President’s Message – April 2015
Happy April Fools’ Day! I hope you have not been the victim of any pranks.
MSA is meeting with Ronald Walker, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, on April 8. This
meeting was postponed from March. During this meeting we hope to educate Secretary Walker on our
industry and our impact on workers and business in Massachusetts and on the overall Massachusetts
economy. We will also offer assistance as well as participation on the Workforce Skills Cabinet.
On April 16, the OSHA Consultation Program of the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards is
conducting a full day workshop on the roles of staffing agencies and host employers in protecting the
health and safety of temporary workers. We provided input into the agenda for this workshop. I am
pleased to say that registrations are over capacity at 110 participants. We have started very preliminary
discussions with Kathy Flannery, Manager of the OSHA Consultation Program, about follow-on
collaboration. We will keep you posted.
Other legislative advocacy:
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MSA continues to prepare comments to submit to the Attorney General on the Paid Sick Leave
Law to take effect July 1. The Attorney General is responsible for enforcement of the Paid Sick
Leave Law and for promulgating regulations of this Law. Our intent is to echo the concerns of
other business groups as well as the unique concerns of staffing businesses while keeping in
spirit with the intent of the Law and the voice of the voters.
The House and Senate have not yet agreed to rules so there have not been any hearings
scheduled on the bills that were filed in January.
Yesterday Governor Baker signed an Executive Order Initiating Regulatory Reform review. MSA
will counsel with ASA and our lobbyists to assess the potential impact of this Executive Order on
MSA’s concerns with the Temporary Worker Right to Know Regulations; specifically, the
confusion with the definition of the professional exemption and the onerous change notification
requirement of the job order.
One of MSA’s newest sponsors, Jack Wellman of Wellman Insights, suggested MSA form a committee of
MSA’s sponsors with two broad goals: (1) engage and collaborate with each other and (2) increase
engagement with MSA members. One of our goals for the last two years has been to increase the value
we bring to our sponsors. This committee is a great step forward, and I would like to thank those
sponsors that are spearheading this effort:
Charlie O’Connor – Foster Sullivan Insurance Group
Mike Flanagan – Unemployment Services Corporation
Vinda Rao – Bullhorn
Jack Wellman - Wellman Insights
Whenever you or your agency are in the market for products/services, please visit the MSA website and
consider an MSA sponsor. It is the best way we can give back to our committed sponsors.
It would be great if we could mirror this effort in regards to membership. If anyone would like to chair a
Membership Committee, please contact either me or Jean McCarty. If a Committee is too much an
undertaking, a membership campaign would be appreciated.
Don’t forget to visit the MSA’s new website (www.msastaffing.org). While there, be sure to check out
the upcoming events:
 You may still register for the Senior Leadership Roundtable. We had the first of four sessions,
and it was outstanding. There was much sharing and collaborating in a non-competing manner.
The second session is April 21. If you are interested, you may contact Jean McCarty
([email protected]) or register on the MSA website at http://www.msastaffing.org/seniorleadership-roundtable/.
 On April 9, Career Builder will present a session on Understanding Candidate Behavior & Staffing
in the Digital Age.
 May 11 is the annual golf tournament at Granite Links. This event was an enormous success last
year and sold out. Register now at: http://www.msastaffing.org/5-11-2015-msa-golftournament/.
As always, your feedback is welcome.
Thanks!
Regards,
Jori Blumsack
MSA President
2014-2015