also be prompted to enter your SHRM credentials.
- Under the “My Account” section, locate “E-mail & Password.”
- Click “Edit” to update your e-mail address.
- Enter your new e-mail address and password to confirm the change.
- Click “Save.”
You may also call the SHRM Customer Experience Team at 800.283.7476, option 3 (U.S. only), +1.703.548.3440, option 3 (Int’l), TTY/TDD +1.703.548.699, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET, or you may e-mail [email protected].
Policy, Not Politics Apparel and Accessories Available at SHRMStore
SHRM has an unwavering commitment to focus on policy, not politics. We believe in our ability to find consensus when we bring all sides to the table for critical discussions of issues impacting work, workers and workplaces.
Together, we are championing policies that will help organizations and people thrive to create better workplaces and a better world.
Showcase your commitment to Policy, Not Politics, with a brand-new line of apparel and merchandise available for order at the SHRMStore. Get FREE SHIPPING on apparel and accessories when you shop at the SHRMStore through May 31.
Advancing Workplace Issues in 2021
SHRM is proud to be working with several organizations to highlight workplace issues in 2021. They include Fratelli Group, NAICU, Palladian Hill Strategies, Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Viatris.
As the Voice of All Things Work, SHRM pursues nonpartisan public policy to promote flexible, inclusive and equitable workplaces that help business thrive as talent is tapped, trained and empowered to reach its full potential. Policy not politics.
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