SHRM’s BEAM Framework—Buzzword or Breakthrough?

Hey Ya’ll,

The conversation around DEI continues to evolve—and not always in ways we’d expect. As some organizations scale back on public-facing DEI commitments, others are reframing the work under different banners like "belonging" or "merit. I wanted to share an article from SHRM introducing the BEAM framework, which claims to align inclusion with organizational excellence and performance. Let’s dig into what that really means—and what it doesn’t.

RESOURCE:
🖇️ SHRM’s BEAM Framework for Inclusion

REVELATION:

SHRM’s BEAM framework stands for: Belonging Enhanced by Access Through Merit

When reviewing current or potential inclusion-related practices and programs, organizational leaders should answer five questions: 

• Anti-Exclusion: Are the program’s opportunities open to all without regard to an individual’s sex, race, or any other protected status? 

• Access for All: Does the program generate opportunities to participate based on an individual’s requisite merit, including their existing skills and proficiencies? 

• Merit-Driven: Does the program select individuals to participate based on relevant qualifications while accommodating protected medical conditions and religious practices?  

• Unbiased and Available Information: Is the availability of the program effectively communicated to all individuals so that participation is truly open to all?  

• Skills-First Optimization: Does the program provide opportunities to develop relevant skills, qualifications, and experience for all individuals eligible to participate?

It’s branded as a way to elevate DEI beyond buzzwords—connecting it to merit-based decisions and organizational performance. The message? Inclusion is a business imperative, not a “nice-to-have.” 

REFLECTION:

Let’s think critically, not just compliantly:

• Are we redefining DEI to make it more palatable—or more powerful?

• Are we using data to measure progress, or to avoid accountability

• How do we balance inclusion that supports performance and centers justice?

Want help translating frameworks like BEAM into meaningful, equity-centered action? I’ve got tools and talking points that keep both heart and strategy in the room. Let me know.