Anti-innovation bills would halt progress

This summer, Governor Pritzker took an important step toward fulfilling his promise to connect all Illinoisans to high-speed internet services. The announcement came on the heels of a historic investment from the White House to improve internet connectivity in underserved communities through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

This couldn't come at a better time. COVID vastly reshaped the priorities for many white-collar corporate employees, for whom flexibility and work-life synergy are as important as salary and paid time off. But according to new research, individuals in new-collar or gray-collar jobs – those who don't necessarily need to be in an office to fulfill their job duties – crave the same level of flexibility, largely attained through hybrid or remote work arrangements. Unfortunately, many of their employers haven't made this a priority.

My boutique consultancy, Plan B Wellness, provides specialized care services to help companies navigate unique personnel matters and improve employee satisfaction. Over the past three years, I've seen what happens when companies fail to make progress on important workplace benefits like flexibility. It leads to poor performance, distrust, cultural decline, and ultimately exit.

The BEAD funding could help make remote work more achievable while improving work-life synergy. With the right technology resources, workers in many customer service positions should be able to fulfill their job duties without a daily commute.

Right now, Congress is inching forward on legislation that would stifle innovation and handcuff our most prolific technology companies, those whose platforms make hybrid and remote work possible. Anti-innovation bills and policies would disincentivize continued innovation, halting progress toward equitable workplace benefits and harming communities that BEAD funding is meant to help.

Lawmakers should recognize the intricate relationship between technology innovators and infrastructure. When we allow them to work in concert, businesses, employees, and communities reap the benefits.

Brenda Summerville

Oak Park