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 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…