BHSHRM August Newsletter
President's Report
August always feels like a bit of a transition. Summer is still here, but you can feel the pace beginning to change. Vacations are winding down, school is starting back up, and before we know it, we'll be looking toward the final months of the year. For those of us in HR, this is often when the list of things to accomplish before year-end starts getting a little longer.
August can be a good reminder that we don't have to wait until January to think about what we want to accomplish. Take a look at the goals you set earlier this year. What have you accomplished? What still needs attention? Is there something you've been putting off that you could make progress on before the year ends?
Professional growth is another area worth making time for. HR is constantly changing, and keeping up can sometimes feel like a job in itself. Whether it's attending a training, earning a certification, reading a good book, or simply having a conversation with another HR professional, continuing to learn makes us better at what we do.
That's one of the things I value most about BH SHRM: the opportunity to connect with other HR professionals who are willing to share ideas, experiences, and lessons learned. I was reminded of that during our Crucial Conversations workshop this summer. The content was valuable, but the conversations and relationships among the participants were just as meaningful. Hearing different perspectives and learning how others approach challenging situations was a great reminder of how much we can learn from one another.
As we head into the second half of the year, I encourage you to stay connected, keep learning, and make time for your own professional growth. I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming BH SHRM programs and events!
Ara Baumstarck, President
BH SHRM
Welcome New Members
Jamie Muth | HR Specialist for Pete Lien & Sons
Mike VonSavoye | Business Service Specialist for SD Department of Labor & Regulation
Legislative Update
Federal Law Alert – 2026 Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increase – source Mineral
Due to rising fuel prices, the IRS standard mileage rate was recently increased to 76 cents per mile driven for business purposes (up from 72.5 cents per mile). While the change was announced on July 13, 2026, it’s retroactively effective to July 1, 2026.
Use of this rate is optional for private employers, but it’s widely accepted as an easy and standard reimbursement rate for employees who use their personal vehicles for work.
Beginning in 2026, eligible students can use federal Pell Grant funding to enroll in qualifying short-term workforce training programs designed to prepare them for in-demand careers.
As Workforce Pell implementation moves forward, employers should understand how the program may influence recruiting, upskilling, education partnerships, and workforce planning.
To help HR leaders prepare, SHRM has developed resources explaining the law, employer considerations, and implementation timelines. Visit the SHRM Workforce Pell Resource Center to access practical guidance, FAQs, and additional educational materials.
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted to withdraw two longstanding policy documents addressing affirmative action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
The EEOC determined that the approximately 40-year-old guidance was inconsistent with the language of Title VII and subsequent court decisions emphasizing that federal employment discrimination protections apply equally to every individual. The withdrawn documents had addressed employment practices that considered race, sex, or national origin to improve opportunities for women and minority groups.
Employers should review affirmative action and diversity-related employment practices to ensure that hiring, promotion, compensation, and other employment decisions comply with current law and provide equal treatment regardless of an individual’s protected characteristics.
Glassdoor is part of Indeed
Glassdoor is officially part of Indeed. The Glassdoor product still exists and is now operating under the umbrella of Indeed as of July 1, 2026.
The proposed rule, unveiled July 22, would establish a safe harbor allowing approximately 2.8 million group health plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to provide required documents digitally.
Group health plans currently print and mail up to 11 billion sheets of paper each year, the DOL said in a news release.
The DOL said the new safe harbor created by the proposed rule is similar to the 2020 safe harbor rule for pension plans, and that group health plans may still provide paper documents if desired.
President Trump has established the President's Military Spouse Commission to address challenges faced by military spouses and families, including employment, housing, education, childcare, healthcare, and support during deployments and relocations. The commission will provide recommendations aimed at improving military families’ quality of life.
EEOC Advances Proposal to End Workforce Demographic Reporting - source SHRM
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has voted to move forward with a proposal that would eliminate longstanding requirements for employers and other covered entities to submit workforce demographic data, marking another significant shift in the agency’s approach to civil rights enforcement. The proposal, approved by a 2-1 party-line vote, will now be published in the Federal Register for public comment before any final rule is adopted.
If finalized, the rule would rescind the EEO-1 reporting requirement for private employers with 100 or more employees and federal contractors meeting applicable thresholds, along with related demographic reporting requirements for labor unions, public schools, and state and local government employers through the EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4, EEO-5, and EEO-6 forms. The reports have, for decades, collected workforce data by race, ethnicity, sex, and job category to help the agency identify potential patterns of discrimination and guide enforcement priorities.
