SHRM Is Forcing a Reckoning in HR

by | Dec 3, 2025

SHRM Is Forcing a Reckoning in HR

The Business Insider “hit piece” last week reveals a lot… about the state of HR. What I saw was how uncomfortable people become when the people function stops acting like a cushion and starts acting like a strategic engine. One claim says SHRM leadership expects you to be not a minute later than 9am. They also clarified that you technically have between 8am-9am to show up and they allow people to work from home on Mondays and Fridays. How dare they expect people to show up to work on time three days a week! In their response, SHRM and Johnny C Taylor Jr made something very clear. They know who they are. They will not let selective narratives rewrite their culture. They will not apologize for high standards or for expecting their teams to operate at the speed of the business. The criticism centers on rising expectations, faster decision cycles, and a model of HR that focuses on alignment and results rather than emotional management. That tension is not evidence of misconduct. It is the friction that comes with evolution. This moment is a preview of where HR is going. Empathy still matters, but accountability and clarity shape performance. SHRM is not the villain in this story. They are the mirror, and the reflection is uncomfortable for many.

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