SHRM21 News

In the world of diversity and inclusion we are fighting a never ending battle against misinformation. To give one painfully obvious example it took Jenny McCarthy mere minutes to give new life to the modern day anti vaccine movement, something years of published research and well-articulated counter arguments cannot seem to undo.

A quick Google search on any neurodiverse or mental health condition will usually lead you very quickly to wildly inaccurate statements such as “he developed autism when he was 8” or “did you know they don’t have ADHD in France?” As a psychologist such phrases make me shudder. Of course we cannot expect everyone to be an expert but as employers and managers we must be very careful not to pick up and repeat such careless phrases.

You may think you don’t work with anyone who is neurodifferent but I guarantee you that you work alongside us and encounter us in everyday life all the time.

The ‘Naughty’ Child Does Not Have To Become The ‘Troubled’ Employee

As I have discussed previously, it is very common for neurodiverse children to be labelled as “naughty” or “difficult” when they are at school. It is not surprising then that they also suffer from assumptions and labels in the workplace. If as a dyspraxic child you were told that your condition wasn’t real, or simply an excuse for being lazy you would of course be anxious as an employee that any prospective employer may view your condition in the same light. This could easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy if you encounter a manager or co-worker who makes careless comments based on misconceptions and hearsay. However it does not have to play out this way. In a supportive environment people who have previously felt unsupported can soar. There is no better motivation than being told you can’t do something and no greater focus and drive than that of an ADHD person on a mission!

In an interview with People magazine the Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps talked about his experiences as an ADHD child in a school that didn’t take his condition seriously. “I [saw] kids who, we were all in the same class, and the teachers treated them differently than they would treat me. I had a teacher tell me that I would never amount to anything and I would never be successful.” Imagine if Phelps had stopped looking for his talent and believed their words. Better yet imagine being the manager that hires a Michael Phelps for your team and gets to benefit from their talent and motivation.

It is all too easy to tell ourselves that our words don’t matter but when it comes to a neurodiverse employee or co-worker the loss of trust that comes from a careless comment can have huge consequences. Setting out to run your teams inclusively and bringing in D&I training are a step in the right direction, but be careful not to accidentally reinforce untruths and bias. Do your research, take the time to educate yourself, start up a conversation and, if you get it wrong, apologize!

Jumping Through Hoops To Prove Ourselves

Another way in which neurodifferent employees are subtly “othered” in the workplace is the way they are expected to prove that their condition is legitimate. In the workplace as well as in education, neurodiverse and disabled people are often expected to provide evidence of their condition in order to access accommodations.

It is interesting to note the way different conditions are treated. If a new recruit told you they were diabetic or recovering from a surgery would you immediately doubt them? Suspect they are just looking for a way to get special treatment? Generally not. Even if you do doubt such a story a simple doctors’ note will be enough to bring you on board.

The same is not true for neurodiversity. A psychologist’s note for a patient must meet far stricter criteria before it is considered valid. We must demonstrate our methods and provide examples of tests given. This suggests an inherent bias against mental health and neurodifferences, an additional set of hoops to jump through before we prove our case. This week I saw a LinkedIn post in which a business leader was sharing his experience of being autistic in the finance industry and someone commented “how do you know it’s not ADHD?” I can’t imagine anyone questioning a different type of diagnosis. “Are you sure those chest pains aren’t indigestion? Do you definitely have MS, perhaps you need more sleep / exercise / fish oils?”

What this all boils down to, is trust. We trust people not to lie to us about serious matters, especially in the workplace. If an employee calls in sick we give them the benefit of the doubt. We must show the same level of trust to neurodifferent people and those with invisible disabilities. They do not owe us their confidential medical history or brain scans in order to be deserving of our trust and respect. They are not, and have never been, badly behaved children trying to trick us. And trust will lead to respect, belonging and working at their best.

In the years since opening up about his struggles with anxiety and depression, Olympian Michael Phelps says that his whole family has grown to understand the way mood disorders can affect your life — and how everyone can support their loved one struggling and each other on good days and bad days. In an interview with Carson Daly on TODAY, Phelps and his wife Nicole talked about how their family approaches mental health.

Particularly when it comes to highs and lows that can come with different mood disorders, Phelps said they can be challenging to keep up with: “One day I can wake up and I can feel like I’m on top of the world, and I can do absolutely anything and everything. And the next day I can wake up and not wanna get out of bed.”

Nicole says that, when framing these kind of challenging “good” and “bad” days to their young kids, she works to make sure they know those feelings their dad is having are totally valid but also not their fault or something they can control.

“I’m very vocal about making sure that the kids are aware that maybe Michael’s having a hard day,” Nicole said. “[The kids] didn’t do something that made Daddy feel this way. It’s Daddy having his own stuff.”

She adds that she also makes sure that same validating energy is present for Michael himself, by letting him have space for the complicated and heavy feelings and not try to force optimism or “brightside” him.

“I keep reminding Michael that I’m not here to judge him. I’m here to support him. I’m here to love him,” she said. “I’m here, open arms. I’m not going to say, ‘You can’t feel that way.’”

She’d previously told TODAY about her fears following the death of Kobe Bryant — how she really couldn’t fathom a life without him and how it inspired her to want to learn and know more about how to be part of the support system he needs.

“After Vanessa (Bryant) lost Kobe, all I could do was look at Michael and be like, ‘Can we please help you?’ Because if I lose you, I don’t know what I’m gonna do,’” she recalled. “Michael is the most amazing father and partner I could have ever asked for,” she said, adding that she went into therapy both to help her work through those anxieties and to better understand mental health.

“It’s helping me with everything. It’s support for me,” she said. “But more than anything, therapy provides me with the tools to be able to help Michael properly.”

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org, or text “START” to 741-741 to immediately speak to a trained counselor at Crisis Text Line.

You may know him as one of the greatest Olympians to ever represent the United States, but Michael Phelps is so much more than that. Apart from being a world-class swimmer, Phelps has overcome the hurdle of suffering from depression and anxiety throughout his career. He’s managed to fight through it and make it to the other side successfully. But what has he done and what are his strategies for coping with his mental health issues?

Michael Phelps’ career overview

Phelps holds the world record for most Olympic medals won by a single athlete. He has 23 gold medals with 13 individual golds. Phelps received a spot on five Olympic teams, the first male athlete to do so. He was also the oldest person to win a gold medal in Olympic swimming history at the tender old age of 28.

Phelps holds 39 world records, which in and of itself is a record. He’s the most accomplished swimmer in history. Due to his athletic prowess, Phelps may seem like he’d be impervious to the pitfalls of anxiety. That assumption is incorrect, however.

How Michael Phelps has managed stress throughout his career

Phelps has battled depression throughout his life, but he found his low point after a 2014 DUI. At that point, Phelps even began to suffer from suicidal thoughts:

“I questioned whether I wanted to be alive anymore…I realized that I’m the strongest person I know, but at that moment I was the weakest.”

Phelps was able to recover through therapy (more on that below) and by employing some stress-relief techniques. A few of those include:

• Lion breaths. This is something Phelps and his wife have taught their son, Boomer, how to do. It involves taking as deep a breath as possible followed by one massive exhale.
• He identifies his emotions. When experiencing anxiety, Phelps takes a moment to take stock of exactly why he’s feeling the way he is. He identifies the emotion he’s experiencing at the moment.
• Exercise. Phelps cites working out as an important activity in managing stress.
• Not listening to critics. As someone in the public eye, Phelps has his fair share of detractors and naysayers. He’s learned to tune them out and ignore them, not feeling accountable to them to explain himself.
• He asks for help. Phelps has learned to look to someone he trusts – whether that’s family, friends, or a therapist – to lean on when he’s experiencing anxiety.
• Self-acceptance. Phelps has learned to not attempt to fight his stress, accepting that sometimes he just wasn’t going to be OK – and that was OK.

