Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development Launches Equity Dashboards
In previous presentations to the Roundtable, Secretary Rosalin Acosta and Undersecretary Jenn James have referenced a major effort to provide economic data on populations hardest hit by the pandemic, which has now been launched! In September, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Economic Research (DER) released a new and interactive way to view economic data on…
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…
Reflecting on My Fellowship at the Massachusetts Business Roundtable
By Mahesh Admankar Mahesh Admankar is a Civic Action Project Fellow, at the Massachusetts Business Roundtable and PhD scholar at the McCormack School of Policy & Global Studies at University of Massachusetts Boston. The Massachusetts Business Roundtable opened my eyes to the amazing work of the business community in affirming informed public policy and social justice. When I was selected as…
Creating a Family Friendly Workplace
Throughout the pandemic, Roundtable members adjusted their work models, benefits, and business practices to meet the needs of employees, including support for working parents and those with caregiving responsibilities. As the pandemic deepened the need for these supports, it has also mobilized a broader adoption of benefits for working parents and demonstrated how support for working parents is good for…
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…
Breaking Barriers to Build Black Wealth
By Mahesh Admankar, Civic Action Project Fellow, Massachusetts Business Roundtable and PhD scholar at University of Massachusetts Boston The public health disparities exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery sparked the latest racial and social awakening in communities across the country and world. As communities—including employers—looked inward for creating change,…
Mental Health in the Workplace
Katie Joyce of Alkermes has shared with the Roundtable and fellow Board members resources to encourage dialogue, greater awareness, and understanding of mental health as we mark May as Mental Health Month. Alkermes, a global biotechnology company that specializes in drug development for serious mental illnesses (in addition to cancer), partners with the Mental Health America (MHA) which has shared…
Continue to be an AAPI Ally in the Workplace
In commemoration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Roundtable is sharing strategies Grace Lee of M&T Bank (formerly People’s United) provided to members in 2021 to encourage AAPI allyship within the workplace. Following several horrific attacks on Asian Americans in Massachusetts and regions across the country last year, Dr. Paul Watanabe of UMass Boston shared a historic and…
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…