Seattle SHRM July Chapter Meeting

HR professionals need to know what they should be measuring — where do you start?

What does their CEO actually want to see?  How do you build it without a data team? This working session closes that gap.

You’ll leave with a decision framework for identifying the right metrics based on your CEO’s priorities and your CFO’s existing data — because the business problem should pick the metric, not the other way around.

You’ll get a step-by-step walkthrough of how to set up an AI project that functions as your always-on HR analyst, including the exact prompts that produce a CEO-ready dashboard, a workforce risk summary, and predictive analytics — without a data scientist on staff. It is a part time employee without the compensation and 10x the power.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify business-driven HR metrics by aligning people data with CEO and CFO priorities.
  2. Apply AI tools and effective prompting strategies to enhance HR measurement and analytics.

Utilize existing HRIS data to explore predictive analytics and anticipate workforce trends.

Seattle SHRM May Chapter Meeting

Benefits strategies are evolving quickly—and HR leaders are under increasing pressure to ensure their plans remain competitive, cost-effective, and aligned with what peer organizations are doing.

This session takes a practical, market-driven approach to both health insurance and 401(k) plan design, highlighting current industry trends and how employers are adapting their strategies in real time. Attendees will gain insight into how similar organizations are structuring their benefits, where they are investing, and which plan features they are prioritizing to attract and retain talent.

Using ERISA as a unifying framework, this session will also explore the key “levers” HR leaders can adjust across both health and retirement plans—from contributions and plan design features to emerging fringe benefits—to drive stronger outcomes.

In addition, we will cover key legislative updates impacting plan sponsors, including SECURE 2.0 and the evolving requirements under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which expands upon Health & Welfare plan regulations introduced in the CAA of 2021. Attendees will gain clarity on how these changes affect compliance, fiduciary responsibility, and overall plan strategy.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how their current offerings compare to peers, along with actionable ideas to refine and elevate their overall benefits strategy.

Learning Objectives:

By attending this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify current trends in health insurance and 401(k) plan design across industries
  2.  Evaluate how peer organizations are structuring benefits to remain competitive
  3.  Understand key fiduciary considerations under ERISA as they apply to both health and retirement plans
  4.  Apply strategic “levers” within plan design (e.g., contributions, plan features, ancillary benefits) to improve outcomes
  5.  Interpret key provisions of SECURE 2.0 and their impact on plan sponsors and participants
  6.  Understand expanded compliance and transparency requirements under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 for Health & Welfare plans
  7.  Develop a more integrated and aligned approach to total benefits strategy

March Chapter Meeting: Batten Down the Hatches! 2026 Employment Law Action Items

Don’t fall overboard!  An active legislature, plaintiff-friendly judges, and a loose cannon plaintiff’s bar have increased the risk of being swamped by employment law mistakes.  Errors with job postings, outside employment policies, and meal and rest periods now risk staggering class action damages.

Learn where the dangerous waters lie. We’ll also chart some unmarked reefs to comply with new 2026 laws on background checks, paid family medical leave, personnel files, reductions in force, sick leave, and more.  Employment law attorney Catharine Morisset will help us weather the storm: attendees will learn key compliance requirements and develop a list of immediate action items to take back to their crew.

Learning Goals:

  1. Review job postings, outside employment policies, and meal and rest period compliance requirements for class action mitigation, including both the statutory requirements, but also new cases interpreting them
  2. Develop of list of policies that must be updated to avoid automatic liability – including PFML, personnel files, sick leave, and background checks
  3. Determine areas where immediate management training and procedural updates are needed for internal compliance with the new laws

 

New Member Orientation

Get to know your Seattle SHRM membership! This quick session introduces key benefits, ways to get involved, and opportunities to connect with our HR community. Perfect for new members looking to make the most of their experience.

New Member Orientation

Get to know your Seattle SHRM membership! This quick session introduces key benefits, ways to get involved, and opportunities to connect with our HR community. Perfect for new members looking to make the most of their experience.

New Member Orientation

Get to know your Seattle SHRM membership! This quick session introduces key benefits, ways to get involved, and opportunities to connect with our HR community. Perfect for new members looking to make the most of their experience.

New Member Orientation

Get to know your Seattle SHRM membership! This quick session introduces key benefits, ways to get involved, and opportunities to connect with our HR community. Perfect for new members looking to make the most of their experience.

February Chapter Meeting: Expanding Employment Opportunities in Underserved Communities

Seattle SHRM invites members and guests to join an engaging panel discussion featuring organizations that are breaking barriers and creating employment pathways for individuals in underserved communities. This session will highlight how local agencies and programs—such as the Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), the Washington Workforce Association (WWA), and Washington State Department of Services for the Blind —are helping connect employers with diverse, skilled talent while supporting inclusive hiring practices.

Learning Objectives:

  • How to partner with community agencies to broaden candidate pipelines
  • Resources and funding opportunities to support inclusive employment
  • Real-world examples of successful employer collaborations
  • Ways HR professionals can champion equitable workforce development

Join WA SHRM for HR Day on the Hill!

Hosted by Washington State SHRM

Seattle SHRM is pleased to share the upcoming HR Day on the Hill 2026 event, a full-day virtual program designed to connect HR professionals with Washington policymakers, legal experts, and agency leaders to discuss key legislative and compliance issues shaping the HR landscape in 2026.

Topics Covered

Programming will include insights and updates related to:

✔ Washington legislative and regulatory priorities
✔ Employment law developments and Supreme Court updates
✔ New retail sales tax (ESSB 5814) compliance implications
✔ Pending workforce & labor committee legislation
✔ Enforcement and litigation trends for 2026

Who Should Attend

Ideal for HR directors, HR business partners, compliance & legal professionals, policy leads, and anyone responsible for navigating HR legislation within their organization.

Community Note

Seattle SHRM members and HR professionals from across the region plan to attend, and we encourage you to join us!

When registering, please select Seattle SHRM as your local chapter in the “Which local SHRM Chapter are you affiliated with?” field — we appreciate your support!

Join Us for HR Day on the Hill!

Hosted by WA SHRM

Washington State SHRM has announced details for HR Day on the Hill 2026, a full-day virtual program bringing HR professionals together with policymakers, legal experts, and agency leaders to explore the legislative and regulatory issues shaping HR in Washington.

The event will take place on January 30, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and will be held virtually.

This year’s programming will cover topics such as:

• Key legislative and regulatory priorities for Washington
• The new retail sales tax (ESSB 5814) and compliance considerations
• Developments in Washington employment law from the State Supreme Court
• Pending workforce and labor legislation at the committee level
• Employment litigation and enforcement trends heading into 2026

Many within the Seattle SHRM community plan to attend, and we hope you will join us as we engage with HR peers statewide and stay informed on the issues shaping our field.

When registering, please select Seattle SHRM as your affiliated chapter when prompted — we appreciate your support.

👉 Learn more and register here!