Michael Phelps’ digital partnership helps him better manage stress

One of the biggest breakthroughs Phelps underwent in his battle with anxiety is his decision to pursue therapy. As a hyper-competitive athlete, Phelps had previously resisted the urge to go to therapy. It was when he accepted that it was something that could help him that he made the positive choice to go:

“Prior to going to therapy, I never wanted to do it…It wasn’t something I wanted, to go and sit on a couch and have a conversation. I was always somebody who tried to find ways myself to do it and was very stubborn for a long time and had a hard time communicating.”

Connecting with a therapist helped Phelps open up, become vulnerable, and get help. Phelps has become a spokesman for TalkSpace, an app that allows its users to meet with professional therapists in a safe, trustworthy setting through texting, audio, or video chat. As more people look to their phones for more goods and services, more digital therapy services are becoming available such as BetterHelp, Lantern, 7 Cups of Tea, and others. Phelps is a good example of a success story for those types of apps.

Sometimes, people stop Michael Phelps to tell him that they think of him when they’re brushing their teeth.

“Alright, that’s a little weird, but I guess it means [they’re] paying attention, so that’s good,” Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, told Business Insider.

Phelps is a global ambassador for Colgate’s #EveryDropCounts water conservation initiative, which reminds people of easy ways they can stop wasting water — like turning off the tap while they brush their teeth.

It’s not surprising that water issues are close to the swimmer’s heart, given the environment he’s spent so much of his life in. But water issues aren’t the only area where Phelps hopes to have an impact in these post-Olympic years.

He has also been speaking out about mental health, and has been open about his own battles with depression. For years, Phelps struggled with untreated mental health issues, something that he says drove him to dangerous behaviors. By speaking up about these struggles now, he hopes to make easier for other people to seek help.

“I’m thankful I opened up and talked about it,” Phelps said. “Because it’s been easier to share stories that aren’t really easy to talk about, and those stories could impact other people’s lives and could help save their lives.”

Getting help

In the lead up to the 2016 Olympics, Phelps revealed to Sports Illustrated’s Tim Layden that he’d struggled with mental health for years.

At the worst points, Phelps said, he couldn’t get out of bed. Things got particularly bad after each Olympic games would come to an end, Phelps told David Axelrod on the “Axe Files” podcast earlier this year.

After the 2012 Games, “I wanted to die. I straight wanted to die,” he told Axelrod.

In 2014, Phelps was pulled over in Maryland for speeding and driving between lanes. He blew over the legal limit on a Breathalyzer test and ended up pleading guilty to the drunk driving charge. It was the second time he’d been charged with driving under the influence.

Then he got help.

“Look, I didn’t want to go to therapy when I started going, I was like, ‘no, I’m good, I don’t need that,'” Phelps said. “But to be honest, I’m happy I went; I’m happy I forced myself to go when I didn’t always want to go. Because I felt so much better when I left.”

Having someone to talk with is perhaps the most important thing for anyone struggling with mental health, Phelps said, though he acknowledged that everyone’s case is different.

“The biggest thing is always communicating, that’s just something that’s so powerful,” he said. “It’s getting it out and it’s not sitting inside of you. Because it sits inside of you and it just eats at you. For me, I carried a lot of stuff along for 20-plus years, and I wish I didn’t.”

‘It’s okay to not be okay’

In his retired-from-competition life, Phelps is focusing on both his mental and physical health. He said he still has to exercise six or seven days per week. Most days, he’s up between 5:30 and 7, sometimes fitting in a workout before his kids — Boomer and Beckett — wake up. That workout might be a swim, but it could just be a good walk.

Phelps said he’s reading more than he ever has. A few of his top book recommendations are Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now,” Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F-ck,” and Dan Harris’ “10% Happier.”

With the rest of his time, he’s advocating for the issues he cares about. In addition to speaking about mental health, he’s partnered with the online therapy company Talkspace and is on the board of Medibio, a company working on ways to assess mental health with mobile technology.

Through his Michael Phelps Foundation, he encourages kids to be active and tries to promote water safety, noting that drowning is the second-highest cause of death for kids under 14. For Colgate, he’s trying to spread the message that water conservation is an environmental problem that’s applicable to everyone in society and that we can all work to fix.

“It’s frustrating when I see or hear that someone’s wasting water,” he said. “We’re trying to spread this message as loud as we can, that every drop counts.”

When not working on these initiatives, Phelps said he spends most of the day with his kids. Parents will be comforted to know that chasing after a toddler can make even Michael Phelps worn out.

“I’m basically running after Boomer all the time now, and I love it,” he said.

His younger son, Beckett, is not far from crawling, Phelps said, so it’ll be a different game with two kids on the move.

“It doesn’t matter how hard it is, it doesn’t matter how tired you are, it’s just so fun,” he added.

When it comes to his own mental health, Phelps says he’s trying to live in the moment and to remember to communicate — advice that he’d give to anyone.

“That’s the biggest thing I would say — never isolate, never shut down,” he said. “Always open up, just ask questions, talk, and I think always remember that it’s okay to not be okay.”

SHRM21’s Fourteenth Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Spotlight Company Culture

July 27, 2021 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode fourteen on August 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT.

August marks two important moments for SHRM and the world of work– first, we’re one month away from SHRM Annual Conference & Expo; and second, a lot of workplaces are gearing up for a return to the workplace after Labor Day. The most relevant conversation while figuring out the return to the workplace is to talk about the importance of company culture and how it potentially needs to adjust to the new workplace. Join Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. for our August Tune in Tuesdays episode as he speaks with SHRM21 Speakers Steve Gilliland and Theresa Hummel-Krallinger for a dynamic conversation on company culture and how to lead through changes you’ll need to make in your company culture.

Featured speakers for this episode include:

• Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM President and CEO. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. With over 300,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world, impacting the lives of 115 million workers every day. As a global leader on the future of employment, culture and leadership, Mr. Taylor is a sought-after voice on all matters affecting work, workers and the workplace. He is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors the weekly USA Today column, “Ask HR.” Mr. Taylor’s career spans over 20 years as a lawyer, human resources executive and CEO in both the not-for-profit and for-profit space. He has held senior and chief executive roles at IAC/Interactive Corp, Viacom’s Paramount Pictures and Blockbuster Entertainment Group, McGuireWoods LLC, and Compass Group USA. Most recently, Mr. Taylor was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. He is a member of the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and chairs the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He serves on the boards of the University of Miami, Jobs for America’s Graduates, the American Red Cross and Guild Education. In 2020, Mr. Taylor received the Distinguished Executive of the Year Award from the Academy of Management, and in 2021 was named Professional Society CEO of the Year by CEO Update. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C., and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources.
• Steve Gilliland, Best-Selling Author and Speaker. A member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Steve Gilliland is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world. Recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian, he can be heard daily on SiriusXM Radio’s Laugh USA and Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup. With an appeal that transcends barriers of age, culture and occupation—plus an interactive and entertaining style—Steve shows audiences how to open doors to success in their careers, their relationships and their lives. Presenting to over 250,000 people a year, more than two million have now heard him speak, with audiences encompassing 51 industries. In addition to his brilliant speaking career, Steve is a prolific, accomplished author, evidenced by five of his books—Enjoy The Ride, Making a Difference, Hide Your Goat, Detour and The Cherry on Top—perennially making the publisher’s bestseller list and his being named Author of the Year.
• Theresa Hummel-Krallinger, President, High Five Performance, Inc. Theresa Hummel-Krallinger is an Emmy Award-winning comedian, a well-respected senior training professional and performance consultant. She is a frequently requested speaker on topics of leadership, career management, organizational culture and workplace communications. Theresa is a past president of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Association for Talent Development and is the past president for a local Toastmasters club. For 17 years, she served on the non-credit faculty at Temple University. She has been a featured speaker at numerous regional and international conferences. She won an Emmy in 2019 for her work on the PBS talk show, “Counter Culture.”

