Society for Human Resource Management Holds Idea Exchange in China

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), headquartered in the United States, recently hosted its Forum on Human Capital Leadership in Beijing, where the world’s leading HR association brought together 150 overseas and Chinese senior HR professionals for a bilateral exchange of ideas with a visiting delegation of senior HR executives from the US.

Discussed were SHRM's 2007-2008 Workplace Trends Lists, which detail what HR issues will affect the workplace the most. On hand to kick off the forum was Ms. China Miner Gorman, chief operating officer of SHRM.

In attendance, Brian J. Glade, SPHR, GPHR, vice president of SHRM, announced the updated trends in 13 areas. Among the most notable items on the lists were corporate social responsibility; employee health, safety and security; employee relations; ethics; and HR consulting/outsourcing.

While the lists of trends are used primarily as a springboard for creating more in-depth, forward-looking content for SHRM members, the lists reveal what HR issues experts believe will have the biggest effect on the workplace today and in the years ahead. Key themes emerging from the 13 areas included the importance of globalization and integrating markets; demographic changes and their impact on diversity and labor availability; the implications of increased health care costs; immigration and global labor mobility; and skills shortages and a greater emphasis on talent management.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries, the Society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession.