SHRM’s Member Advocacy Program: What Role Can You Play?
©SHRM SHRM’s Member Advocacy Program: What Role Can You Play? Overview of Today’s Remarks: > Advocacy – What is it and why is it important in today’s political environment > SHRM’s Advocacy Program – Where are the components of a successful advocacy campaign > With regard to Member Advocacy – Where we are and where we need to be > SHRM’s Advocacy Team Initiative > Conclusion and Q & A
©SHRM What Is ‘Advocacy’? According to Webster’s Dictionary, the noun “advocacy” is defined as: “The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.”
©SHRM 2007 “Why is Advocacy Important?” “America is not governed by the majority, but by the majority of those who participate.” Thomas Jefferson 4
©SHRM 2007 “Can You Really Make an Impact?” “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead 5
©SHRM Anatomy of a Successful Advocacy Campaign
©SHRM 2007 SHRM’s Direct Lobbying Capabilities 4 full-time lobbyists on staff: Mike Aitken, Director of Government Affairs (immigration reform, etc.) Lisa Horn, Manager of Health Care (health care and workplace flexibility) Michael Layman, Manager of Labor and Employment Law (EFCA, ENDA, paycheck fairness, etc.) Kathleen Coulombe, Manager of Tax and Benefits (COBRA, Sec. 127 benefits) 7
©SHRM SHRM Partnership Activities Washington Outreach Governmental – Office of Disability Employment Policy – President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy Public- and Private-Sector Entities – Congressional Management Foundation – Congressional Black Caucus Foundation – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute – Congressional Quarterly – National Journal – Democratic Leadership Council – Republican Main Street Partnership – Families and Work Institute (FWI)
©SHRM Example of Paid Media
©SHRM Example of Earned Media
©SHRM Member Advocacy SHRM’s Greatest Advocacy Asset!
©SHRM Member Advocacy Over 265,000 Individual Members Located in Alexandria, VA – just 7 miles from Capitol Hill 50 State Councils & Over 575 Affiliated Chapters (most with a dedicated “legislative director”) Our members are located in every Congressional District & State 4 staff Federal lobbyists, 2 member advocacy/state affairs staff, 1 legal/regulatory affairs staff person SHRM’s Greatest Advocacy Asset!
©SHRM Member Advocacy SHRM’s Greatest Advocacy Asset!
©SHRM Capitol Hill Advocacy Day during SHRM’s Employment Law & Legislative Conference SHRM’s Day Inside the Beltway (DITB) and Day Inside the District (DITD) programs SHRM’ HR Voice Letter-writing Program (Federal & State) HR Issues Update e-newsletter Member Advocacy Opportunities to Showcase SHRM’s Greatest Asset
©SHRM 2007 Member Advocacy Then and Where We Need To Be 15 Increased Effectiveness SHRM Government Affairs Team (GAT) Mass Letter-writing Capitol Hill Advocacy Day During Legislative Conference Limited Days Inside the District Sporadic Days Inside the Beltway District-by-District Presence Recurring, Tracked District Meetings Tracked District Interactions (Phone Calls, Town Halls, etc.) Enhanced Communication Flow to Chapter / Council / Legislative Directors Mass Letter-writing to Continue
©SHRM 2007 Using Diverse Advocacy Strategies can be More Effective in “Breaking Through the Dam” than Focusing on Only One campaign Phone calls from VIPs Constituent visit Town hall meeting Congressional Management Foundation 2008 Findings
The Most Influential Communications are Personal 57% 96% 94% 99% 93% 88% 91% 65% 63% Congressional Management Foundation 2008
©SHRM
©SHRM 2007 About the A-Team 19
©SHRM 2007 SHRM Advocacy Team Intended to build upon the successful (but mostly) ad-hoc advocacy efforts already underway across the country Year two of five-year implementation (incremental rollout) Informs legislators of policy impacting employers and employees in their district Two levels of participation 1. HR Advocate – broad-based participation to engage members at he state and district level 2. “Advocacy Captains” – one per congressional district in each target state who takes a leadership role SHRM’s Regional-Chapter structure does not necessarily align with boundaries of legislative districts 20
©SHRM 2007 Advocacy Captain Requirements Must be a SHRM member in good standing Strong preference for prior or current experience as an HR professional (HR certification highly desirable) Must live within the congressional district he / she is representing as an Advocacy Captain Appointment is made by SHRM with input from state councils and chapter representatives, among others Serve a two-year term beginning the first day of January and ending the last day of December. May be reappointed for additional terms. It is advisable that an individual serves in this position for multiple terms. 21
©SHRM SHRM’s Greatest Advocacy Asset
©SHRM 2007 “All Politics is Local” President Ronald Reagan with Former House Speaker Tip O’Neill (D-MA) 23
©SHRM 2007 Sharing Some Quality Face Time with HR 24 Who better to share the HR perspective on an issue than you?
©SHRM SHRM’s Member Advocacy Program: What Role Can You Play?