Join the conversation for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on Tuesday, August 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM21’s Thirteenth Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Discuss the Coming Talent Tsunami

June 24, 2021 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode thirteen on July 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT.

The hot topic on every leader’s mind within the workplace right now is talent acquisition. Turnover is accelerating now that the pandemic has begun to subside in the US and the economy is bouncing back. HR needs to react and adapt to ensure that their talent acquisition efforts are identifying, recruiting, and retaining the resources that the company needs. Our July Tune in Tuesdays episode will have a dynamic panel conversation led by Amber Clayton, the Director of Knowledge Center at SHRM with SHRM21 Speaker Dick Finnegan, Chief Executive Officer at C-Suite Analytics and SHRM Talent Conference & Expo 2021 (Talent 2021) Speaker Ira Wolfe, President at Success Performance Solutions. This exclusive preview of speakers for both SHRM21 and Talent 2021 will give you an insight into how to ensure your teams are staffed up with the right people for the future of work.

Featured speakers for this episode include:

• Amber Clayton, Director of Knowledge Center, SHRM. Amber oversees SHRM’s Knowledge Center which includes SHRM’s Express Requests, a self-service feature that provides a collection of resources on specific topics and the Ask an Advisor service, one of SHRM’s most popular member benefits where experienced and SHRM-certified HR professionals share expertise, guidance and resources with members on their HR-related inquiries. Amber is SHRM-certified with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. She has been in various HR roles for over 20 years, primarily in the retail and healthcare industry, before joining SHRM in 2011.
• Dick Finnegan, Chief Executive Officer, C-Suite Analytics. Dick Finnegan is THE global turnover expert, having cut turnover by 30% and more for healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, distribution centers, call centers, and other industries…and on all six inhabited continents. Dick has authored the top-selling SHRM-published book in history, The Power of Stay Interviews, along with four other books. BusinessWeek magazine has said “Finnegan offers fresh thinking for solving the turnover problem in any economy.” He has been similarly cited by Forbes, Chief Executive Magazine, and Consulting Magazine. As a supremely rated speaker, Dick Finnegan opens executives’ eyes to turnover’s mega-impact on their productivity and profits and provides strongly researched and business-driven ways to fix turnover, comparing those same solutions to the ways organizations improve sales and service. He holds bachelors and graduate degrees from The Pennsylvania State University and lives in Orlando, Florida.
• Ira Wolfe, President, Success Performance Solutions. Ira Wolfe is a “Millennial trapped in a Baby Boomer body” and president of Poised for the Future Company, founder of Success Performance Solutions, a TEDx Speaker, Certified AQai Practitioner, Top 5 Global Thought Leader on Future of Work and HR (Thinkers360), and host of Geeks Geezers Googlization podcast (selected as one of the top 50 podcasts to listen to in 2021). His most recent book, Recruiting in the Age of Googlization, was selected as one of the top 50 books to read in 2021 by Thinkers360 and recognized as one of the best recruiting books of all-time by Book Authoirty. He is also Chief Googlization Officer and founder of the Googlization Nation community.

Join the conversation for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on Tuesday, July 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 1, 2021 — SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management) announced today that Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Chairman and CEO, Brian Niccol, Chief Diversity, Inclusion and People Officer, Marissa Andrada, and Life is Good Co-Founder and Chief Executive Optimist, Bert Jacobs, will be keynote speakers for SHRM’s Annual Conference and Expo, September 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Live on the SHRM21 Main Stage, Niccol and Andrada will lead a discussion on workplace culture, resiliency, talent strategies and the crucial partnership between a CEO and HR.

“There’s no question about it – the past 15 months haven’t been easy. As the U.S. recovers, businesses are not only surviving, but thriving and doubling down on workplace culture—and at its core, that’s what HR is all about,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM President and CEO. “As partners in their roles as CEO and Chief Diversity, Inclusion and People Officer, Brian and Marissa have fearlessly led Chipotle through transformative leadership and collaboration. They are a live case study on how a focus on culture and people truly creates strong and healthy workplaces.”

Jacobs will join a lineup of over 140 speakers to discuss the importance of optimism and collaboration in a changing world of work.

“Life is Good and the HR community share some startling similarities: keeping an eye towards solutions, progress and growth,” said Taylor. “With this in mind, I’m thrilled to welcome Bert to the SHRM21 Main Stage for a critical conversation on the power of optimism to lead and collaborate in the workplace.

SHRM21 will be virtual and in-person on September 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. HR professionals, CHROs, people managers and students will have the opportunity to engage on best workplace practices, discuss new DE&I data from SHRM, learn about the latest trends and benchmarking, and explore how to a build better workplace culture.

Andrada said, “The world of work and function of HR is undergoing an evolution, and I believe the role of HR today is to help an organization grow through its people. Corporations are only as good as the people they have and the purpose that those individuals believe in. Brian and I look forward to sharing our experience with resetting Chipotle’s culture at SHRM21.”

“Life is Good shares a common goal with HR professionals, and that’s investing in our workforce, our culture and our communities,” said Jacobs. “We’ve all faced tremendous challenges this year, but we can’t forget the silver lining: Businesses, with professionals, can pivot, adapt and innovate while strengthening company culture—creating optimism in the face of adversity. This is a message that rings true for HR professionals who have truly been on the frontlines of the workplace.”

The theme of SHRM21 is Now More Than Ever, and encourages HR and business leaders to build workplaces where employees and employers thrive—even during these ever-changing times. More speakers will be announced in the upcoming weeks. To learn more, please visit annual.shrm.org.

To attend SHRM21, press registration is required. To request complimentary press credentials, contact Mallory Flynn at [email protected].

About SHRM
SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM.

SHRM21’s Twelfth Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Discuss Leadership and Personal Growth

May 19, 2021 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode twelve on June 8 at 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT.

Professional development has been forced to take a back seat for many during the pandemic, yet it is what is so desperately needed for HR and business leaders. In fact, this main growth focus was chosen by our April Tune in Tuesdays viewers who voted that leadership and personal growth is what they are looking forward to the most at SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2021. Our exciting June episode of Tune in Tuesdays will feature a conversation led by SHRM CEO and President, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. and SHRM21 Mega Session Speakers Jennifer Lee, Director of Learning and Development at JB Training Solutions and Alden M. Mills, Executive Coach, Former Navy SEAL, Leadership Speaker, and CEO at Alden Mills LLC. This discussion will focus on principles of personal development, creating opportunities for leadership and growth, and more, as an exclusive preview of these two SHRM21 speakers’ Mega Session at Las Vegas in September 2021. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. will also discuss exciting new offerings from SHRM, the latest updates about SHRM21, and more.

