Our Commitment to Advancing the HR Profession
The intertwined HR mark represents SHRM’s strategic commitment to advancing the practice of human resource management and driving organizational success. It underscores SHRM’s role as a trusted leader in setting professional standards, supporting workforce innovation, and strengthening the business impact of HR across industries.
SHRM creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together.
SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally.
Key Dates in SHRM History
SHRM stands for the Society for Human Resource Management, which traces its origin back to the founding of the American Society for Personnel Administration (ASPA) on Nov. 21, 1948.
- 1949: The first annual conference is held in Cleveland with 67 attendees.
- 1953: The first chapter is established in Metropolitan New York.
- 1964: Headquarters are established in Berea, Ohio.
- 1973: ASPA gives its first testimony before Congress.
- 1976: The first credentialed member is recognized through the ASPA Accreditation Institute.
- 1984: The board votes to move to the Washington, D.C., area, citing the need to “create a national presence” and to “have more consistent engagement” on workplace public policy.
- 1989: The ASPA is renamed the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
- 2023: SHRM celebrates its 75th anniversary as the trusted authority on all things work.
Today's Top Workplace News
If it impacts work, workers and the workplace, SHRM’s award-winning editorial team is reporting on it now. From Supreme Court rulings to workplace trends, we are covering all things work, all the time.
HR has a significant role in identifying and supporting employees who are experiencing life transitions, including advocating for proactive mental health strategies.
Find out how President Donald Trump’s tariffs are impacting employers’ plans for pay increases — and how employees feel about it.
Find out what the new limits are for health savings accounts and high-deductible health plans in 2026.
Take steps to prepare for a potential layoff at your company. Also, learn whether employers need to provide a reason for termination.