A rotor lamination for an electric motor includes a body and a plurality of tangs. The body defines a shaft aperture, which defines a rotor axis, a plurality of flux directing aperture (FDA) sets, and a plurality of mass reduction apertures that are formed through the body. The FDA sets are spaced circumferentially about the body and each includes one or more apertures that are configured to receive a permanent magnet therein and/or form a flux barrier. The mass reduction apertures are disposed radially between the shaft aperture and the plurality of flux directing aperture sets. Each of the tangs is coupled to the body and extends radially inward into the shaft aperture. Each of the tangs has a pair of side walls that are disposed about a first centerline that intersects the rotor axis and an associated one of the mass reduction apertures that is disposed radially outwardly therefrom.