Featured speakers for this episode include:

• Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM President and CEO. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. With over 300,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world, impacting the lives of 115 million workers every day. As a global leader on the future of employment, culture and leadership, Mr. Taylor is a sought-after voice on all matters affecting work, workers and the workplace. He is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors the weekly USA Today column, “Ask HR.” Mr. Taylor’s career spans over 20 years as a lawyer, human resources executive and CEO in both the not-for-profit and for-profit space. He has held senior and chief executive roles at IAC/Interactive Corp, Viacom’s Paramount Pictures and Blockbuster Entertainment Group, McGuireWoods LLC, and Compass Group USA. Most recently, Mr. Taylor was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. He is a member of the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and chairs the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He serves on the boards of the University of Miami, Jobs for America’s Graduates, the American Red Cross and Guild Education. In 2020, Mr. Taylor received the Distinguished Executive of the Year Award from the Academy of Management, and in 2021 was named Professional Society CEO of the Year by CEO Update. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C., and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources.
• Alden M. Mills, Executive Coach, CEO of Alden Mills LLC, Navy SEAL, and Leadership Speaker. Alden Mills is the bestselling author of Be Unstoppable and Unstoppable Teams and a keynote speaker. His acronym for successful leadership practices, C.A.R.E, is described in Unstoppable Teams. Alden has experience leading dynamic teams as a nationally recognized rower and three-time Navy SEAL platoon commander. After his time in the Navy, he led his first company, Perfect Fitness, to over $90 million in sales in just three years. Now, Alden helps inspire other teams like Lennox International, Marriott, and USAA to be unstoppable.
• Jennifer Lee, Director of Learning and Development, JB Training Solutions. Jennifer Lee is an experienced keynote speaker, engaging educator, and talented facilitator for JB Training Solutions, a company dedicated to making work better for individuals. Jennifer has over 15 years of learning and development experience with a robust background in luxury hospitality. As the former L&D Director at the Waldorf Astoria and Learning Manager at The Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago, Jennifer brings a rich perspective in leadership and communication skills. She was recognized by The New York Times for the training she developed to foster “intuitive service” in organizations and by Forbes for her expertise on executive presence.

Join the conversation for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on Tuesday, June 8 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM announces official housing block at numerous Las Vegas hotspots

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 12, 2021 — Today, SHRM announces fan-favorite hotels featured in the official housing block for the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2021 (SHRM21), taking place September 9-12, 2021 in Las Vegas and live online. SHRM21 in-person pass holders are encouraged to stay amongst their peers at a SHRM21 hotel to make networking even more convenient and to get the most out of their SHRM21 experience overall.

To secure the best negotiated rates, SHRM21 attendees are invited to book their hotel stay directly through SHRM’s official housing partner, MCI: https://www.mcisemi.com/shrm2021/

The SHRM21 housing block includes a wide array of Las Vegas hotels to choose from—each with reduced rates, a unique vibe and short distance away from the SHRM21 venue.

The full list of hotels offered through the SHRM21 housing block include:

• ARIA Resort & Casino
• Bellagio Hotel & Casino
• Caesars Palace
• The Cromwell Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
• Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
• Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
• Las Vegas Marriott
• The Linq
• The Mirage
• Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel
• Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World
• Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World
• Treasure Island Resort & Casino
• Vdara Hotel & Spa
• Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
• The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa

For SHRM21 housing questions, email [email protected].

About SHRM
SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM.

SHRM21’s Eleventh Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Spotlight HR’s Role in Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace

April 30, 2021 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode eleven on May 11 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT.

Mental health has been significantly hit by the toll of COVID-19 and everything that happened in 2020. HR has a unique position to lead the effort in supporting employee mental health in the workplace and fostering culture that encourages open conversations around mental health. During this can’t-miss Tune in Tuesdays episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Alex Alonso, Chief Knowledge Officer at SHRM, Patrick J. Kennedy, Former Congressman, Founder of The Kennedy Forum, and Co-Founder of One Mind, and Marjorie Morrison, President and CEO of Psych Hub. This engaging panel will discuss how the latest data on mental health in the workplace has changed, what employers need to consider to build a culture of acceptance around mental health, and more.

Featured speakers for this episode include:

• Dr. Alex Alonso, Chief Knowledge Officer, SHRM. Alexander Alonso, PhD, SHRM-SCP is the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) Chief Knowledge Officer leading operations for SHRM’s Certified Professional and Senior Certified Professional certifications, research functions, and the SHRM Knowledge Advisor service. He is responsible for all research activities, including the development of the SHRM Competency Model and SHRM credentials. During his career, he has worked with numerous subject matter experts worldwide with the aim of identifying performance standards, developing competency models, designing organizational assessments, and conducting job analyses. He was also responsible for working on contract task orders involving the development of measurement tools for content areas such as job knowledge (like teacher knowledge of instructional processes) and organizational climates (like organizational climate forecasting in military health care). Dr. Alonso received his doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Florida International University in 2003. He has also authored several chapters on community-based change initiatives in workforce readiness, as well as co-authoring Defining HR Success: A Guide to the SHRM Competency Model in Practice. Dr. Alonso also served as a columnist analyzing major trends in the workforce for The Industrial Psychologist and HR Magazine. In addition, he has served on several professional society boards including the SIOP and the Personnel Testing Council of Metropolitan Washington.
• The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy, Former Congressman (D-RI); Founder, The Kennedy Forum; Co-Founder, One Mind. During his 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, Patrick J. Kennedy fought to end discrimination against those with mental illness, addiction, and other brain diseases. He is best known as the lead sponsor of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which was passed with bi-partisan support and signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 3, 2008. The Federal Parity Law provides millions of Americans, previously denied care, with access to mental health and addiction treatment by requiring insurance companies to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In addition to the Federal Parity Law, Kennedy authored and co-sponsored dozens of bills during his time in Congress to increase the understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including the Positive Aging Act; Foundations for Learning Act; National Neurotechnology Initiative Act; Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act; COMBAT PTSD Act; Nurse-Family Partnership Act; Alzheimer’s Treatment and Caregiver Support Act; and Ready, Willing, and Able Act, which called on the Department of Homeland Security to deploy a civilian response system to blunt the psychological impact of terrorism. He served on various committees and subcommittees, including the House Appropriations Committee; the Subcommittee on Health, Education and Welfare; the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a non-profit organization whose mission is to lead a national dialogue on transforming mental health and addiction care delivery by uniting mental health advocates, business leaders, and government agencies around a common set of principles, including full implementation of the Federal Parity Law. The Forum aims to achieve health equity by advancing evidence-based practices, policies, political will, and programming in mental health and addiction treatment. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times bestseller “A Common Struggle” in which he shares both his personal narrative and his experience shepherding the Federal Parity Law. The book ends with Kennedy’s detailed roadmap to achieve health equity in the United States. In 2017, Kennedy served on the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. His personal contributions to the final report focused on the declaration of a federal emergency and strong parity-based recommendations. Patrick J. Kennedy is also the founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-founder of Psych Hub, the most comprehensive online learning platform on mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention topics in the world; co-chair of Mental Health for US, a nonpartisan initiative designed to elevate mental health and addiction in policy conversations during the 2020 election cycle; and co-chair of the Action Alliance’s National Response to COVID-19, which brings together public and private sectors to lead a coordinated mental health and suicide prevention response. Amid countless recognitions, meaningful partnerships, and political affiliations, Kennedy’s most important achievement continues to be leveraging his family legacy in the arenas of civil rights, mental health, and intellectual disabilities to advance the cause of social justice and health equity for all people. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Amy, and their children.
• Marjorie Morrison, President and CEO of Psych Hub. Marjorie Morrison is the president and CEO of Psych Hub, the premier online platform for impactful and engaging learning on mental health topics. A visionary and passionate pioneer in the mental health space, Morrison co-founded Psych Hub with Patrick J. Kennedy in 2018 with a focused goal to combat both quality and access issues in behavioral health. Psych Hub certifies behavioral health providers into specialties using evidence-based interventions, allowing for more precision therapy with companion treatment tools for their patients. The Mental Health Ally Platform provides a host of eLearning opportunities for the layperson to learn how to assist those in need. Psych Hub’s public video library for people seeking to learn more about some of our Nation’s most vexing mental health challenges have had over three million views on their YouTube channel. Psych Hub is currently developing a registry of certified providers in specialty areas, making it easier to match those seeking treatment from a provider who has been trained to treat their diagnosis or symptoms. Psych Hub has over 700 partners that share their mental health resources to their audiences, touching every state in the US and every continent on the planet. Prior to launching Psych Hub, Morrison was the founder and CEO of PsychArmor Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, committed to bridging the military-civilian divide by developing, promoting, and distributing free online courses spanning a wide range of topics important to those who serve military service members and their families. Morrison left PsychArmor in 2019 to dedicate her full-time attention to Psych Hub but remains involved as a member of the Board of Directors. Marjorie’s focus on supporting members of the military and their communities was first developed in the field, after she spent a year writing and implementing a revolutionary proactive counseling program for the U.S. Marines. After working with 500 Marine drill instructors, her innovative program continued at Camp Pendleton, where she had access to hundreds of Marines to interview, work with, and learn from. This implementation research was utilized to create a groundbreaking solution to approach military mental health care. Morrison is a CA Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, a CA Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a PPS-credentialed School Psychologist, and the author of The Inside Battle: Our Military Mental Health Crisis. As a renowned subject matter expert, she has been featured numerous times by national media giants such as BBC, NBC, FOX, CBS, CNN, and NPR, along with being a contributing writer for multiple outlets including TIME, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and Huffington Post. Morrison has received numerous awards for her advocacy and leadership. She is a native of California who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee and is the mother of three adult children: Jacob, Lindsey, and Charlie.

Join the conversation for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on Tuesday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM21’s Tenth Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Feature Updates from Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.

April 1, 2021 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode ten on April 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT.

To mark the beginning of the second quarter of 2021, join us for a can’t miss Tune in Tuesdays episode with SHRM President and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP. During this episode, you’ll hear updates about SHRM21, Second Chances Month, and an exclusive preview on the latest coming from our Together Forward @Work platform to help you take action in your workplace.

Tune in on April 13th to get your questions answered about our new approach to SHRM21 this year, learn about what resources are coming up from our Together Forward @Work, and more.

Featured speakers for this episode include:

• Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM President and CEO. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. With over 300,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world, impacting the lives of 115 million workers every day. As a global leader on the future of employment, culture and leadership, Mr. Taylor is a sought-after voice on all matters affecting work, workers and the workplace. He is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors the weekly USA Today column, “Ask HR.” Mr. Taylor’s career spans over 20 years as a lawyer, human resources executive and CEO in both the not-for-profit and for-profit space. He has held senior and chief executive roles at IAC/Interactive Corp, Viacom’s Paramount Pictures and Blockbuster Entertainment Group, McGuireWoods LLC, and Compass Group USA. Most recently, Mr. Taylor was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. He is a member of the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and chairs the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He serves on the boards of the University of Miami, Jobs for America’s Graduates, the American Red Cross and Guild Education. In 2020, Mr. Taylor received the Distinguished Executive of the Year Award from the Academy of Management, and in 2021 was named Professional Society CEO of the Year by CEO Update. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C., and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources.

Join the conversation for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on Tuesday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

The world’s largest workplace and HR conference will take place with virtual and in-person options September 9-12, 2021

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 10, 2021 — Members of the HR and business community will have the opportunity to connect with HR trailblazers and industry experts from across the country, learn about the latest trends and research, and explore how to build better workplace culture at SHRM’s (the Society for Human Resource Management’s) annual flagship conference and expo September 9-12, 2021.

SHRM21 will take place at the new West Hall, the state-of-the-art, 1.4-million-square-foot expansion at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), with both in-person and online passes available, pending approval by state, county and health officials. Virtual attendees will have access to all general sessions and a full range of HR education to stay abreast of the newest innovations, strategies and workplace policies.

“With a pandemic, economic uncertainty and racial inequity, HR professionals have worked tirelessly to help their organizations navigate these overlapping crises,” said Jeaneen Andrews-Feldman, SHRM’s chief marketing and experience officer. “To continue building on the amazing work of HR professionals during this challenging period, SHRM21, our signature event, offers the HR industry and business leaders workshops and educational sessions that will enhance their skills; introduce them to emerging technologies; and spur thinking about new talent management strategies, DE&I efforts and the importance of building positive workplace cultures.”

“We are excited to welcome SHRM21 to Las Vegas and to the new West Hall,” said Brian Yost, chief operating officer for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “The convention center and the entire destination are committed to providing the show’s organizers, exhibitors and attendees with the highest level of health and wellness protocols, and we are eager to showcase an experience that can only be found in Las Vegas.”

The health and safety of attendees is paramount. To that end, SHRM and the LVCVA are committed to implementing a comprehensive health and safety plan based on the advice of public health and government officials.

“As we navigate an evolving landscape, we are thrilled to offer in-person and virtual options for SHRM21 in Las Vegas so HR and business professionals can continue to engage on best workplace practices and learn from one another,” said Jamie Bosley, SHRM’s VP of event strategy and experience.

The LVCC was the first facility in Nevada to be awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility accreditation, considered the gold standard for safe facilities, and resort partners continue to implement stringent #VegasSmart health and wellness protocols throughout the destination to keep visitors safe. For more information on SHRM21 and health and safety measures in Las Vegas, please visit annual.shrm.org and www.vegasmeansbusiness.com.

Media: Contact Julie Hirschhorn at [email protected] and 703-842-5152 or Mallory Flynn at [email protected] and 703-535-6082.

About SHRM
SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM.

About LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide and with operating the 4.6-million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). With nearly 150,000 hotel rooms and more than 13 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space in Las Vegas alone, the LVCVA’s mission centers on attracting leisure and business visitors to the area. The LVCVA also owns the Convention Center Loop, an underground tunnel designed by The Boring Company to transport convention attendees throughout the 200-acre LVCC campus in all-electric Teslas free of charge. It also owns the Las Vegas Monorail, an elevated 3.9-mile system with seven stops throughout the resort corridor. Both transportation systems will operate when conventions reconvene. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com, www.visitlasvegas.com or www.vegasmeansbusiness.com.

SHRM21’s Ninth Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Highlight Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Women’s History Month

February 26, 2021 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode nine on March 9 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT.

The month of March marks two important declared months in the US – Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Women’s History Month. This month’s installment of Tune in Tuesdays will feature a two-part episode with segments led by the SHRM Foundation and Emily M. Dickens, J.D., Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary at SHRM.

First, we’ll hear an update from Wendi Safstrom, Executive Director of the SHRM Foundation about the work they are doing on behalf of the workplace, including their partnership with Delivering Jobs, an inclusion campaign dedicated to creating pathways of employment and leadership opportunities for the neurodiverse community. We’ll have the opportunity to hear from leaders at Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and Autism Speaks. Later, Emily M. Dickens, J.D. will sit down for a conversation with leaders from ABC News and Microsoft to discuss empowering women, and how to navigate the challenges, opportunities, and transitions into, out of and through the workplace.

Featured speakers include:

