ROUNDTABLE BLOG
The Need for Talent
Well before the pandemic, workforce development was a priority for members of the Roundtable. But the talent crunch has increasingly become the top priority as well as challenge for member companies – similar to companies spanning industries, regions, and sizes in Massachusetts as well as many markets across the country. Since the start of the pandemic, Roundtable members have convened...
Moving from Intention to Impact on DEI
Roundtable Guest Contributor(s): The Lazu Group and State Street Roundtable members The Lazu Group and State Street are collaborating to provide a platform for conversations at State Street and among employees to promote racial and social justice in the workplace. As part of this series, the two organizations first explored the diversity, equity, and inclusion through the lens of Black...
Celebrating Mentoring Month: The Value of Mentor-Mentee Relationship
Featuring a Q&A with JD Chesloff, Mentor and President & CEO of the Roundtable, and Marielba Arias, Mentee and Assistant Branch Manager at Cambridge Savings Bank’s Somerville-Assembly Row Branch. As National Mentoring Month comes to a close, the Roundtable is reflecting on its partnership with Conexion and mentoring efforts to support rising talent in the Massachusetts business community. Conexion is...
Roundtable Members Share Employer Priorities and Reflect on Outlook for 2022
How are Massachusetts employers approaching plans for 2022? This December, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable hosted its quarterly Board of Directors meeting as well as an Open Forum which included two opportunities for members to discuss the top issues employers are currently facing and expect to continue to manage in 2022. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic response continues to be top-of-mind for...
Roundtable Testimony to the Joint Committee on Education
Public Hearing on Early Childhood Education Submitted by JD Chesloff, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable Chairman Lewis, Chairwoman Peisch, Members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony on legislation before you today focused on early childhood education and childcare. The Massachusetts Business Roundtable – a public policy organization comprised of CEOs and Senior...
Essential Today, Essential to the Future: Latinos and an Equitable Labor Market Economy
As we focus on an economic recovery for the Commonwealth, government, business, philanthropy, and community-based organizations share a common belief: we must build an equitable economy. That is why the Massachusetts Business Roundtable – comprised of CEOs and senior executives from the state’s largest employers focused on advancing public policy to strengthen the Commonwealth’s long-term economic prosperity – is partnering...
See Yourself In STEM
How can students today see themselves in jobs for the future? Throughout Massachusetts STEM Week (October 18 – 22, 2021), we are encouraging young people to see themselves in science, technology, engineering, math as well as the arts (both STEM and STEAM). But, a student can only begin to see what their future career may be in STEM/STEAM if they...
Quarterly Policy Roundup: Q3 2021
The Roundtable is focused on seven priorities as part of the 2021 – 22 Legislative Session. There’s lots of progress underway and more to come, and we look forward to further engagement among members, policy makers, and the broader business community to support these priorities. As a reflection of our mission and underscored by our members, the Roundtable approaches our...
A “Thank You” to Bob Rivers
At our Annual Meeting of the Roundtable Board of Directors last month, we passed the virtual gavel from Bob Rivers to our new Chair, Jane Steinmetz. We are thrilled to welcome Jane and want to take a moment to extend our gratitude and thanks to Bob. After serving an extended term in the midst of the pandemic, Bob’s tenure as...
Roundtable & MBCECE Testimony to the Joint Committee on Ways & Means and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight: Early Childhood Education
As submitted by: JD Chesloff, President & CEO, Massachusetts Business Roundtable; Tom Weber, Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education to the Joint Committee on Ways & Means and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight on October 1, 2021 Chairman Rodrigues, Chairman Michlewitz, Chairman Hunt, and Members of the Committees, thank you for the opportunity...
Open Forum Roundup: Roundtable Members on Updated Plans for Back-to-Office Health & Safety Measures
While the summer began with reopening the Massachusetts economy, Roundtable members like many employers were asking lots of questions by mid-summer in light of the Delta variant. Roundtable staff began to hear from members, contemplating the most appropriate plan to return to the office or revisit vaccination and masking policies. By August 2021, members reported pushing back return-to-office dates, in...
Reflections from MBR Summer Fellow, Rebecca Yemo
Rebecca Yemo is a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and joined the Roundtable as a summer fellow through the UMass Boston Civic Action Project (CAP). Below are reflections from Rebecca’s summer fellowship experience, in her own words. The past 10 weeks have been nothing short of educative, inspiring, and an all-round pleasant experience working with the Massachusetts...
Open Forum Roundup: Evolving Worker Preferences for the Office; New Framework to Meet Changing Needs of Employees
Throughout the pandemic, the Roundtable’s Open Forums have provided a space for members to discuss best practices, trends, and new norms around the changing work environment. On July 27, Roundtable member JLL presented the findings of a global study to understand worker preferences. The discussion featured Roundtable Executive Committee member Jim Tierney, Market Director, New England and Julia Georgules, Senior...
Roundtable Testimony to the Joint Committee on Ways & Means and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight: Workforce Development
The following testimony was submitted by JD Chesloff of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable to the Joint Committee on Ways & Means and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight for the July 27, 2021 virtual hearing on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)—Focusing on Labor & Workforce Development and Housing. Chairman Rodrigues, Chairman Michlewitz, Chairman Hunt, and Members...
Open Forum Roundup: Creating Pathways to College & Career
Increasing opportunity pathways is at the center of the Roundtable’s advocacy for improved education and workforce development public policy and a key priority for the Roundtable during the 2021-22 Legislative Session. As part of this focus, the Roundtable convened an Open Forum to receive an overview from the state leaders behind the Commonwealth’s Early College High School (ECHS) program. ECHS...
Talent remains the core of the future of work
Below is an op-ed as it appeared on June 1, 2021 in the Boston Business Journal. There are lots of questions circulating on the future of work, post-pandemic. While we may not know exactly how the future will unfold, our reality is starting to come into focus. A key takeaway from a recent survey of Massachusetts Business Roundtable members, including...
Survey of Massachusetts Business Roundtable Members Provides More Insight on Post-Pandemic Planning Among Large Employers
The Massachusetts Business Roundtable (MBR) today released findings following a survey of its members, providing the latest insight on post-pandemic plans among large employers in the Commonwealth. Most notably, 79% of responding MBR members forecast using a hybrid working model postpandemic; by contrast, 90% of responding members maintained all or mostly in-person operations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a...
Roundtable Statement on Minnesota v. Chauvin Verdict
“We hope that this verdict is a step towards bringing justice for the late George Floyd and his family, nearly a year after the world witnessed his horrific killing. We also hope this powerful moment in history sends a message that Black lives do matter and injustices against Black lives will not be tolerated. This verdict is pivotal and hopefully...
Roundtable Convenes Open Forum, and AAPI Community Reflects on Increased Hate Crimes and History of Racism
As part of the Roundtable’s bi-weekly Open Forum series for member companies, the Roundtable convened a session dedicated to understanding the pervasive and deep-rooted discrimination the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has faced for centuries. Following an emotional presentation by Dr. Paul Watanabe, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for Asian America Studies at UMass...