Welcome Keynote

The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration: The Washington Outlook for HR Public Policy

November 7, 2018 

8:00 am – 9:15 am

Grand Ballroom

As we head into the second year of the congressional term and a mid-term election, the Trump Administration and Congress face in 2018 many HR public policy issues, each having a significant impact on the workplace. These include an effort to repeal/amend the Affordable Care Act, efforts on interior immigration enforcement, including worksite enforcement, initiatives to combat sexual harassment, and proposals to expand paid leave and workplace flexibility.  This session looks at how these issues will affect employers and employees in your organization and how you can best engage and prepare for them.  The discussion of current congressional and federal regulatory and judicial activity will also cover how to make sure your voice is heard with Members of Congress on these important issues.

Speaker: Mike Aitken

Senior Vice President of Government Affairs

Society for Human Resource Management

Mike Aitken joined the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in 2003  and since then he has been responsible for all SHRM governmental affairs  endeavors. Mike currently serves as SHRM’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and he is a strategic advisor to the Society’s overall external relations activities. 

As a member of SHRM’s senior management team, Mike plays a key role in helping to set the strategic direction of the organization, offering important counsel on SHRM’s educational programs and professional development opportunities.

With over 25 years of experience working on workplace and workforce issues, Mike is a leading authority on issues important to the human resource profession. As one of SHRM’s primary spokespeople, Mike is regularly interviewed by the media and sought out as a speaker for business audiences.

Prior to joining SHRM in 2003, Mike spent 14 years with the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR), which represents more than 23,000 HR professionals at over 1,900 higher education institutions. 

In 2015 and 2016, Mike served as an employer representative on the U.S. delegation to the International Labour Conference. Mike currently serves as a board member for OpenWork. He is also a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Labor Relations Committee. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Diego.