• Wendi Safstrom, Executive Director, SHRM Foundation. Wendi Safstrom is a senior non-profit leader committed to serving the public through philanthropic program management, cultivating strategic partnerships and managing and developing high performing teams. Safstrom currently serves as Executive Director for the SHRM Foundation, where she leads the development and implementation of SHRM Foundation’s programmatic, development, and marketing and communication strategies in support of SHRM Foundation’s new mission and vision, creating growth plans and ensuring alignment with SHRM goals. Prior to assuming the role at SHRM Foundation, Safstrom served as Vice President at the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, where she led the development and implementation of their Foundation’s most recent five-year strategic plan, and was responsible for all Foundation programming, including workforce development initiatives, scholarship and event management, community relations and engagement initiatives. She has a BS in Business Administration from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University and was recognized as a member of the 2014 “Power 20” by Restaurant Business Magazine as a leader in philanthropy within the restaurant industry.
• Emily M. Dickens, J.D., Chief of Staff, Head, Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary at SHRM. Emily M. Dickens is Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). As a member of the executive team, she has oversight for implementing the CEO’s vision, corporate governance, global outreach, government affairs, and the organization’s real property. She serves on the executive board of the North America Human Resource Management Association (NAHRMA) and Secretary-General of the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). Emily is an attorney with significant and progressive experience in government, higher education and the non-profit sector. She has served as a member of the leadership team at the University of North Carolina system, the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Her prior roles include general counsel, chief relationship officer, senior vice president, vice president for public policy and assistant vice president for federal relations. Dickens has also worked at Duke University and Fayetteville State University in administrative and external affairs roles. Emily is actively engaged in board service. She is a member of the Strategic Education, Inc. HIRE Advisory Board; the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) Board; the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Advisory Council; a U.S. Department of Energy Equity in Energy Ambassador and chairs the International HBCU Task Force for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and North Carolina Central University School of Law.
• Elke Suber, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft. Elke Suber is Associate General Counsel for Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft Corporation. She is responsible for leading and managing the company’s global legal team for the Global Partner Solutions organization, a multi-billion-dollar business driving partner device and cloud sales. Elke previously served as Associate General Counsel for the Microsoft Consumer and Marketing team, where she led the global legal team for the Microsoft Store, and managed the legal teams for Microsoft’s Consumer and Device sales and Advertising businesses. Since joining Microsoft in 2005, Elke served in a variety of roles, including lead attorney for several of the company’s online products, and lead copyright attorney for the Xbox business. Elke Suber has significant experience serving as a strategic advisor for technology businesses, closing complex multi-national transactions, and advising on intellectual property and technology related matters. Prior to joining Microsoft, Elke was an attorney for CIGNA’s Technology group, and a litigation associate with the law firms Anderson, Kill, and Olick and Akin Gump in Philadelphia. She began her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Justin M. Johnson of the Pennsylvania Superior Court and the Honorable Gary L. Lancaster of the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Elke serves and has served on the Boards of Directors of a variety of civic and non-profit organizations. Elke is the Chair of the Board of Directors for EastHub and is a Board member for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. Elke also serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Elke previously served as Chair of the Black Entertainment and Sport’s Lawyers Association’s (BESLA) Board of Directors from 2016-2018, and in various leadership roles on BESLA’s Board from 2008-2016. In 2018, Elke was the commencement speaker for the University of Pittsburgh School of Law graduation ceremony. She was also recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the Most Influential Black Lawyers in corporate America in 2018. Elke has been profiled in numerous publications, including MCCA’s Diversity and the Law Magazine, the Huffington Post, the Root.com and Rolling Out. She was also featured in the book “Life at the Speed of Passion”, by Eve Wright. Elke has also been a keynote speaker and served on numerous panels at various conference focused on intellectual property, digital entertainment and technology law. Elke received her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and is a graduate of Slippery Rock University with an English degree and German minor.
• Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, ABC News and Chairwoman, Board of Directors, Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA). Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard recently joined The Walt Disney Company as Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, ABC News where she leads the department. In her most recent role, she served as Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, ViacomCBS, where she oversaw deal-making for unscripted programming, music programming, tent poles, specials and news across BET Networks. Her experience as a savvy business executive and strategic deal maker has been paramount in bringing deals to closure for a number of high-profile projects like “The New Edition Story”, “The Bobby Brown Story” and “Black Girls Rock!.” Prior to working at BET Networks, Khadijah served as Vice President, Senior Counsel at Nickelodeon where she helped to launch “Dora the Explorer”, “Diego” and “The Backyardigans” and worked on shows like “Spongebob Squarepants” along with other hits. Khadijah served as Co-Chair of the ViacomCBS Law Department’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) and as President of the Board for Columbia College Women (CCW). She received the Medal of Honor from the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, the Corporate Counsel of the Year Award from the Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY) and the prestigious Luminary Award for her business acumen and her commitment to diversity and inclusion from the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC). Khadijah has traveled and served on delegations to South Africa, Rome, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and has worked with the United Nations to assist aspiring business women from Iraq. She contributed to a book entitled Living Islam Out Loud: American Muslim Women Speak (Beacon Press) where she chronicles her journey as an activist and a Muslim American. Khadijah earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.

Join us for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on March 9 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM21’s Eighth Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Discuss the Role of Student Debt in Rebuilding the Economy, Workplace Policies, Vaccine Updates, and More

February 3, 2021 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode eight on February 9 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT.

A lot has happened this year and we’re only just in the second month. This month’s episode will feature multiple segments, covering the latest that you need to know within the world of HR in 2021 and things you can do now to build a better future. Emily Dickens, Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary at SHRM joins Asha Srikantiah, Head of Student Debt Program, Workplace Emerging Products at Fidelity on the important key role that benefits programs targeting student debt have in rebuilding financial health of individual employees and ultimately helping to boost our economy overall. Then hear from Emily Dickens with SHRM’s workplace policy priorities for the year ahead. Next, tune in for updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and what it means from the workplace in a conversation with Emily and Amber Clayton, Director of the Knowledge Center at SHRM.

Tune in and equip yourself with the latest news across the HR landscape to help pursue a better workplace and better world.

This episode is sponsored by Fidelity.

Featured speakers include:

• Emily M. Dickens, J.D., Chief of Staff, Head, Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary at SHRM. Emily M. Dickens is Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). As a member of the executive team, she has oversight for implementing the CEO’s vision, corporate governance, global outreach, government affairs, and the organization’s real property. She serves on the executive board of the North America Human Resource Management Association (NAHRMA) and Secretary-General of the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). Emily is an attorney with significant and progressive experience in government, higher education and the non-profit sector. She has served as a member of the leadership team at the University of North Carolina system, the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Her prior roles include general counsel, chief relationship officer, senior vice president, vice president for public policy and assistant vice president for federal relations. Dickens has also worked at Duke University and Fayetteville State University in administrative and external affairs roles. Emily is actively engaged in board service. She is a member of the Strategic Education, Inc. HIRE Advisory Board; the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) Board; the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Advisory Council; a U.S. Department of Energy Equity in Energy Ambassador and chairs the International HBCU Task Force for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and North Carolina Central University School of Law.
• Ashwini (Asha) Srikantiah, Head of Student Debt Program, Workplace Emerging Products at Fidelity. For over five years, Asha has led Fidelity’s Student Debt Program, pursuing the mission of tackling student debt from a variety of angles. Asha and her team have built a suite of employer-sponsored benefits and consumer-facing financial planning products, which are collectively accessible to over 20 million Fidelity customers nationwide. In addition to product development, Asha has brought thought leadership on the financial and emotional impacts of student debt to a variety of arenas, including the White House, the US Department of Education, the US Treasury, and Congress. She holds an MBA from the Rotman School at the University of Toronto, and an undergrad in Film from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.
• Amber Clayton, Director of Knowledge Center at SHRM. Amber oversees SHRM’s Knowledge Center which includes SHRM’s Express Requests, a self-service feature that provides a collection of resources on specific topics and the Ask an Advisor service, one of SHRM’s most popular member benefits where experienced and SHRM-certified HR professionals share expertise, guidance and resources with members on their HR-related inquiries. Amber is SHRM-certified with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. She has been in various HR roles for over 20 years, primarily in the retail and healthcare industry, before joining SHRM in 2011.

Join us for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on February 9 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM21’s Sixth Episode of Tune in Tuesdays to Spotlight Talent Acquisition and Job Seeking in 2020

November 24, 2020 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode six on December 8 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT.

Hiring talent and finding a job have changed in ways that no one predicted. Virtual hiring and onboarding have become the new normal for employers in the age of COVID-19. Learning how to balance recruiting for key positions while potentially reducing employment in other areas is critical. And for job seekers, learning how to stand out in what has become a crowded market is a vital skill when trying to grab the attention of interested employers.

Tune in to our conversation and hear from Jeff Luttrell, senior director of talent acquisition at Alorica, and Kim Ades, president and founder of Frame of Mind Coaching™ and JournalEngine™ Software. They’ll join host Tony Lee, vice president of Editorial at SHRM, to discuss how things have changed for talent acquisition and job seeking this year. Equip yourself with new learnings and tactics to both recruit more effectively and stand out in the market in these challenging times.

