Those four days in San Diego were amazing! Over 15,000 HR professionals attended SHRM25, and the buzz surrounding workplace change was palpable.
As an HR practitioner myself, I’m always fascinated to learn more about applicable ways HR can improve their business function and assume a strategic leadership role within their organizations. This is what mainly caught my attention:
🤖 AI Is a Strategic Ally, not a Substitute.
The message was quite clear: AI is here to enhance human talents, not to replace HR positions. The most prosperous companies are already utilizing AI to make quicker, more intelligent decisions, from real-time coaching tips to predictive analytics in talent recruiting. The question is not whether AI should be implemented, but rather how soon to begin. That said, one should not implement AI for the sake of it; implementation needs to align with one’s strategic initiatives and a strong change management program must be utilized to help employees understand how to use AI tools and garner adoption across the organization.
$ Financial Well-being, Plus Mental Health, Increases Business Performance.
Financial stress has a direct influence on employees’ mental health, productivity, and retention, as several sessions have affirmed during the conference. Organizations that provide holistic wellness assistance, rather than simply standard perks, are winning the talent battle. Your company strategy should be to improve the well-being of your employees, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because hard facts show an increase in retention, engagement, and productivity when these programs are properly implemented.
💚 Mental Health Is a Leadership Imperative
Michael Dickerson, CEO and founder of Dickerson Consulting Group, LLC, which provides professional development, education, training, and wellness programs for workers, reminded me of the fact that burnout is systemic. Leaders can reduce stress by improving processes and procedures, as well as by evaluating and improving workplace culture. Flexibility and hybrid work models have proven to improve retention and well-being, not only perks. His advice? First, be humble. Start the conversation and de-stigmatize mental health at work with a one-hour workshop or lunch and learn. It’s an easy but effective first step to developing a culture where people can thrive.
🎯 DEI Measurement, Not Just Management, Is Required.
The days of using DEI as a checklist exercise are long gone. Programs that measure outcomes, rather than merely training completion rates, such as progression trends, pay equity, and inclusive leadership practices, have the most impact. Everything that is measured can be changed.
📊 HR Based on Data Is Non-Negotiable
People analytics has changed from being a “nice to have” to a “must have.” Advanced predictive modeling is being used by organizations for a variety of purposes, including career development planning and flight risk identification. Although your intuition is useful, facts give it strength.
😊Culture in Action: Conference Etiquette
From embarrassing badge-wearing to disclosing too much private information, SHRM25 reminded us that our corporate culture is reflected in how we present ourselves at conferences. Even after hours, HR practitioners need to make sure their employees are ready to represent their companies in a professional manner.
🎁 Innovation at Work: Effective Marketing
The talk of the expo floor was Paylocity’s enormous SWAG bags, which were also a master study in audience comprehension. It was about finding a memorable solution to a genuine attendee’s pain problem, not about giving out gaudy things. Clever, easy, and efficient.
🎥 View the Highlights
Watch our special edition of The Alder Hour, which was recorded live from the exhibition floor, to experience the enthusiasm of SHRM25! We spoke about everything from marketing trends to mental health and conference etiquette.
📺 Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA_-S8WL0KQ to view it now.
We are thankful to our incredible partners that helped us make SHRM25 a reality and who still support our goal of changing workplaces. Your cooperation enables us to provide our clients with even more value. 🙏
To my fellow attendees of SHRM25: What did you learn most from this?
To HR leaders who couldn’t attend SHRM25: The workplace is evolving faster than ever—and staying ahead means rethinking how we approach compliance, culture, employee experience, and so much more.
Jocelyn King is the CEO of Virgil HR. The HR tech company develops smart software that automates complex regulatory procedures with legal-grade precision, allowing HR professionals to save time, reduce risk, and stay current on ever-changing employment and labor laws.
Ready to share insights or modernize your HR strategy? Email us at [email protected].
