Best Supplement to SHRM for HR Professionals (and 12 Suggestions to Take Back to the Desk)
Key Takeaways
SHRM is foundational, but not all-encompassing.
A mix of mobile apps, educational platforms, and peer networks fills the gap.
Continuous, microlearning is more effective than one-time training.
Being proactive in HR education enhances employee outcomes and reduces compliance risk.
Resources like Workology, AIHR, and HR Brief offer tailored value for modern professionals.
Introduction: Why Supplement SHRM?
SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is one of the most widely recognized and respected organizations in the HR industry. It offers certifications, learning resources, legislative updates, and an extensive professional network. But while SHRM provides a solid foundation, it doesn’t cover every niche or real-time development needed by modern HR professionals. That’s why it's important to have additional resources that complement SHRM’s offerings—especially as workplace laws, technologies, and employee expectations rapidly evolve.
Professionals who utilize more than two HR learning sources are 34% more confident in their decision-making. (Source: LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report)
Whether you're an HR generalist, specialist, or leader, supplementing SHRM with tools tailored to your specific needs can enhance your knowledge, agility, and effectiveness.
Criteria for Selecting the Best SHRM Supplements
To determine the best supplemental resources for HR professionals, we considered the following factors:
Content Quality: Practical, research-backed, and timely.
Credibility: Industry recognition, expert authorship, or user validation.
Ease of Use: User-friendly platforms or apps with intuitive UX.
Frequency of Updates: Regularly refreshed information on HR laws, trends, and best practices.
Specialization: Fills knowledge gaps not fully addressed by SHRM.
12 Top Resources to Supplement SHRM
1. HR Dive
Website: www.hrdive.com
A go-to for breaking HR news, in-depth features, and trend analyses. HR Dive offers daily insights for HR leaders.
"I get HR Dive every morning. It's a quick way to catch up before I even finish my coffee." — HR Director, Tech Company
2. HR Brief App
Website: www.springcompliance.com
This mobile app aggregates HR compliance updates, regulations, and news—great for on-the-go HR professionals.
3. Workology
Website: www.workology.com
An educational platform offering podcasts, toolkits, templates, and certification support beyond SHRM.
4. HRCI (Human Resource Certification Institute)
Website: www.hrci.org
HRCI offers alternative certifications like the PHR and SPHR, which complement SHRM’s own credentials.
5. BambooHR Blog and Community
Website: www.bamboohr.com Rich in content, templates, and peer feedback. Their webinars are particularly valuable for small HR teams.
6. HR Bartender
Website: www.hrbartender.com
Sharlyn Lauby's blog is a lighthearted but deep dive into real-life HR questions and challenges.
7. People Managing People
Website: www.peoplemanagingpeople.com
Thoughtful insights, how-to guides, and tool comparisons for people managers and HR leaders.
8. Reddit – r/humanresources
Website: www.reddit.com/r/humanresources
Anonymous Q&A with HR peers and real-world scenarios. While informal, it provides great crowd-sourced context.
9. ComplianceHR Navigator
Website: www.compliancehr.com
Great for employment law compliance and documentation templates.
10. HR Morning
Website: www.hrmorning.com
Quick reads and actionable advice geared toward small- to mid-sized HR departments.
11. LinkedIn Learning – HR Courses
Website: www.linkedin.com/learning
Dozens of specialized HR training videos from top experts, with certificates and real-world application.
12. AIHR (Academy to Innovate HR)
Website: www.aihr.com
Focused on digital HR, people analytics, and future-forward practices that are often overlooked by traditional orgs.