OriGINAtors Take: When the HR Experts Ask Not to Be Treated Like HR Experts: SHRM P.1: WHAT THA??
Beeneeth The Surface Podcast by Gina Esposito
Episode notes
This conversation lives in Crosscurrents, where work, culture, and identity meet—and no single lens is enough.
Gina dives into a real HR plot twist: SHRM, the organization that literally trains HR professionals, asked a judge not to treat them as HR experts in a racial discrimination trial.
A federal judge refused, opening the door for punitive damages and serious questions about accountability in HR. From dress codes banning sequins to investigation conflicts, we break down what this case reveals about governance, credibility, and why practicing “best practice” matters more than preaching it.
Keywords
SHRM discrimination case, HR lawsuit, racial discrimination in HR, workplace investigation conflict, HR governance failure, employment law trial, punitive damages HR, SHRM controversy, HR ethics, HR accountability, corporate culture issues, retaliati