The Society for Human Resource Management is calling on U.S. policymakers to establish a national workplace AI governance framework, saying clear standards are needed as employers integrate artificial intelligence into hiring, training, and operations.
The Alexandria, Va.-based organization issued the statement in response to a White House framework for artificial intelligence released this month.
“Policy delivers results only when it works in practice — within organizations, through daily decisions, and in the experiences of workers,” SHRM said in its statement.
The group said employers are already using AI across core HR functions and that federal policy must reflect that reality.
What SHRM research shows
SHRM cited its own research on how AI adoption has affected the workforce. Among organizations that had adopted AI by the end of last year, the group reported the following:
- Layoffs due to AI: 7% of HR professionals said their organization conducted layoffs
- New roles created: 24% reported creation of new positions
- Shifting responsibilities: 39% reported changes to worker duties
- Upskilling or reskilling: 57% reported new training programs as a result of AI
SHRM said organizations that pair technology with human judgment are driving productivity and strengthening their workforce.
Eight principles
SHRM is advocating for eight principles to guide any national legislative framework on workplace AI.
The group is calling for a consistent federal framework that promotes innovation and provides regulatory clarity, along with flexible, voluntary governance grounded in recognized standards. For high-risk AI use cases — those reasonably likely to materially affect employment — SHRM is asking for targeted transparency requirements, human oversight, and appeal rights for workers.
The organization also wants a legal safe harbour for employers that adopt recognized AI risk-management frameworks in good faith, and says mandatory reporting and recordkeeping requirements should be kept to a minimum to avoid hindering adoption.
On the workforce side, SHRM is pushing for a national strategy focused on upskilling, reskilling, and job redesign. It is also calling for formal roles for employers, workers, and workforce experts in shaping federal guidance, and for scalable approaches that account for the realities of smaller organizations.
Small business access
SHRM said the White House framework’s emphasis on workforce development, employer-led training, and expanded access for small and mid-sized businesses is critical to ensuring AI innovation benefits the full economy.
The organization said it is ready to work with Congress and the Trump administration to develop legislation and put AI policy into practice in workplaces.
“Effective AI policy is defined by how it works in practice,” SHRM said.
SHRM has nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries.