Featured speakers include:

• Kim Ades, president and founder of Frame of Mind Coaching™ and JournalEngine™ Software. Author, speaker, entrepreneur, coach and mother of five Kim has years of experience coaching many of North America’s most respected leaders. Recognized as an expert in the area of thought mastery, Kim uses her unique philosophy and quirky coaching style to help her clients deal with core issues and shift their thinking in order to yield extraordinary results. Kim designed the Frame of Mind Coaching™ program to provide her clients with a powerful infrastructure where they can develop the skill of deliberate thought. She understands that the single greatest difference between those people who are stratospherically successful and everyone else is their thinking. She knows that we all have the propensity to shift our thinking and achieve success. Kim has been a featured speaker for dozens of organizations, including SHRM, ATD, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Vistage, TEC, RISMedia, the International Coaching Federation, the National Association of Realtors, the World Business and Executive Coach Summit, and the National Speakers Association. She has also been interviewed on many top-ranking podcasts and has received outstanding feedback on her speaking.
• Jeff Luttrell, senior director of talent acquisition at Alorica. Jeff leads teams of recruiters across the U.S. and Europe. His current teams focus on high-volume call center staffing and professional support teams for Alorica where they hire nearly 50,000 people a year. Previously, he was a recruiting manager in global talent acquisition and staffing with Xerox in the outsource services division, and an area manager for Kelly Services. Jeff received his B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He spent the first eight years of his professional career in the publishing and advertising world. He has over 20 years of recruitment experience in both the staffing industry and corporate recruiting, including international recruiting. He has led teams for large hiring projects, niche and specialty roles, and executive recruitment. Jeff lives in Asheville, N.C., and volunteers his time extensively for SHRM and other organizations. He was the southeast region Membership Advisory Council representative for 2018-19 and a board member with the Raleigh-Wake HRMA chapter, serving as treasurer, president, SHRM Foundation director and vice president of community. Jeff served as director of the NCSHRM State Council for 2016-17. He co-chaired the Pinnacle Award-winning initiative “HR on Call” for RWHRMA and co-chaired the 2011 NCSHRM State Conference. He served on SHRM’s HR Disciplines Special Expertise Panel in 2016 and its Talent Acquisition Special Expertise Panel in 2017. He is currently a member of SHRM’s Global Special Expertise Panel.

Join us for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on December 8 at 2 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM21’s Fifth Tune in Tuesdays to Spotlight Mental Health in the Workplace​

October 28, 2020 – Tune in Tuesdays,” SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode five on November 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT.

This year has seen changes like no other and the workplace has not been spared. From adapting to the “new normal” and challenging unconscious bias to balancing caregiving while working, workplace culture has arguably never been more critical. For this month’s episode, we will have two engaging segments that will discuss the toll rapid changes have taken on mental health in the workplace and what can be done to help employees manage.

This episode is sponsored by WGU. Their segment will feature Nikki Harrington, HR Program Mentor and Dr. Patricia Morgan, Course Instructor, both from the College of Business at WGU, on the topic of strengthening emotional resilience to avoid professional burnout

Following WGU’s segment, hear from Francine Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People Officer and Lauren Griffiths, People Consultant, Customer Experience, both at Cisco, in an inspiring dialogue with SHRM President & CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP on fostering employee mental health, including your own, and how workplace culture plays a bigger part of the new normal of work.

Featured speakers include:

• Dr. Patricia Morgan, Course Instructor – College of Business, Western Governors University (WGU). Dr. Morgan has been teaching courses in human resources and management at the university level for fourteen years and has been in the human resource management field for over twenty-five years. She holds a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Administration/Human Resource Administration. Her Bachelor of Science and Associates in Arts degrees are in Business and Management. In addition, Dr. Morgan holds a certified teaching certificate in the state of Texas and has also studied and received diplomas in business and technology from Suffolk College University in England.
• Nikki Harrington, HR Program Mentor – College of Business, Western Governors University. Harrington has worked for WGU approximately 8 years, where she mentors and assists adult learners to reach their educational goal of earning their Human Resources Bachelors’ degree from one of the largest online and competency-based institutions. She is a team leader who coaches, trains and pilots programs that helps support change and growth in the University. With a background working in higher education for over 20 years, her specialty is online learning, enrollment and program mentoring. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, a Master’s in Organizational Management and a second Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
• Lauren Griffiths, People Consultant, Customer Experience at Cisco. Lauren Griffiths knows that better leaders make better teams. As a People Consultant for Cisco’s Customer Experience organization, she helps her clients align their talent strategy to their business strategy through active listening, curiosity and coaching. Lauren is also a Communities Partner for the company’s Native American Network where she consults, advocates and supports this organization to realize and accomplish their goals. Lauren’s background is in campus recruitment and HR operations and has worked at top financial services and technology firms. Lauren has a BA in Communications from SUNY Albany and an MS in Strategic Communications from Columbia University. Lauren lives in Raleigh with her husband and 3 little ones and is currently working on her newest project, “Toss the Headshot”, a blog about bringing your whole and true self to work. You can follow her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/tosstheheadshot
• Francine Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People Officer at Cisco. Francine Katsoudas is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Cisco. She plays a major role in the company’s overall performance, leading organizational strategy, promoting operational effectiveness, and elevating team performance through innovative leadership. She leads Cisco’s business-driven People Strategy and People Deal, both of which support and align to Cisco’s overall business strategy and are essential to driving the Company’s transformational journey. She also is evolving Cisco’s approach to strategic workforce planning with programs highlighting the skills and capabilities that employees need to be innovative in today’s technology driven environment. She fosters a culture of full spectrum participation, emphasizing inclusion and collaboration to drive exponential business value. A 20-year veteran of Cisco, Katsoudas has extensive experience leading organizational transformations, driving large scale growth, talent acquisition, leadership development, and succession planning. Prior to her current role, she was the HR leader and business partner to the Engineering leadership team helping oversee its workforce of more than 25,000 people. She has also held leadership positions in the Service Provider, HR Operations, Customer Service, Acquisition Integration and Services groups. Prior to Cisco, Katsoudas worked in both the financial and professional services industries with a focus on customer service and operations. Fran serves on the Board of Directors for Americares, Global Citizen, and ADP.

Join us for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on November 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM21’s Fourth Tune in Tuesdays to Showcase Importance of Building Productive and Inclusive Teams

September 29, 2020 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, returns for episode four on October 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT.

As we celebrate 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, there is no better time to hone in on building productive and inclusive teams. This episode will showcase the importance of cultivating teams with diverse backgrounds and how to build policies that help to establish inclusive workplace environments.

When workforces feel empowered to bring their authentic selves to work, they can embrace their talents and maximize potential – driving organizational success. While it’s been 75 years of celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, there is still much work to be done.

This lively discussion will bring together workplace diversity, equity and inclusion leaders to discuss how some organizations are successfully hiring and retaining differently abled workers, a key topic at SHRM’s upcoming INCLUSION 2020 event.

Featured speakers include:

• John Register, CSP: Keynote Speaker, Change Agent, and Facilitator of the Brilliance in the Room, CEO of Inspired Communications International, LLC. He is a four-time track and field all-American, Gulf War Army veteran and Paralympic silver medalist. He also founded the United States Olympic Committees Paralympic Military sport program and served as special advisor to two U.S. Secretary of State on disability foreign policy.
• Kandi Pickard: President & CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society. She holds a degree in business administration and brings two decades of experience in operations and effective administration management.

Join us for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on October 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

SHRM21’s Third Tune in Tuesdays to Spotlight Racial Equity in the Workplace

August 12, 2020 – Tune in Tuesdays, SHRM’s only TV show brought to you by SHRM21, is back on September 8 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT for episode three.

This episode will provide the first opportunity to sit down with members of the newly formed “Blue Ribbon Commission on Racial Equity,” which is comprised of top business executives, SHRM members, and academics from both within and outside of HR. The Blue Ribbon Commission on Racial Equity is part of SHRM’s latest initiative to eliminate racial inequity from the workplace, called Together Forward @Work. This episode will feature a thought-provoking discussion with a panel of Commission members, who will reveal their motivations for joining, what topics are top of mind, what they’re hearing from peers, and give attendees an opportunity to engage in dialogue with them.

Established in the summer of 2020, the goal of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Racial Equity is to drive actions and solutions that will positively alter the workplace experience for Black workers and other people of color. Members include CHROs, SHRM Volunteer Leaders and other C-Suite executives with accountability for HR, academics, researchers, and individuals who have consistently worked to identify long-term solutions to creating inclusive workplaces.

Join us for this engaging Tune in Tuesdays episode airing on September 8 at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 11:00 a.m. PT. Earn 1 PDC by tuning in.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

Former Airbnb Chief Ethics Officer, Rob Chesnut, Bringing Expertise to SHRM21’s Second Tune in Tuesdays

July 15, 2020 – SHRM’s only HR TV show, Tune in Tuesdays—brought to you by SHRM21—will air episode two on August 11 at 2:00 p.m. EST, featuring Rob Chesnut, former Chief Ethics Officer at Airbnb and author of Intentional Integrity.

With a successful track record of helping organizations act ethically, Chesnut will lead an engaging discussion about creating a culture of integrity—especially during these challenging times. Outlined in his recent book, Chesnut will share the industry-tested process—the Six Cs—to help leaders tackle ongoing issues like #MeToo, digital privacy, fair labor practices, and sustainability, as well as his expert advice surrounding new ethical challenges related to COVID-19.

Chesnut is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia. After working 14 years with the U.S. Justice Department, he became eBay’s third attorney, handling a wide variety of litigation, IP and regulatory/compliance matters for the company globally. He was promoted to run the company’s North American legal division in 2001 and to Sr. Vice President of a newly created Trust and Safety Department in 2004. He left eBay in 2008 to become the General Counsel of LiveOps, Inc., and moved to Chegg in 2010 as the general counsel and the company’s first lawyer. Chesnut joined Airbnb in 2016, where he developed a popular interactive employee program, Integrity Belongs Here, to help drive ethics throughout the culture at the company.

Join us for an engaging discussion during Tune in Tuesdays episode two on August 11 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Tune in Tuesdays is a digital series with monthly interactive episodes leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in September 2021. Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time.

Former Netflix CTO, Patty McCord, to Headline SHRM21’s First Tune in Tuesdays Episode on July 14 

June 9, 2020—A brand-new digital series, Tune in Tuesdays—brought to you by SHRM21—launches July 14, 2020, with former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, Patty McCord. Tune in Tuesdays are interactive episodes that will air on annual.shrm.org the second Tuesday of each month leading up to the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo (SHRM21) in June 2021. 

Going beyond a typical webinar or virtual event, Tune in Tuesdays will take learning and connecting to the next level. Each episode will cover topics one might expect to see on the stages of SHRM’s signature event all while providing the opportunity to network with peers and contribute to the conversation in real time. 

To kick off the new digital series, episode one will feature a lively discussion between McCord and SHRM President and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, about how to build a culture of freedom and responsibility. As a workplace innovator and culture and leadership consultant, McCord will share her unique perspective that’s evolved from working at innovative small startups and large tech companies alike. Notably, her 14-year tenure at Netflix allowed her to experiment with new ways to work. McCord advocates practicing radical honesty in the workplace, saying good-bye to employees who don’t fit the company’s emerging needs and motivating with challenging work, not promises, perks and bonus plans. She argues that the old standbys of corporate HR―annual performance reviews, retention plans, employee empowerment and engagement programs―often end up being a colossal waste of time and resources. McCord is a bestselling author of Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, and her thought leadership has appeared in Harvard Business Review, NPR, Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal. 

Join us for this engaging episode right here on annual.shrm.org on July 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Navigate the next chapter of work by staying up to date on the evolving impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world of work. 

As the voice of all things work, SHRM is convening the world’s largest gathering of HR professionals, business executives, people managers and HR students at our SHRM21 Annual Conference & Expo. Now more than ever, workplaces need HR leaders to help navigate the new world of work. Attendees will gain insights on the latest trends, strategies and innovations elevating the HR profession and hear straight from a world-class lineup of speakers about how to maximize your potential. Join us online and in Chicago June 20-23, 2021. 

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—May 11, 2020: Regretfully, SHRM must cancel the SHRM 2020 Annual Conference & Expo as we have recently been informed by the San Diego Convention Center that it will not be able to host us for this event. 

This was a difficult decision, but it was based on directives from the state of California and the city of San Diego, and out of a need to keep participants and the community safe. 

We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event. We know SHRM Annual Conference & Expo is the leading HR community event, and the entire global HR community looks forward to it each year. However, we know it is the right decision, and we are confident there will be brighter days ahead as the HR community navigates our “new” world of work. 

As we turn our attention to the future, we look forward to seeing you at our SHRM 2021 Annual Conference & Expo, June 20-23 in Chicago. It will be a time to reconnect and celebrate the extraordinary measures we will have overcome as leaders reshaping the new world of work. 

Registration Transfer 

Your SHRM20 conference registration automatically transferred to SHRM21 in Chicago. The deadline for transfer or refund requests was June 9, 2020. Please Note: All cancellations may take up to 90 days to process.* 

Hotel Room Transfer 

For attendees transferring registration to SHRM21: If you made original SHRM20 hotel reservations through MCI USA, SHRM’s official housing vendor, then your SHRM20 hotel reservation will be automatically cancelled and your deposit will be automatically transferred to a SHRM21 housing reservation. You will receive notification from MCI USA the week of May 18, 2020, with instructions on booking your new hotel accommodations in Chicago and transferring your deposit. 

For attendees not transferring registration to SHRM21, but who made SHRM20 hotel reservations through MCI USA: You must contact MCI USA directly by e-mailing [email protected] no later than June 26, 2020, for a full refund. Given the circumstances due to COVID-19, refunds may take up to 90 days to process. 

If you made hotel reservations on your own, be sure to contact the hotel directly to cancel. 

Expo Transfer 

Are you a SHRM20 exhibitor and wish to transfer your exhibit(s) to the SHRM21 Annual Conference & Expo? Please contact our Director of Exhibits and Sponsorships, Emile K. Davis. 

*SHRM20 FULL CANCELLATION AND TRANSFER POLICY 

Attendees registered for the SHRM20 Annual Conference will be automatically transferred to the SHRM21 Annual Conference & Expo in Chicago, June 20-23, 2021. SHRM20 attendees will not be responsible for paying any price difference should the cost of registration be higher than what was initially paid. This includes: Full Conference Registrations, Day Passes and Expo Hall Passes, and applies to volunteer leaders, students and advisors. 

If attendees prefer to cancel their registration and receive a refund, they must contact SHRM’s Customer Experience before June 9, 2020, by using our online form. Given the circumstances due to COVID-19, SHRM will issue full refunds. Refunds may take up to 90 days to process. 

Attendees who do not attend the event and/or do not contact SHRM via written correspondence during the set window as directed above will be responsible for the full attendee registration fee. 

If a SHRM member transfers his or her registration to a nonmember, the nonmember must do one of two things: pay the difference of the SHRM member and nonmember price at the time of the transfer or become a SHRM member at the time of transfer. 

Cancellations of conference add-on activities: cancellations can include a credit, transfer or refund for each conference add-on, including preconference workshops, educational programs, senior leadership programs, interpretation services, the guest program and SHRM On Demand. 

**Policy subject to change