Are you OK? How about your employees?
Are you OK? How about your employees?
Good morning friends,
Voting ends one week from today.
Are you OK? How about your employees?
Empathy is the best thing we can offer our teams right now. Recognize that potential election outcomes, or results challenges, will affect productivity and morale, according to the Society of HR Management.
We’re going to need to be there for each other.
P.S. We’ve added Kathy Marchi of Samaritans to our Fall Business Breakfast lineup this Friday at the Newton Marriott to talk about how we can help ourselves and colleagues manage stressful times. RSVP here.
Prepare your business too
The Civic Business Initiative of the Harvard Negotiation Project advises business leaders to evaluate possible risks from election-related fallout and prepare for the following election-related business risks:
- Increased levels of stress, distraction, and disharmony among employees adversely impacting productivity and morale
- Political violence and civil unrest posing threats to the safety of employees and customers
- Civil unrest causing property damage and interruption of operations
- Cyber attacks disrupting infrastructure, communications, and financial systems
- Supply chain disruption
- Increased market volatility
- Capital market disruption
Thanks to the Mass Business Roundtable for sharing these resources.
I’d be interested in learning how your business or nonprofit is thinking about potential election repercussions. Email me.
Needham NIMBYs want to follow in Milton’s footsteps
Good grief.
Over the weekend a small group of Needham residents started circulating a petition seeking to overturn the town’s just-passed MBTA Communities Act compliance plan, similar to what a disgruntled group did in Milton.
If you live in Needham, please do not sign this petition.
If you know anyone who lives in Needham, please also ask them not to sign it.
If Town Meeting’s vote is overturned, Needham would be in violation of state law as of Dec. 31 and lose access to millions in state grants, including a pending $60 million school building grant.
Plus it would send the wrong message to any business looking to do business here.
The Neighborhood Housing Plan is the result of an open and transparent, year-long, public process. It would gradually create new smaller homes for young families, downsizing seniors and our workforce. It has the support of more than three dozen small and large Needham employers.
Let’s not undo the progress Needham just made.
(Watch three 15-minute videos to “walk” the areas that will be rezoned.)
Watertown’s EyePoint expanding in Bay State
Watertown’s EyePoint Pharmaceuticals will hold ribbon-cutting ceremony this week for a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Northbridge.
CEO Jay Duker said Massachusetts tells the BBJ’s Hannah Green that a “really, really competitive” package of tax incentives along with the local skilled workforce convinced the biotech to build the plant in the Bay State, even after looking in other states.
EyePoint plans to keep its Pleasant Street headquarters, where it has office space and a lab.
In other local biotech news…
Needham’s Stealth Bio Therapeutics has received a positive vote from FDA Advisory Committee Meeting concluding that the Highland Ave.-based company’s new drug application is effective for the treatment of patients with Barth syndrome, an ultra-rare genetic condition.(Bio Space)
Tuesday grab bag
- Looking for a resource to help evaluate air quality from those brush fires across the state? Check out the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index Fire and Smoke Map.
- Needham’s Robert Glazer argues in this TEDx talk that It’s Time To End Two Weeks Notice
- World of Wellesley is hosting “Exploring AI, Building Equity into Innovation,” Sunday (Nov. 3), 3 p.m. at Wellesley College. Panelists include Globe tech reporter Aaron Pressman. Register.
- Hungry Pot, featuring all-you-can-eat Korean hot pot and BBQ is now open in Natick. (Boston Restaurant Talk)
- Head to Baramor tomorrow (Oct. 30) in Newton Centre for a Halloween Karaoke Party, supporting nonprofit Newton at Home. Costumes are optional, but there will be a prize for the best one. RSVP.
- Needham’s Conservation Commission signed off on Needham Housing Authority’s Linden Street Redevelopment Project. It’s the last sign-off needed by the Planning Board before they close the site plan review public hearing tonight (Oct. 29) to approve the project.
- Secretary of Labor and Workforce Lauren Jones, and the leaders of the Mass Skills Coalition invite employers tomorrow (Oct. 30) 8:45-11:30 a.m. for networking and learning about skills-based talent strategies, at the Bank of America Financial in Boston. RSVP
- Save the morning of Weds. Dec. 11 for our annual Real Estate Forum. Details next week.
Final thoughts about Question 2
Finally, still undecided about Question 2, the ballot referendum that would eliminate MCAS as a graduation requirement?
As the Globe’s Christopher Huffaker explains, if voters remove the MCAS requirement, we’ll become one of three states that don’t require an exit exam or specific course requirements to graduate.
“While almost every other state requires students to complete a laundry list of specific course credits to graduate, Massachusetts requires only instruction in civics and physical education… but students don’t have to pass them.”
Since the measure would take effect immediately, that means 300-plus school districts will have to decide whether to change their graduation requirements, also immediately.
It also means Massachusetts will have lower graduation standards than Mississippi and Alabama.
And it means employers will no longer have the confidence of knowing if the Massachusetts high school grad they’re considering hiring has basic math, English, and science competencies.
Look at this long list of elected leaders, former secretaries of education, civic and business groups (including our chamber) that oppose Question 2.
Read the newspaper editorials from across the political spectrum that also oppose Question 2.
Massachusetts public schools are number one in the nation. MCAS may need reform but tossing it out without an alternative isn’t the answer.
Our chamber urges voting “No” on Question 2.
P.S. We also recommend voting “No” on Question 5, the referendum that would phase out the tipped wage. Here’s why.
I always value your feedback.
That’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know how to prepare your kids so you can get the most from their Trick or Treating.
Take care of yourself and each other.
RIP: My friend and former colleague Steve Morse.
President & CEO
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688