This guest post is by Mike Aitken, director of government affairs for the Society for Human Resource Management.
While the outcome of several federal and state races remain undecided, the results of last night’s election are clear: Republicans will govern the House of Representatives in the 112th Congress with at least a 40 seat majority, and the Democrats will maintain control the Senate with a slim majority of betPostsween 1 and 3 seats, pending the outcome of undecided races in Washington and Colorado.
This new environment of “divided government” significantly lessens the likelihood that the Employee Free Choice Act or the Paycheck Fairness Act will ever see the light of day in 2011. However, HR professionals should brace for another round with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and proposals to encourage workplace flexibility and strengthen the employment verification process may also be addressed next year. Lastly, if Congress fails to extend Section 127 employer-provided educational assistance in the upcoming lame-duck session to convene Nov. 15, renewal of this benefit will likely be front and center early in the 112th Congress.
Turning to the regulatory front, we anticipate enhanced enforcement and regulatory guidance on such issues as the ADA Amendments Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act, to name just a few.
What steps are you taking as an HR professional to stay engaged in the public policy process?
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