Quarterly Policy Roundup: Q2 2024

This spring, and during the busiest months of the 2023-2024 legislative session, the Roundtable engaged with external partners, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, and the legislature on a variety of issues impacting our members and the state. Through testimony on the budget, economic development, data privacy, and more, to engaging with the State Workforce Board and MassSkills Coalition, the Roundtable helped to…

Quarterly Policy Roundup: Q3 2023

Over the past three months, the Roundtable’s policy work has been guided by our Talent Agenda, framed by three pillars: Talent Recruitment and Retention; Talent Development; and Talent Diversity. We have engaged on issues around tax relief, in-state tuition for immigrants, early childhood education, pay equity, apprenticeship, MCAS, and more. Below is a short summary of our activities this quarter: Talent…

Quarterly Policy Roundup: Q1 2023

At the end of 2022, the Roundtable released a policy framework “A Talent Agenda to Drive Massachusetts’ Competitiveness” focused on talent in three pillars: (1) talent recruitment and retention; (2) talent development; and (3) talent diversity. This Talent Agenda, which is the foundation of the Roundtable’s public policy work, was developed based on the insights, ideas and perspective of members…

Roundtable Testifies on FY24 Budget at Ways and Means Committee Hearing

Earlier this week, MBR President and CEO JD Chesloff was invited to testify on an early education and care panel at a Joint Committee on Ways and Means hearing to review the House 1 budget filed by the Healey-Driscoll Administration. The invitation-only hearing, focused on the budget provisions relating to education and local aid, was held at the UMass Student…

CEO Outlook: More than 400 U.S CEOs offer insights for years ahead

The Massachusetts Business Roundtable welcomes John S. Capone as a guest contributor to highlight KPMG’s 2022 CEO Outlook. The findings reflect similar trends expressed by Roundtable members in doing business in Massachusetts, nationally, and globally. On the heels of the pandemic, CEOs are facing another turbulent period. The 2022 KPMG CEO Outlook is being released amid a business environment marred…

Impact of the Massachusetts Elections

This fall Massachusetts voters will elect a slate of new statewide officeholders, state legislators, and will consider important ballot questions that will impact Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness. Less than 24 hours after the polls closed on Massachusetts’ Primary Election Day, the Roundtable hosted an Open Forum featuring Steve Koczela, President of the MassINC Polling Group, to provide members with a breakdown…

Historic Investments for Child Care in Massachusetts

Guest contributor Tom Weber is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Coalition for Early Childhood Education The end of the 2021-22 Legislative session promises to be one of the most consequential in the history of Massachusetts’ early care and education (ECE) system. First, there is unprecedented proposals pending approval including historic investments proposed by both the House and Senate…

Employer Engagement on Racial Equity

During the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, many business leaders reflected on their role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. At the time, some leaders chose to enhance efforts already underway while some were just getting started on their DEI journey. Employers also quickly realized the emphasis must extend beyond DEI to incorporate a greater recognition for racial…

Quarterly Policy Roundup: Q1 2022

The Roundtable kicked off the new year by convening Task Forces focused on key policy areas while also collaborating with external partners to advance strategies to support key priorities. The Roundtable convened its Task Forces including: Competitiveness; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Education and Workforce Development; Energy and Environment; Healthcare and Life Sciences; and Transportation, Housing, and Infrastructure. There were many…

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…