The SEC has largely exited the shareholder proposal process, so we’ve revised Shareholder Proposals: The New Playbook for CHROs and Total Rewards Executives to reflect the changing shareholder engagement landscape. The headline: Under Rule 14a-8, companies were able to request exclusion of shareholder proposals from the SEC. They now rest entirely with your company, and disputes go to courts. Why it matters: HR now carries more of the risk. Proponents have more channels to act through “vote no” campaigns, direct board outreach, media attention, and employee-facing pressures. Zoom in: The SEC stepped back in three stages. November 2025: SEC staff…
