CABI program examines ‘Changing Landscape of Work & Workspaces’

CABI members hear a presentation on “The Changing Landscape of Work and Workspaces.” (Eileen Scafidi photo)

Members of the Canton Association of Business and Industry (CABI) explored “The Changing Landscape of Work and Workspaces” during a special presentation held at Trillium Brewing Company’s new Royall Street headquarters on Wednesday evening, April 27.

Josh Cohen, president of the CABI board of directors, served as the emcee for the event and introduced speakers William ‘Wil’ Catlin, Jr., Anne King, and Jody Middleton. Eileen Scafidi, CABI board member and owner of Scafidi Communications, invited the three guests, who shared their thoughts on and experiences of hiring new employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and helping all employees to acclimate themselves to a work life that is different from the one they knew prior to 2020.

Catlin is the managing partner of Boston Realty Advisors and Advisors Living and an active member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. One of his responsibilities is to find office space for tenants in downtown Boston, and he has learned that the connectivity of the tenants’ employees to their workspace is very important.

Catlin has found that there is a strong demand for both urban and suburban office space. In particular, he said, tenants are looking for workspaces with advantages such as proximity to the commuter rail, restaurants, coffee shops, and other amenities in order to attract employees. If the desired amenities cannot be found in a suburban office park, for example, the younger members of the workforce are looking to the tenant or office owner to provide them within the working area. He stressed that Canton is a desirable location, as is downtown Boston.

In his remarks, Catlin noted that people like being with people. For this reason, he said, employers who are not offering a hybrid model will find it very difficult to hire employees. At the same time, millennials, especially, are seeking positions with a remote-flexible option, and that flexibility to do part of a job remotely is here to stay, Catlin said.

Those who do work in the office want more than a desk, chair and computer. They also want to be engaged with their colleagues and have scheduled events to look forward to, such as lunch or a seminar. Catlin said both employers and employees have found that social engagement in the workplace is very rewarding and quite desirable.

With video conferencing becoming an essential part of working, Catlin said one of the hot topics he and other employers hear is that technology needs to be the same for employees who are working at home and those who have returned to the office. “Technology is being used by all employers to bridge that gap,” Catlin said.

Jody Middleton has been the human resources director for the town of Canton for 10 years and has 20 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. Middleton spoke of how the pandemic has affected traditional hiring and onboarding practices of new employees. In the past, she said, potential employees contacted Middleton to discuss career possibilities in Canton, because of the town’s strong reputation for providing job security and excellent pay.

Post-pandemic, however, Middleton has seen a change in the hiring process that has made it more employee-driven. Since a majority of town jobs must be done in person, Middleton said it can be very difficult to recruit employees in an environment where many private sector employers are offering perks such as remote working options or hybrid schedules. Middleton admitted that she struggles with how she can recruit new employees knowing that she is competing with other companies that can offer more perks.

L-R: Jody Middleton, Gene Manning, Josh Cohen and Anne King (Eileen Scafidi photo)

Middleton also addressed the importance of strong communication with both new employees and those who may be returning to the office for the first time in two years. The town of Canton works to create connections with new hires by sending out an email to them that contains links to basic information about their new job. Middleton encouraged attendees to share office expectations with employees ahead of their return or start date, such as assigning them a mentor, describing what the office looks like, going over the dress code, including a phone list of people who can answer questions, and explaining the COVID policy and protocols.

Middleton spoke about goal-driven reviews instead of performance reviews. With a goal-driven review, the employee shares their thoughts on what they would like to learn so that they can reach a particular goal.

Anne King is the vice president of real estate and workplace services at Point32Health, the newly created health insurer resulting from the merger of Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

Point32Health opened its new headquarters in March at the former Reebok campus in Canton. King said that there are over 2,000 employees at Point32Health, who are referred to as colleagues as the company feels that it better reflects how they feel about each other.

King stressed the importance of communication in helping employees navigate a return to in-person work. Recognizing that coming back into the office was a little scary, King said Point32Health held weekly open house events to answer questions prior to returning, starting with safety. They talked about air filtration, cleaning, transportation and food. Most colleagues work in a hybrid model, and King said that the company is still figuring things out. They are open with the colleagues and are setting clear expectations about the return so that people don’t come in and sit alone.

At Point32Health, colleagues can work anywhere in the building, thanks to the access to technology. They have a variety of wellness spaces that are really important to them, including walking paths, a track, and basketball and tennis courts. They look forward to partnering with CABI.

At the conclusion of the April 27 program, Paul Hannigan, CABI’s executive director, presented certificates to the speakers as well as to Katie Stoddard, event producer for Trillium Brewing Co., who provided food and beverages for the evening.

This week, CABI was scheduled to hold a Meet and Greet at Inspire Brands on Royall Street, and final preparations are underway for the annual Tom Clark Golf Outing on June 13 at the Milton Hoosic Golf Club. On June 16, CABI members are invited to attend a workshop on lifesaving measures presented by Canton Fire Chief Charles Doody at CFD headquarters on Revere Street. To learn more about CABI, visit cantonbusiness.org.

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