It's the first day of school for Boston Public Schools, but those yellow buses aren't the only reason your commute might feel more congested: Back to work: One of Boston’s largest employers is bringing nearly every employee back to the office this week. Fidelity Investments is requiring its 6,000-plus Boston-based employees to return to in-person work five-days a week — ending the two-out-of-four-weeks hybrid policy that had been in place the last two years. WBUR's Eve Zuckoff has more on the impacts of the change: - The pros: Fidelity leaders expect the full-time return to the office to foster more face-to-face collaboration and a sense of community at the growing company. Some other downtown businesses — like lunch spots and barbershops — are excited about the change, too. "The more they come to the city, more business for us," Summer Street Barber Shop owner Ali Kiswani told Eve.
- The cons: Fidelity said it historically has low attrition rates, but expects some workers to quit or retire due to the loss of flexibility — though the company didn't say how many exactly. "Fidelity is continuing to execute on plans to hire and increase capacity across our regions," a spokesperson said in a statement.
- Peek inside: As part of the change, Fidelity is unveiling its new headquarters in the Seaport: the renovated Commonwealth Pier. The 113-year-old waterfront property used to be known as the Seaport World Trade Center. After years of construction, Fidelity opened the new office last Monday, ahead of workers' full-time return. Employees will be split between Fidelity's existing offices across Fort Point Channel near South Station and the new campus.
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| The north end of Commonwealth Pier extending over Boston Harbor. (Courtesy Jason O'Rear) |
| Inside of Fidelity's new Commonwealth Pier office. (Courtesy Felix Speller.) |
| A group work space at Fidelity's Commonwealth Pier headquarters, with views of the harbor. (Courtesy Felix Speller) |
Attention SNAP recipients: Keep an eye on the mail for your new electronic benefits transfer card. The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance is making a switch to chip cards in order to safeguard against fraud. The new cards will allow EBT recipients to swipe or tap to pay for groceries at checkout, just like the average credit card. The upgrade will impact around half a million people, according to DTA Commissioner Michael Cole. - Time sensitive: Users must activate their cards within 60 days, otherwise they'll shut off, WBUR's Willoughby Mariano reports.
- Why the change? According to Willoughby, crime rings learned to steal numbers for the old EBT cards using skimming devices. "We want to make it as difficult as possible for criminals to get their hands on money that is meant to put food on people's tables," Cole said.
Over the border: It's another big election week in New England. New Hampshire is holding its state primary today, with several open races and familiar surnames on the ballot in the wake of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s decision to retire. - Catch up: The eight-way Republican primary features two of Shaheen's former opponents: her predecessor, John E. Sununu, and former Massachusetts senator and 2014 candidate Scott Brown. The winner will likely take on Rep. Chris Pappas, the frontrunner in a five-way Democratic primary, in November. Meanwhile the race for Pappas' House seat, which includes Shaheen's daughter, saw a few last-minute shakeups over the weekend. Our friends at NHPR have a "procrastinator's guide" to the top races here.
- Up next: Rhode Island also holds its state primary tomorrow — yes, on a Wednesday — and it's not looking great for incumbent Gov. Dan McKee in his rematch against former CVS executive Helena Foulkes. You can read more about that race here.
Down to the deadline: The Patriots have reportedly agreed to a contract extension with star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, ending a "frustrating" offseason saga just in time for their first game Wednesday. According to multiple reports that broke overnight, the four-year extension is worth a total of $135 million and makes the 24-year-old Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Class canceled: Springfield is closing all public schools and canceling after-school activities today, after a "cyber incident" disrupted service for certain school systems. The district is urging students and staff to stay off the network until officials finish investigating the scope and size of the incident. P.S.— Swan Boat season may have come to an end yesterday, but the family that manages the boats is starting work to create an online archive to celebrate the Boston Public Garden staple's 150th anniversary in 2027. The Paget family is seeking firsthand accounts of childhood visits, family traditions, engagements and stories from former employees. Submit your story to be part of the archive here. |
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